Even in the age of artificial intelligence, the majority of data breaches and cyberincidents are the result of human error
Cyber security training for staff must address topics such as password hygiene, remote work, social engineering, and third-party risks
Organizations can build a culture of cybersecurity through a combination of communication, collaboration, and personalized education
People will always be the weakest link in an organization’s defenses. That’s why workplace cybersecurity and employee training go hand in hand in the modern workplace.
Don’t believe us? Just look at the data. According to mimecast’s 2025 State of Human Risk report, 94% of organizations still find it challenging to ensure employees adhere to compliance standards and security protocols. Mimecast also found that human error drives roughly 95% of all breaches.
KnowBe4’s Security Approaches Around the Globe, meanwhile, found that although 86% of employees believe they can confidently identify a phishing email, nearly 50% have been fooled by social engineering tactics.
This remains as true today as it did twenty years ago. And it will be just as true twenty years from now as it is today.
Ensuring effective cybersecurity training for your employees is therefore critical to protecting your organization and managing cyber risk.
Bypassing the Walls: Why Cybercriminals Target Humans
Modern companies, particularly large ones, now have access to an impressive array of cybersecurity tools, from AI-driven threat detection to sophisticated authentication. The time and effort required to break through these defenses would very nearly eclipse the return on a successful attack. What many of these organizations forget is that network and infrastructure security are only part of the equation.
Cybercriminals are well aware of this. They know that the easiest way to gain access to a business’s network and assets isn’t by drilling through the firewall. It’s by fooling Bill from accounting into giving them his credentials.
To use a simple analogy, one can conquer even the most impenetrable castle by convincing someone to open the gates – there’s no need to go to the trouble of bringing down the walls.
The Relationship Between Employee Training and Cybersecurity
While they vary in caliber and sophistication, all social engineering attacks all share one characteristic. They rely on ignorance and carelessness in order to succeed. An organization with a mindful and knowledgeable workforce is, therefore, a much less attractive target.
It’s for this reason that companies can no longer rely solely on security professionals and technical controls to protect themselves and prevent cyber incidents. Instead, they need to teach employees how to identify and avoid phishing and other social engineering attacks. They need to train people across the organization on the basics of password hygiene, network security and digital safety.
These are the basic tenets of cybersecurity awareness training. By educating users, it reduces the risk they pose from a security perspective. While the specific value of cybersecurity is often difficult to quantify, a study conducted by Osterman Research found that the ROI of an effective security awareness training program can be as high as 562 percent for a large organization.
This is all assuming your security awareness training is effective. You need to not only focus on the right cybersecurity training topics but also deliver your training in the right way.
What Should Your Security Awareness Training Encompass?
Generally speaking, security awareness training should cover the following:
Passwords
Explain why weak passwords represent such a significant security risk and why password sharing is dangerous. Walk learners through the elements of a strong password and the importance of multi-factor authentication. Provide them with a password manager and train them in the use of the software.
Remote Employee Training
Go over how to keep mobile devices and laptops secure when working remotely. Emphasize the importance of promptly installing updates, avoiding public WiFi and using a VPN when connecting to an unfamiliar network. Explain the process and justification of encrypting sensitive data and using biometric authentication along with safe browsing practices.
Social Engineering
Detail the anatomy of a social engineering attack, including the most common manipulation tactics a criminal might use. Show employees how to identify a phishing attack and emphasize the importance of verifying a person’s identity and legitimacy before downloading any files or sharing sensitive information. Incorporate a process for reporting and remediating suspicious emails, calls, and messages.
Security Hygiene
Help employees understand their role in securing sensitive systems and data. Teach people to practice greater mindfulness and caution in the workplace, particularly when sending, receiving, and storing sensitive data. Walk everyone through your access control policies and the rationale behind them.
Cloud Security
Ensure people understand how to leverage SaaS applications securely through cloud-based employee training. Detail best practices for cloud security, including multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and the risks associated with unsecured, unapproved third-party applications.
Third-Party Security
Explain how third parties such as vendors, service providers and contractors impact organizational security. Establish processes for managing third-party risk.
Best Practices for Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Too many businesses spend all their time and effort shoring up technical cybersecurity while ignoring the human element. Don’t make the same mistake. While cybersecurity awareness training isn’t guaranteed to prevent your employees from falling prey to a cybercriminal, it will significantly improve their chances of recognizing and avoiding an attack.
And it will significantly reduce the chance that your organization ends up in the news due to a data breach.
What is the difference between cybersecurity awareness training and cybersecurity skills training?
Cybersecurity awareness training helps employees understand their role in keeping their organization’s systems and data secure. Common topics include threat recognition, safe online behavior, and digital hygiene. Cybersecurity skills training teaches participants practical knowledge that helps them respond to threats, such as identifying malicious files and configuring security tools.
How often should employee cyber security training be updated to stay effective?
In addition to annually refreshing its cybersecurity training, an organization should update content as often as necessary to keep pace with new threats, technologies, and business processes. Businesses should also update their training after experiencing a cyber incident.
What role do phishing simulations play in employee cyber security training?
Phishing simulations help employees practice identifying and reporting malicious emails and other social engineering tactics, which remain one of the most common threat vectors across all industries. They also provide organizations with measurable data on their cyber readiness.
How can organizations measure the ROI of cybersecurity training for employees?
Organizations can track metrics such as incident management costs, assessment scores, and risk reduction alongside training investment to demonstrate tangible ROI.
What emerging threats should be included in future cybersecurity training programs?
Future cyber security training programs for employees should focus primarily on artificial intelligence. These include deepfakes, adaptive malware, and automated cybercrime operations. Training should also include how to recognize and remediate attacks that target AI systems themselves, such as data poisoning and prompt injection.
