Security Awareness Training
For every private and public organization its people, data, processes, and networks are very important assets. Thus these resources need to be protected. While having a guidebook provides a reference source, security awareness is about developing a culture of protection in every facet of the business. When the organization lives with a security awareness perspective then, like a living immune system, each aspect will spot a problem quickly before it becomes big.
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Background
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Security awareness training focuses on identifying risks, threats, and vulnerabilities of an organization and how to fix them. Best practices are provided as a foundational tool set for students to rely on later when faced with their first, real-life problems. Security awareness training in most areas tends to be around computer, software, and networks, since these resource retain much of the data today's organizations rely on. However, the principles learned can be applied to any business process and asset, not just the electronic ones.
Software Security
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The software module of a security awareness training program will cover how software is created in the first place. This provides a platform to then discuss and learn how it works and can be manipulated by attack. The goal is to bolster software programs so they can withstand an attack, either automated or manual, and still operate. Student practice this defense procedure by developing code and tricks on beating attacks before they become problematic. Finally, these classes also cover inherent weaknesses in off-the-shelf programs and software and how to patch them before use.
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Network Security
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The next level module in training frequently include network security. Many times the students reaching this level may very much know how business operates or how programs are coded, but they don't have a clue about security over a network. Because of this probability, many security awareness programs do a bit of a crash course 101 approach covering all the little bug-a-boos that affect networks. This includes viruses, hacks, trojans, automated attacks, denial of service attacks, and more. The course also covers how to use various defenses such as software and hardware firewalls, network monitoring, shut-off valves, password use, and a general scratching of the surface on encryption. Finishing this module, the student will have a basic level of understanding on how to protect a network.
Preventive Security Fundamentals
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As an advanced level on network security, the awareness training then begins to build on the basic fundamentals. In the preventive courses the student learns up-to-date practices on security awareness and how to stop attacks. The methods tend to be cutting edge so that the student can actually be challenged and deal with real, modern threats rather than some kind of attack practiced 10 years ago and solved by basic anti-virus software.
The Best Security Partners
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General employees are often overlooked in security awareness training implemented within organizations because much of the expectation to stop problems is assigned to the technology chief. However, good awareness training approaches the challenge by treating the organization as biological. This means every person and resource plays a part of larger whole and can act in a small capacity to warn the whole system. Employees process their data all day long so they are the first to see something out of pattern. Thus they make the first line of defense and play a critical security awareness role.
Basic, non-technology security awareness training incorporates the advantages of defending an organization biologically. By simple inundating all employees with better security practices, even if only 10 percent of the material is retained, all employees will unconsciously practice better security practices. This cuts down on accidents, exposure to viruses, questioning of odd behavior and activities, and most importantly, warning the organization when a problem is seen.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit computer security concept - usb cable and padlock isolated image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
