Humans remain one of the weakest links in cybersecurity. Training employees to recognise and respond to threats is as important as deploying technical controls. NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework quick‑start guide stresses that organisations should communicate cybersecurity policies, roles, and responsibilities to all staff and ensure they understand how cybersecurity relates to the business mission.
Begin by incorporating cybersecurity awareness into onboarding and continue with regular refreshers. Topics should include recognising phishing emails, using secure passwords and multi‑factor authentication, protecting sensitive data, and reporting suspicious activity. Use simulated phishing campaigns to gauge employee readiness and provide just‑in‑time education when someone clicks on a malicious link.
Encourage a culture of accountability without blame. Employees should feel comfortable reporting mistakes or potential incidents quickly. Establish clear reporting channels and a well‑defined escalation process. Recognise and reward positive behaviour, for example, when an employee spots a phishing attempt and reports it to IT.
Finally, tailor training to different roles. Finance teams handle payment data, HR deals with personal information, and developers may introduce vulnerabilities through insecure code. Address the unique risks each function faces and empower employees to be the first line of defence. An educated workforce can significantly reduce the success of social engineering and phishing attacks.
