What Is Security Awareness Training? And Why It’s Important

Security awareness training is a program that teaches employees to adhere to cybersecurity best practices, recognize common threats like phishing and malware, and respond to cyberattacks to improve organizational security. Its goal is to reduce human error and strengthen an organization’s overall security posture.

Your organization is only as secure as your weakest link, and employees are easier to compromise than your technology. Social engineering scams like phishing and business email compromise (BEC) are geared to exploit human vulnerabilities and trusted relationships.

Sophisticated email scams demonstrate the importance of security awareness training. Employees need the skills to combat cyber threats, especially the threats that slip past traditional defenses.

Security awareness training is important because it transforms employees from potential vulnerabilities into a strong line of defense against cyberattacks.

For example, security awareness training helps prevent social engineering attacks by equipping employees with the skills to recognize and report deceptive tactics. It also ensures employees don't unwittingly provide sensitive information or grant unauthorized access to attackers.

Social engineering attacks are currently the leading cause of cybercrime losses because they evade traditional cybersecurity measures and prey on human error. Beyond financial losses, these attacks can damage an organization's reputation and expose confidential data.

The rise in remote work has further emphasized the need for ongoing security awareness. Cybercriminals often exploit weaknesses in remote setups, making employee training crucial to safeguard both personal and organizational assets.

Investing in security awareness training is proactive. It’s a necessary step toward achieving compliance with industry regulations and standards.

An organization's security team is typically responsible for training employees on cybersecurity best practices.

A good security awareness program includes

• Hands-on demonstrations of common cyberattacks and how to mitigate them.

• Phishing simulations to teach employees how to recognize and respond to deceptive emails.

• Industry-specific and company-specific training that highlights unique threats relevant to the organization or team.

To enhance these programs, Abnormal’s AI Phishing Coach offers personalized, autonomous security awareness training by transforming real phishing attacks into role-specific simulations. This approach ensures the training content is relevant, timely, and effective. The platform also automatically generates SCORM-compatible videos tailored to the organization's threat landscape and brand.

Small businesses without dedicated security teams or extensive budgets can leverage the following resources to establish an effective security awareness program:

• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's Cyber Essentials Toolkit

• National Institute of Standards and Technology's Small Business Cybersecurity Corner

• Federal Trade Commission's Cybersecurity for Small Business

Security awareness training is not a one-time event. Cybersecurity is constantly evolving, and employees need regular updates, especially when company policies, procedures, or threat landscapes change.

Abnormal’s AI Security Mailbox further streamlines phishing response, automating the analysis and remediation of user-reported emails, saving valuable time for security teams while reinforcing proactive security behaviors across the organization. Quarterly training sessions or more frequent updates as needed help ensure that cybersecurity protocols are understood and consistently followed.

Cybersecurity awareness training should teach employees how to safely use computers, online communication, and networks. It should also explain why security awareness training matters and empower employees to play an active role in the organization’s cybersecurity defense system.

A security awareness training program may include:

• Password Policies: A weak password is often the gateway to an account takeover or a brute force attack. Organizations must remind employees to follow password update policies and enforce multi-factor authentication for added security.

• Secure Remote Work Practices: Remote employees often use personal devices and networks, so organizations must offer security training on securing home setups, including verifying WiFi safety and updating antivirus software.

• Recognizing Potentially Malicious Emails: Employees must recognize social engineering, phishing emails, and scams by spotting warning signs. Organizations must raise awareness about the proper steps to take if they receive or fall victim to malicious messages.

• Current Cyber Threats: Leaders should regularly update employees on cyber threats, using industry-specific examples like competitor data breaches to reinforce vigilance and cybersecurity best practices.

Although Abnormal does not have a Security Awareness Platform, it still has a part to play in your Security Awareness Program by integrating advanced AI-driven solutions that support employee training efforts. With real-time threat identification and user education, Abnormal helps augment security awareness programs, ensuring employees are well-equipped to recognize and respond to potential threats.

What you can expect :

• Email Analysis and Protection: Abnormal uses AI to detect and remediate phishing emails, including those bypassing traditional defenses, while allowing phishing simulations for employee training.

• Streamlined Phishing Response with AI Security Mailbox: Abnormal’s AI Security Mailbox automates the analysis and remediation of reported emails, reducing the time spent reviewing user-reported messages.

• Enhanced Employee Engagement: Through the AI Security Mailbox, employees can actively engage with the security platform, asking for additional information about reported messages. This interaction not only aids in their understanding but also fosters a culture of proactive security awareness.

While security awareness training is a crucial part of your defense strategy, security awareness doesn’t work without security systems in place. Organizations need to implement robust technological defenses to protect their network, on top of educating their user base.

Email is a common threat vector, and advanced email security software could help protect your employees' inboxes from emails with malicious intent. Abnormal Security offers inbound email protection and can mitigate email security threats like credential phishing.

If you're ready to improve your email security, try a demo and learn how we can protect your organization.