Discover The Benefits Of Cyber Security Training For Employees

Cyber-attacks are being reported every day, and it is becoming more important for organizations and businesses to train their employees on cyber security. Several organizations have lost sensitive data and money to cyber attacks. Even with robust security infrastructure, all it takes for a successful attack against a company is a careless action taken by an employee such as using infected flash drives, downloading suspicious software or opening email attachments from unknown sources. It is, therefore, important to train your employees in cyber security best practices so they can identify threats and take steps to mitigate them.

According to Dell End User Security Survey 2017, 72 percent of employees are ready to share confidential information about their company without taking into account data security protocols. That explains why it is important for organizations to adopt cyber security awareness training. It doesn’t matter whether your organization is large or small. You need to create an awareness training for your employees so as to ensure your workplace’s data and information is safe and secure.

Awareness training brings to the attention of employees the consequences of not safeguarding their company’s system.

It can be challenging to find a balance between keeping company’s sensitive data secure and enabling your employees to maintain their productivity. To achieve a good balance, a company needs to create simple, clear policies that address most of the potential breaches.

What are some key aspects of cyber security training for employees?

  • Keeping their machine free of suspicious programs, apps, and data
  • Using strong and long passwords
  • Backing up all work according to company’s policy
  • Being vigilant and notifying IT department of any irregularity on their computer

Cyber security awareness training should be more than just a one-time seminar or course. It should form an integral part of your organization’s culture. When your organization adopts awareness training as part of its culture, you will have a secure working environment. There will be lesser risk of a security breach because your employees will embrace the culture of data security. Awareness training will help employees to understand organization policy regarding internet security, techniques that are used by cyber attackers and how to safeguard against them.

By regularly training your employees on cyber security best practices and raising their awareness, your company will benefit in the following ways:

Reduced Incidences Of Security Breaches

When you train your employees on security protocols and ensure they comply with them, you are less likely to face major security breaches and corruption of computers. This will help safeguard your company’s sensitive information and operational ability. Additionally, you are also less likely to face fines, lawsuits and security audits that results from data security breaches.

You Will Save Significant Money

Although there are costs involved to train employees regularly on cyber security, it will cost more to repair damage to computers, company’s assets, and reputation after a major security breach has occurred. In addition, trained employees can spot breaches and damage sooner, thereby allowing your company to address it quickly and minimize its impact. Ultimately, you will find out that it’s cheaper to be proactive instead of being retroactive.

Improved Staff Confidence

As technology advances, a majority of employees are left to fend majorly for themselves in a wilderness of social media platforms, new software, and more. This creates uncertainty around technology, especially data security. By holding regular cyber and data security awareness training, your staff can feel more confident using modern technology because they will know what to do and what not to do.

Customers Will Feel More Confident

Customers will be more confident providing their information to a company that has fewer incidences of breaching customer information, fewer lawsuits, and other issues.

The following steps should be taken while initiating a cyber security training program for your employees:

Step 1:  You need to assess the cyber risks facing your organization that you should address in your awareness training. This could be phishing attacks, man in middle attack or data tampering. Your training content should precisely address these risks and let employees know what they should do in case they are victims.

Step 2: You need to schedule when and how the awareness training program will be delivered.

Step 3: You need to evaluate if your training is working by measuring the degree by which it has changed the attitude of your employees towards data and network security.

For organizations who don’t have the time or the resources to organize effective ongoing training, the training can be outsourced to specialized cyber security training providers with extensive experience in the field. It will help prepare your company for the future.

If you would like to learn more about how to implement Cyber Security training in your organization   CLICK HERE and fill out the form. There is no obligation on your part and one of our experts will contact you to discuss more.

