Cybersecurity awareness training is becoming increasingly important as businesses look to measure its impact on risk reduction. This is particularly crucial as cyber insurers aim to minimize the likelihood of paying out claims for breaches. Consequently, the way risk is measured is changing, leading to shifts in how cybersecurity awareness training is justified, purchased, and conducted.
Risk is an inherent part of business, whether it be related to the economy, geopolitics, or cyber threats. To address risk, businesses typically choose one of three paths: accepting the risk and dealing with it if it arises, mitigating the risk by reducing its level, or transferring the risk to a third party through insurance. However, to make an informed decision about which path to take, businesses need to quantify the risk, particularly in terms of its economic impact. The cybersecurity industry is currently undergoing a significant transformation in how risk is measured, with a focus on articulating risk in ways that executives throughout an organization can comprehend. This evolution has elevated cybersecurity awareness training from a mere checkbox item for the cybersecurity team to an issue that corporate leadership and board members are actively addressing.
As the understanding of risk changes, so too does the process of purchasing cybersecurity awareness training and evaluating its outcomes. Traditionally, cybersecurity awareness training has been viewed as a form of instruction, with efficacy assessed based on how well trainees retain lessons over time. Typically, this assessment involves tests or quizzes, comparing scores before and after training. However, when the goal is risk reduction, the assessment methods differ.
Risk reduction is now seen as a result of employee behavior, regardless of the specific knowledge acquired during training. Prior to training, employees are exposed to simulated threats, and their responses are captured and evaluated based on best-practice behavior. Although training may still be presented in a traditional lesson format, assessment occurs through additional simulations and measurements of behavioral changes.
If post-training behavior does not align with best practices, reinforcement is often provided at the time of the mistake to correct the behavior. This combination of microlessons during discrete training sessions and reinforcement during daily tasks ensures that employees are continuously trained and their behaviors are consistently reinforced. Therefore, training becomes intertwined with daily productivity work, rather than a separate activity.
The impact of cybersecurity awareness training extends beyond risk reduction. It can directly contribute to lower cyber-insurance premiums, making it a process that positively affects a company’s bottom line rather than being viewed as a mere expense. Omdia’s Enterprise Security Management practice monitors the convergence of risk quantification, cybersecurity awareness training, and cyber insurance. Subscribers to their service can access in-depth analysis through reports such as “Cybersecurity awareness training evolves toward behavior modification, spurred by risk quantification.”
In conclusion, the growing importance of measuring risk both before and after cybersecurity awareness training has led to significant changes in how it is approached. The understanding of risk has shifted, transforming awareness training into a risk mitigator rather than a standalone instructional exercise. This has resulted in a focus on modifying employee behavior to align with best practices, with continuous training and reinforcement integrated into daily work. By effectively reducing risk, cybersecurity awareness training can have a positive impact on a company’s bottom line, making it an essential investment rather than a mere expense.