Benefits of Security & Compliance Awareness Training
Security and compliance awareness training nowadays is very important and the benefits of training are very exciting.
Companies that engage in regular security and compliance awareness training programs gain many advantages that help them avoid cyberattacks and prevent cybersecurity incidents as well as reducing the chance of an expensive compliance error.
Take a look at these big benefits of training to learn more about all of the ways that businesses can profit from even a modest investment in security and compliance awareness training. Establishing and conducting a training program may require a small initial outlay of cash, but the major security benefits an organization can receive from it are priceless.
1. Better Phishing Resistance
Security awareness training improves phishing awareness by an estimated 40%. While training may sound nebulous or frivolous, it’s not. Instead, the benefits of security and compliance awareness training have been scientifically proven. Researchers in a U.K. study discovered that the improvement in employee behavior that companies see when they engage in security awareness training is stark, especially when it comes to phishing.
Better resistance against phishing translates into savings now and down the road. The cost of phishing attacks has almost quadrupled over the past six years, with large US companies losing an average of $14.8 million annually to phishing.
2. Reduced Overall Security Costs
Security awareness training is a big cost saver. By training employees to be more aware of security behaviors and security red flags, companies don’t just save money on compliance or cyberattack costs. They also save money in the IT department too.
- A corporate data security training program saves businesses an average of $2.54 million per year.
- Companies that engage in regular security awareness training have 70% fewer security incidents.
- Overall security-related risks are reduced by 70% when businesses invest in cybersecurity awareness training.
3. Better Compliance
Security failures don’t just end in cyberattacks. They can also end in expensive compliance failures. About 61% of organizations have had employees cause a compliance-related security failure.
The effects of a data breach or other security event that impacts compliance with data privacy or data handling rules can bring numerous ripples that impact organizations long after the event is over, creating challenges for months or years to come – and compliance woes can be the push that causes an organization’s destruction.
4. A Strong Security Culture
An estimated 93% of employees said that well-planned employee training programs positively affect their level of engagement in security practices and procedures – and engaged employees are employees that prevent security disasters.
When employees gain security savvy, they realize that maintaining security to fight back against cybercrime is everyone’s job. The benefits of a strong security culture as outlined by the UK Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure include:
- A workforce that is more likely to be engaged with, and take responsibility for, security issues
- Increased compliance with protective security measures
- Reduced risk of insider incidents
- Awareness of the most relevant security threats
- Employees are more likely to think and act in a security-conscious manner
Security awareness training is a powerhouse security investment that can take Small and Midsize Businesses (SMBs) to another level
Want to learn more about security awareness training and how it can help secure your company and save you money? Contact us today or book a discovery session!