11 Most Important Topics in Cybersecurity

Owing to the rise in cyberattacks over recent years, many companies have begun investing heavily in security measures and security awareness programs.

An excellent way to prepare workers to deal with any type of threat or security breach is through security awareness training programs. If an employee ever falls victim to a cyberattack, the whole organization’s data, network security, and physical assets are jeopardized.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the most important topics in cybersecurity training, such as phishing, IoT, ransomware, malware, etc.

Ensuring your employees have adequate knowledge of cyber threats and security measures to counter any attacks can safeguard crucial data, reduce human error, prevent data breaches, etc.

The most trending cyber security awareness training topics include:

1. Phishing
2. Ransomware
3. Internet of Things (IoT)
4. Passwords
5. Physical Security
6. Mobile Security
7. Social Engineering
8. Working Remotely
9. Removable Media
10. Social Media
11. Safe Web Browsing

Let’s go over each of these topics one by one.

11 Most Important Cyber Security Awareness Topics 

Phishing

Phishing is one of the most severe security threats since it involves impersonating a trusted party to steal confidential information such as credit cards or social security information.

This type of scam is typically executed through email sent through the internet or over a firm’s intranet.

Phishing security awareness training teaches employees and users to spot red flags, such as misspells, urgent language, strange email addresses, etc., in suspicious emails so they don’t give out important information or cause other security mishaps.

Ransomware

As the name suggests, this is a security threat that essentially holds a user’s files hostage by encrypting them and demands a ransom in turn for un-encrypting the files. This attack is usually accompanied by phishing emails that are sent out and urge people to click on links within the email.

It is most typically found as malicious malware on websites that people browse on their computers or smartphones.

Employees should be instructed to follow guidelines to avoid ransomware attacks, such as:

• Open dubious files and URLs with caution.
• Regularly update software (especially OS and browsers).
• For all online accounts, use multi-factor authentication.
• Make your password unique and safe.
• If a computer is compromised, remove it from the network as soon as possible.
• To prevent data from coming into the hands of hackers, make regular backups and encrypt files.

The Internet of Things (IoT) 

The growing Internet of Things (IoT) increases the risk of cybercrime. IoT refers to devices that can access internet connectivity and share data but aren’t computers or phones, such as smartwatches, voice assistants, etc.

Most IoT devices have lower processing and storage capacity than laptops and smartphones. This makes it more challenging to protect them with firewalls, antivirus, and other security software. As a result, IoT assaults have become one of the most widely discussed cyberattack trends.

Passwords

Passwords are a great way to keep unauthorized people out of accounts, but sometimes they make it easier for skilled hackers to gain unauthorized access to company or personal accounts.

Password security awareness training entails teaching employees how to establish secure passwords that are more resistant to hacker attacks.

Some valuable tips that come in handy when setting passwords include:

• Using a new password for every account
• Setting a strong password with letters, numbers, and symbols
• Avoid info like your birthday, social security number, or other sensitive information.
• Use multi-factor authentication.

Physical Security

It’s easy to get caught up in securing your system against digital attacks and fortifying against a data breach, only to forget to secure the physical aspect entirely.

In the end, it does matter how hackers access sensitive information. They may gain access through phishing emails or malware or read your information off a document you left lying around your desk, a sticky note with important dates or a password, or even over your shoulder by looking at your screen.

This is why organizations must train employees in physical security.

Mobile Security

As the access to mobile devices becomes commonplace, so does the threat of the device being hacked. 

The more people become dependent on their phones for daily tasks (such as payments, reminders, calendars, memos, etc.), the more sensitive information is stored on smartphones.

To keep your personal devices safe, make sure to use strong passwords, avoid accessing public WiFi networks, and avoid downloading insecure apps.

Social Engineering

Many people might be surprised to see this topic on the list, but this is very much relevant. While it has nothing to do with the computer or network security breaches, this is a way of information theft that is rampant nowadays.

Social engineers are people who manipulate others into trusting them and giving up confidential information or doing things they otherwise would never do.

Social engineering attacks are carried out to obtain access tokens or sensitive data from people using social engineering methods such as leveraging authority, fear, greed, friendship to exploit the trust, etc.

Working Remotely

Just because you work from home and not in an office where many share the same network does not guarantee safety from cyber attacks. In fact, ever since companies switched to a work-from-home mode in the last 2 years, many have reported an uptick in cyber security breaches, making security awareness training even more important for remote employees.

Employees who work from home must be more mindful of the possibilities of a cyber threat. The following are a few tips for being safe while working from home:

Keep All Apps and Software Up to Date

While those minor app updates can be irritating, they all serve a function. Companies usually incorporate a security update with each update. Therefore, updating your software and apps as soon as possible is the best method to keep them safe.

Make Good Password Habits A Practice

As you may know, password security is a security awareness issue applied to almost any other topic. This is no different. Make your passwords strong.

Always Lock Your Devices

Even when you’re home, keeping your devices locked as a precaution is always a good idea. While you might be tempted to let your family members use your work gadget, it is safer to keep it locked and only use it for work.

Look Out for Phishing Attacks

Phishing emails have increased dramatically in the last year, and with staff working remotely, cybercriminals have an even easier time duping them. Use the same guidelines as in the phishing awareness training.

Removable Media

This is a brief but significant topic because it addresses several cyber security threats people are usually unaware of. Removable media, such as USB devices or CDs/DVDs, can be extremely dangerous, particularly if they include viruses or malware.

Ensure your employees know that any USB drive or other portable media they come across should not be used and should be reported to a supervisor.

Employees should also be made aware that data on a removable media device is potentially dangerous and should be treated as if it contained malware, whether or not it is contaminated.

Social Media

Security holes can also be found on social networking platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Employees should be educated about the dangers of sharing private or confidential information on social media accounts, especially if those accounts are accessible via public WiFi or mobile devices.

Safe Web Browsing

Using open WiFi networks in public areas such as bars or cafes, airports, hotels, etc., can open you up to many cyber threats and vulnerabilities. Therefore, a mandatory part of security training should ensure that all employees are made aware of the dangers of connecting to an unfamiliar wireless network.

Final Thoughts

Companies can secure their information and data by building automated security systems and installing firewalls to protect systems from malware. However, all of these security measures would be wasted if the employees using said systems are not aware of all the risks that are out there and how easily they can penetrate the system.

Therefore, cyber security awareness training programs are as important, if not more, as security systems to protect your data from unauthorized access.