With the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches increasing, it’s important that business owners take the time to protect their business. One place to start is by strengthening a common weak link in cyber security strategies – your team.

Many business owners fail to teach basic cybersecurity skills to their employees, mostly because something else always comes up and they just never get around to sorting it.

But this can cost businesses in the long run – a recent UK study into cyber security breaches found that the average annual cost of cyber crime is estimated to be £15,300 ($18,600) per victim. Around 95% of cyber security issues can be traced back to human error: in other words, your employees.

Want to help your team to recognize common risks and prevent your business from falling victim to cyber attacks? Here are some easy, budget-friendly ways to upskill your team.

Provide them with the right resources

A good way to train your team on cyber security practices is to include it in your onboarding process for new staff. That way, they can understand your expectations from the get-go, and your business will be less vulnerable when new starters come on board or digital systems change hands.

You should also provide your team with easy access to cybersecurity training programs and resources. A lot of people prefer to learn in their own time and at their own pace – that’s fine, as long as you follow up to check that each employee has completed the training.

When searching for training resources, your first port of call should be to check your government’s website or see if your country has a national agency dedicated to cyber security. Otherwise, here are a few useful places to find free cybersecurity training.

Courses

• The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC): The NCSC is part of the GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence, security and cyber agency. Their e-training package is free, easy to use and takes less than 30 minutes to complete, and is primarily targeted towards SMEs and the voluntary sector.
• Dell’s hub for cyber security training: Our site includes free information and resources on topics such as data breaches, ransomware, and application and infrastructure security. Find out more here.

Podcasts

• Security Now: Experts Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte hold a weekly podcast where they discuss cyber security and the latest cyber news.
• CyberWireDaily: This podcast is released every weekday and offers cyber security news and analysis.
• Malicious Life: Malicious Life by Cybereason tells the unknown stories of the history of cyber security, with comments and reflections by real hackers, security experts, journalists, and politicians.

Other resources

• CISA’s cyber security resources for small businesses: CISA provides services to support security and resilience across the United States. Their hub of useful resources is filled with educational materials to help keep your business cyber secure.
• Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland: The Cyber and Fraud Centre is based in Scotland, but has guides and other resources that anyone can use.
• TECH TALK: AI for business: How to leverage the power of AI with Microsoft 
• TECH TALK: Cyber security: Protect your business from hackers 

Outside of training, it’s wise to encourage your team to be cautious and bring every potential threat forward. Even if it turns out to be nothing, it’s good to be diligent – you would rather spend time checking a false threat, than having to deal with a real one that could have been caught earlier.

Keep on top of any potential learning opportunities

Cyber security risks are always changing, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest developments. For example, a current threat is attackers utilizing AI to deliver more sophisticated cyber attacks.

Make sure you audit your cyber security plans regularly, so that your business continues to stay protected. You should also keep all your systems up to date, as the most frequent targets of cyber attacks are those with outdated systems.

One way to educate yourself on potential cyber risks to your business is to test it. The National Cyber Security Centre’s ‘Exercise in a Box’ is a great tool that enables you to test how resilient your business is to cyber attacks. Try out the tool here.

Should you utilize phishing security tests?

Phishing security tests are when an employer sends imitations of real-world phishing emails to their employees. This is a popular method of testing employees’ online behavior and assessing their awareness of phishing attacks.

Bear in mind that while these tests can keep staff vigilant, they could also create stress for your team. If you’re planning on utilizing these tests, make sure to go about it the right way. Avoid punishing or embarrassing any employees who fail a test, and make it a more positive experience by gamifying it.

Put the right tools and practices in place

Having the right tools, software and practices in place can help reduce the risk and negative impact of a cyber attack.

Employees will typically follow by example, so make sure you have processes in place and that you follow them. This includes using strong and unique passwords, and keeping your security systems up to date.

You should also make sure that all of your devices have the right cyber protection, which can be used to detect and mitigate threats. Not sure what to use? Have a look at the security services that Dell provides.