Common IT Security Compliance Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

June 17, 2025
Meeting IT security compliance standards is crucial for businesses that handle sensitive data, particularly in industries such as healthcare, finance, defense, and e-commerce. Regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, CMMC, PCI-DSS, and GDPR exist to help ensure businesses protect customer information and maintain robust cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, many organizations fall short of these requirements, often due to common, avoidable mistakes. These gaps can result in costly fines, data breaches, and reputational damage, which can significantly impact the business's bottom line and customer trust. 1. Failing to Conduct Regular Risk Assessments The Pitfall: Many businesses overlook the importance of conducting routine risk assessments. Without these, it’s challenging to identify vulnerabilities or evaluate whether your current cybersecurity controls meet compliance standards. How to Avoid It: Implement a regular risk assessment schedule. Work with a qualified IT provider to evaluate your systems, identify weaknesses, and document remediation plans. These assessments should be performed at least annually, or whenever significant changes to the system occur. 2. Inadequate Employee Training The Pitfall: Your employees are your first line of defense—and often your most significant vulnerability. A common compliance issue arises when businesses fail to train staff on cybersecurity best practices or on handling sensitive data appropriately. How to Avoid It: Invest in ongoing cybersecurity awareness training. Ensure employees understand how to recognize phishing emails, create strong passwords, and report any suspicious activity. Training should be updated regularly to reflect current threats and compliance requirements. 3. Improper Data Handling and Storage The Pitfall: Storing sensitive data in unsecured locations, failing to encrypt information, or retaining data longer than necessary are significant compliance risks. These practices are often flagged during audits. How to Avoid It: Adopt data classification policies that define how different types of data should be handled; encrypt sensitive data both at rest and in transit. Establish clear data retention policies and ensure that obsolete data is disposed of securely. 4. Lack of Incident Response Planning The Pitfall: When a security incident occurs, time is of the essence. Many businesses lack a documented incident response plan, or their existing plan hasn’t been thoroughly tested. This can lead to delayed responses, increased damage, and regulatory penalties. How to Avoid It: Develop a formal incident response plan that includes roles, responsibilities, communication protocols, and steps for containment and recovery. Run simulated breach scenarios with your IT team to ensure everyone knows how to respond effectively. 5. Using Outdated Software or Systems The Pitfall: Running outdated operating systems, software, or firmware is a common issue that can lead to compliance failures. Unsupported technologies are more vulnerable to exploitation. How to Avoid It: Keep all systems and applications up to date with the latest patches. Use automated tools to track software versions and receive alerts about end-of-life technologies. Schedule regular maintenance windows to apply updates and upgrades. 6. Insufficient Access Controls The Pitfall: Allowing too many employees access to sensitive data—or failing to revoke access when it’s no longer needed—can lead to data breaches and non-compliance. How to Avoid It: Implement role-based access controls and follow the principle of least privilege. This principle means that each user should have the minimum level of access necessary to perform their job. Regularly audit user accounts and permissions to ensure access is current and appropriate. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an additional layer of protection. 7. Neglecting Third-Party Vendor Risks The Pitfall: Businesses often overlook the fact that their compliance responsibilities extend to third-party vendors. If a vendor mishandles your data, you could still be held accountable. How to Avoid It: Vet third-party vendors carefully. Ensure they meet the same compliance standards as your business and include security requirements in your contracts. Conduct periodic audits or request compliance certifications from your vendors. 8. Failing to Document Policies and Procedures The Pitfall: Even if your security practices are strong, failing to document your compliance policies can result in audit failures. Regulators want to see evidence that you have formal processes in place. How to Avoid It: Create and maintain clear documentation for all compliance-related policies, including data protection, access control, incident response, and employee training. Make these documents easily accessible for audits and regularly review them to ensure updates are current. Conclusion Compliance with IT security standards is not a one-time project—it requires ongoing attention, regular updates, and a proactive approach to maintain effectiveness. By understanding and addressing these common pitfalls, your business can stay ahead of regulatory requirements, strengthen its security posture, and reduce the risk of costly incidents. This ongoing attention is crucial to maintaining your business's security and audit readiness. If you’re unsure whether your business is meeting current IT compliance standards, professional support can help. Contact SDTEK today to schedule a compliance assessment and learn how our IT services can keep your business secure and audit-ready. With our support, you can navigate the complex landscape of IT security compliance with confidence.

Why Cybersecurity and Business IT Support Are Crucial for Fort Wayne Businesses

April 9, 2025
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you run a small startup or a growing enterprise in Fort Wayne , protecting your business’s data, systems, and clients is essential for long-term success. From ransomware attacks to phishing scams, cyber threats are evolving every day, and the best way to stay ahead of them is by partnering with a reliable IT services provider that understands the unique needs of local businesses. Here’s why investing in professional business IT support is one of the smartest decisions Fort Wayne businesses can make—and how working with SDTEK helps protect your operations, your data, and your reputation.