Technical know-how and expertise are crucial in cybersecurity, and a single error or a train of cyber security issues can make a business lose millions of dollars. This is not what they will be taking the time and money to invest in, so assured online safety is vital. Training gives your employees the chance to expand their knowledge and gain invaluable cybersecurity skills. However, not all companies train their employees. The sad truth is that a lot of employers only see the negative aspect of providing training such as its high cost or employees missing a workday. Many often tend to outsource this aspect of their business to a cybersecurity consulting company!

According to a study made by the National Cyber Security Alliance, 80% of small businesses in the United States take cybersecurity training seriously.

Here are the many benefits of cybersecurity training your employees:

1. Saves you money and time

Offering cybersecurity training can be expensive, but it’s an investment. When you look at the bigger picture, you’re also saving time and money in the long run. Time is money, and if it’s spent doing poor work, then you’re not making your money work for you. Having an unskilled employee on staff can have the mean the following consequences:

• They spend a considerable amount of time asking for help.
• They perform tasks the way they think it should be done.

Take, for example, a security systems administrator who does not know what the industry standard is when it comes to creating a backup of the system. This kind of mistake can cause a business to lose relevant data during a cyber attack. More importantly, a cybersecurity certification training helps you save money when an attack happens.

Just last year, over 700 billion USD was lost due to cyber attacks. When you have employees that are properly trained and certified, they can fight off the attacks immediately and prevent your business from losing millions of dollars.

2. You gain confident employees

Confidence breeds success, and that’s true for any industry. Working in the IT field means being updated with the latest technological and cybersecurity advancements. Living in an era where everything is fast-paced, an employee may feel uncertain about new security protocols which can lead to poor work performance. But, when you offer proper training to your employees, they gain more confidence in their skills and learn how to maximize each technology they use. Here are some more reasons why having a confident employee can mean good for your business and security:

• Less error – According to studies, 80% of data breaches are often caused by an employee mistake. A confident employee will have lesser mistakes and have mastery of your security protocols.
• More ideas – Confident employees are not afraid to drive change and think outside the box when thinking of solutions. This kind of quality is essential especially during a crisis.
• They achieve more – When an employee is confident they set themselves to a higher standard, and they always want to achieve more.

A workplace that’s filled with confident employees is something that any employer should aim for. The feeling of confidence directly impacts the way people do their job and how they relate to other employees.

Better Security

It’s only apparent that a cybersecurity training will boost the security of your business. Through training, your employees will be more aware of the possible threats they can encounter, and as mentioned, they are less likely to make errors as they have proper training and certification. Fortunately, a secured system isn’t as complicated as you may think. You just have to make sure that the following areas are being covered on your training:

• Passwords – Your training should teach your employees how to create passwords and how to safeguard these passwords. Avoid taking the shortcut just to avoid multiple passwords. A robust and secure system will typically have layers of security.
• Data protection – Compliance and data protection policies in your company should be discussed extensively. They should also be familiar with government mandated policies. A refresher course should be given on an annual basis to make sure that everyone is aligned.
• Use of unauthorized software – You would be surprised to know that some employees still download unauthorized applications or go to unsecured websites in the workplace. Be sure to discuss the severity of their actions and make sure that you have someone monitoring your employee’s online behavior when they’re at work.
• Simulation – A good training will have a live simulation of a possible cyber attack. Doing so will help your employees get comfortable during a crisis and act gracefully under pressure.

Having these areas covered in your training program can be the difference between a cyber attack and a secured system.

Conclusion

More than the reward you get from having confident and competent employees, you get the peace of mind that everything will remain secure no matter where you are. Fortify your business with the help of a cybersecurity training program. Your employees will also appreciate the effort you put into your business and taking care of your people.