Elements of an Effective Cyber Security Awareness Program

Recurring attacks and the weakest link 

Cyber security practitioners consider social engineering and phishing attack the most significant threat to their organization. In the CS Hub Mid-Year Market Report 2022, 75 percent of respondents cited social engineering/phishing attacks as the top threat to cyber security at their organization, followed by supply chain/third-party risks (36 percent) and lack of cyber security expertise (30 percent).

Phishing and social engineering attacks depend on human error instead of software defenselessness; employees are responsible for safeguarding against these attacks. 

In Cyber Security, end users are the weakest link. Social engineers seek to exploit them to gain access to confidential information. An effective security awareness program is the only defense against social engineering attacks. Users need to understand the tactics and techniques of social engineers to avoid falling prey and putting the organization’s data at risk. 

Below we have compiled a list of components to be taken into consideration to build an effective cybersecurity awareness program: 

1. Benchmark the Existing Security Awareness Program

Benchmarking your existing security awareness program is a key step in building an effective security awareness program. It helps you compare your awareness program against the industry’s best practices. One such benchmark to look at is the “SANS Cyber Security Awareness Maturity Model,” which categorizes organizations across different levels based on the maturity of their awareness program.

2. Development of Enterprise Security Awareness Framework

Security Awareness is considered essential to have and is usually qualitative in nature. An enterprise security awareness framework follows a structured approach to security awareness by profiling end users, vendors, and executives. It offers threat mapping and defines key security awareness activities for each profile under a formal security awareness calendar.

3. Multi-Channel Approach for Security Awareness Content

Content is the key to security awareness. It should be relatable to the end users, but the end users are not technical gurus; hence the content must be simple & engaging. In addition, regional constraints, for example, organizational culture and language barriers, must be considered while developing your security awareness content. The program should be curated, focusing on the threats and attacks pertinent to the specific region and nature of business.  

4. Quantitative Analysis of the Security Awareness Program

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) must be in place for the security awareness program. It should focus not only on awareness but correlate to phishing readiness and compliance with the policies across the organization. End users who are taking an active part must be motivated and incentivized. The KPIs, such as the awareness, phishing, and policy compliance index, must be available to the end user, organization, and department-wide.

5. Management Buy-In for Security Awareness Initiative

Security is subjective in nature. It is not a hardware box that can sit in the data center with a decade-long shelf life. Instead, it’s a management program to transform end-user behavior, and the results may come slower than expected. Therefore, CISOs must involve the management and review monthly updates on initiatives. 

What works for others might not work for your company, as every company has its safety perils. Therefore, it is best to devise your Cyber Security Awareness Program keeping your region, the nature of the potential threats, and the dynamics of your company in mind while constantly tracking its progress and effectiveness.