Lack of IT Security Awareness Can Be a Costly Problem
IT Security is emerging as one of the most critical elements in IT strategy and planning. The volume of viruses, malware, and cyber-attacks has skyrocketed, while mandates and requirements to secure customer data are growing in number and complexity.
Companies can invest significant money in software, systems and policies to protect their company and its customers. However, the weakest link in the security chain may very well be a single employee. For example:
- An employee may have access to sensitive data without knowing the proper procedures to secure that data. Without hesitation, they may save data on a flash drive and then inadvertently drop the drive during a visit to their local Starbucks.
- Non-IT employees are hired and provided access to resources without IT Security training.
- IT policies may change, but the company has not effectively communicated it to all of its employees.
- An employee with access to IT systems is impacted by a layoff. This disgruntled employee attempts to exploit its former employer without anyone taking notice.
Why is an Effective IT Security Education and Awareness Program Important?
A formalized IT security education and awareness program can be vital to protecting your IT resources, employees and company, while ensuring your employees are aware of their roles and responsibilities.
It can also be critical to helping you meet regulatory requirements. In fact, depending on the type of compliance your company needs to maintain, many regulatory agencies require you to provide formal security awareness to employees, and in some instances contractors and vendors.
Don’t Go it Alone
But developing and executing an IT security education and awareness program isn’t something many companies have the time or resources to do on their own. It’s an effort that impacts employees and systems across the company, and requires expertise on the latest regulatory requirements and IT security trends.
Having the right partner with the knowledge and expertise to develop and deliver a program for your company is essential. Oxford Consulting Group is that partner.
Customized IT Security Education and Awareness Programs
The team of security professionals at Oxford Consulting Group will customize an IT security education and awareness program for your company. Some of the key topics we can cover as part of your company’s training include:
| Information Security 101 | All employees should be made aware of IT security policies from the very first day of beginning work, as well as how their roles and actions help to protect the company and its customers.Through our Information Security 101 program, your new employees will not only learn these security obligations, but will provided the information they need to help ensure your company remains in compliance. The session simplifies the intricacies of IT security with information that is easy to understand, regardless of the background of your employees. |
| Information Security Policy and Procedure Training | We can help develop a customized information security policyand roll this out to the entire company through training.The policy and training can advise employees across the company what should and should not be done with company systems and data, while advising them of penalties and sanctions that can result from the failure to comply. |
| Secure Coding Techniques | Application code is now one of the more common back doors used to compromise your organization. Unfortunately, many developers don’t have adequate knowledge in defending and preventing attacks against applications, unless they have been properly trained. Our highly skilled resources will teach your team about security concepts, common software challenges and how to create safeguards against them to protect your applications. |
Your Partner for IT Security Education and Awareness
You’ve invested in software and systems to secure and your company. Now it’s time to take the next step. Contact us today to discuss a customized IT security education and awareness program for your company.
