You've likely come here wondering if cyber security training is worth the investment for your SMB. After all, you already have a lot on your plate and a limited budget.
But consider this: cyber attacks are becoming more and more common, and they can be devastating to businesses of all sizes. Between March 2021 and March 2022, the average cost of a data breach worldwide was US$4.35 million.
A single data breach can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage control, not to mention the potential loss of customers and reputation.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to help protect your business - one of which is investing in cyber awareness training for your team.
This blog will outline the benefits of cyber security training for your SMB! Let’s take a closer look.
Benefits of Security Awareness Training
What are the benefits of cyber security training for SMBs? There are simply too many to name, as cyber awareness training is an invaluable tool in keeping small teams ahead when it comes to securing sensitive information and data from:
- Social engineering attacks
- Phishing emails
- Ransomware
- Malware
- And more
Not only does security education help you identify and respond to threats quickly, but it also significantly reduces the chance of crippling cyber-attacks and legal repercussions due to non-compliance.
In short, cyber awareness training allows your SMB to make smart decisions about how you store and access information that could otherwise lead to catastrophic outcomes.
Let’s examine the benefits of security awareness training in closer detail.
1. Threat Reduction
Developing a culture of cyber security amongst your in-house team through cyber awareness training can help mitigate risk and reduce threats dramatically. Considering that 88 percent of data breach incidents are caused by human error, the importance of security awareness training is especially important to consider.
Through proper security training, your team members will be more likely to recognize potential dangers and take appropriate measures to prevent them from reappearing in the future.
2. Downtime Prevention
The worst-case scenario for every online organization is downtime. The good news is that cyber awareness training can significantly help prevent these disruptions to your network.
Gaining a comprehensive understanding of information security risks and emerging or evolving threats helps you to take active steps towards protecting your business.
Training also encourages your team members to be vigilant and look out for suspicious activity, which proactively helps detect malicious activity before the damage is done.
Having access to resources that offer sound advice on prevention strategies, as well as those that address recovery in the event of an attack, can be invaluable in handling security issues swiftly and with minimal disruption.
In outsourcing your cyber awareness training to a managed service provider (MSP), you will receive help with:
- Maintenance training
- Devising preventative maintenance & recovery plans
- Testing your infrastructure
- Production monitoring
Are you curious to learn more about cyber security and its importance in protecting your information systems? Check out these additional resources.
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3. Increased Consumer Confidence
It is not only your business's sensitive information that is at risk when there is a data breach, but also the sensitive information of your clients.
Your customers need assurance that their personal information is being handled with care, which is why cybersecurity awareness training is an excellent tool for building consumer confidence.
Staying up to date on the latest security threats and understanding how to guard against them assures your customers that their data is safeguarded by proper security measures - which gives them much greater peace of mind when doing business with you.
4. Ensure Regulatory Compliance
In investigating the importance of security awareness training for your team, it’s crucial to note that it can play an important role in helping you ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
With ongoing cyber security awareness training programs, your team will be kept up-to-date on the latest information regarding compliance to help keep operations running smoothly.
This further ensures that all members are fully aware of the governing laws, regulations, and standards related to your business operations, and ensures better protection of confidential customer information and intellectual property.
Importance of Security Awareness Training: Takeaways
The biggest benefit of security awareness training is that it bolsters your first line of defense. The most sophisticated cyber security can be nullified in a moment if an employee clicks on a phishing email and introduces malware into the IT network. Book a free consultation to learn more about how The Isidore Group can help safeguard your business with reliable security awareness training today.
