Building and Implementing a Security Awareness Training Program from Pluralsight

People are the weakest link in IT security and having an effective information security awareness training program can help reduce many of the associated risks. This course will teach you how to build your own program from start to finish.

Did you know that the biggest threat to an organization is its own employees? Have you tried phishing simulations or basic information security awareness training lectures at your organization but feel like something is missing? In this course, Building and Implementing a Security Awareness Training Program, you will learn everything required to setup a program from scratch that makes sense for your organization's unique needs. First, you will learn the critical elements of any security awareness training program that must be in place before you even think about sending that first phishing simulation email. Next, you will learn how to properly scope and develop security awareness and training material that is razor-sharp focused and can be presented in a way that will convince your leadership to give you a healthy budget. Finally, you will learn how to deal with many common problems that plague security awareness training programs by using a number of communication techniques and ensuring that the right performance metrics are in place that will prove your program is winning. When you are finished with this course, you will have the skills and knowledge required to step into any organization and develop an information security awareness training program that will inspire your organization to be more security minded in a manner that doesn't waste everyone's time.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Making Sure You Are Not Building on Sand

Setting up the Program Foundation

Selling the Program

Preparing the Content

Implementing Awareness and Training

Monitoring and Improving Your Program

Knowing When Your Program Is Winning

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Builds a solid foundation of security awareness training essentials needed in today's corporate climate

Taught by Jeremy Turner, a recognized expert in information security and security awareness training

Provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the importance of security awareness training

Offers a comprehensive and structured approach to building and implementing a security awareness training program

Covers a wide range of topics, including phishing simulations, security awareness lectures, and communication techniques

Provides guidance on how to measure the effectiveness of a security awareness training program

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Building and Implementing a Security Awareness Training Program with these activities:

Review phishing and social engineering techniques

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Start by brushing up on common phishing and social engineering tactics to ensure a strong understanding of the topic

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Identify social engineering tactics
Practice identifying phishing emails

Explore Online Security Awareness Training Platforms

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Exploring online security awareness training platforms will expose you to best practices and innovative approaches in the field.

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Research and identify reputable online security awareness training platforms.
Explore the features and offerings of these platforms.
Consider the cost, user experience, and support options provided.
Select and sign up for a platform that meets your needs.

Review Information Security Frameworks

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Reviewing information security frameworks will strengthen your understanding of the foundational principles and best practices in the field.

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Identify relevant frameworks (e.g., ISO 27001/27002,NIST Cybersecurity Framework, COBIT).
Read and understand the key concepts of each framework.
Map the frameworks to your organization's current security posture.

11 other activities

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Join or Start a Security Awareness Community

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Joining or starting a security awareness community will connect you with like-minded individuals and provide opportunities for knowledge sharing.

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Research and identify existing security awareness communities online or in your local area.
Join or connect with these communities.
Participate in discussions, share knowledge, and collaborate with other members.

Participate in phishing simulations

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Engage in simulated phishing exercises to test your ability to detect and avoid malicious emails

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Register for phishing simulations
Practice recognizing phishing emails
Analyze results and identify areas for improvement

Explore security awareness best practices

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Seek out tutorials and resources to learn best practices for effective security awareness training

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Search for credible sources
Review articles and whitepapers
Identify best practices
Apply best practices to your training program

Join a security awareness community

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Engage with peers in online forums or meetups to share knowledge and insights on security awareness

Browse courses on Security Training

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Identify relevant communities
Join and participate in discussions
Share experiences and best practices

Conduct Phishing Simulations

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Conducting phishing simulations will provide hands-on experience in detecting and mitigating security threats.

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Design realistic phishing scenarios.
Launch the simulations and monitor user responses.
Analyze the results and identify areas for improvement.

Develop Security Awareness Training Materials

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Creating security awareness training materials will help you develop effective and engaging content for your program.

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Identify the target audience and their specific security needs.
Research and gather information on relevant security topics.
Design and develop training materials using various formats (e.g., videos, presentations, interactive exercises).
Review and iterate on the materials based on feedback from subject matter experts.

Develop awareness-building materials

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Create engaging and informative materials such as posters, infographics, or videos to raise awareness about security risks

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Identify target audience and their needs
Develop messaging and content
Design and create materials
Distribute and promote materials

Start a Security Awareness Blog or Newsletter

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Starting a security awareness blog or newsletter will establish a platform for ongoing engagement and education.

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Choose a topic focus and target audience for your blog or newsletter.
Create a content calendar and schedule for regular updates.
Write and publish informative and engaging articles or newsletters on security topics.
Promote your blog or newsletter through various channels.

Conduct an information security risk assessment

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Identify and analyze potential security risks to enhance your organization's information security posture

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Establish project scope
Gather data and identify risks
Analyze and prioritize risks
Develop mitigation strategies
Implement and monitor mitigation strategies

Mentor or Train New Hires on Security Awareness

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Mentoring or training new hires will solidify your understanding of security awareness concepts and enhance your communication skills.

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Identify opportunities to mentor or train new hires.
Develop a training plan or curriculum.
Conduct training sessions or provide guidance to new hires.
Provide feedback and support throughout the learning process.

Conduct a Security Risk Assessment

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Conducting a security risk assessment will provide a comprehensive understanding of your organization's security risks.

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Identify and analyze potential threats, vulnerabilities, and risks.
Prioritize risks based on likelihood and impact.
Develop mitigation strategies and recommendations.
Implement and monitor the recommended security controls.

Career center

Learners who complete Building and Implementing a Security Awareness Training Program will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts are the first line of defense for protecting organizations from cyber attacks. A high percentage of information security breaches involve human error, and this course can help those who work in this field to understand how to communicate with employees to minimize the risk of this type of breach. This course can help you to reduce risk, limit the impact of a breach, and detect and respond to threats.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Security Consultant

Security Consultants help organizations to improve their security posture, which includes employee training and education. This course will help you build a comprehensive training program that meets the unique needs of any organization so that you can help them to avoid the cost and reputational damage associated with some types of information security breaches.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Consultant

Information Security Engineer

Information Security Engineers design and implement security controls to protect organizations from cyber attacks. By taking this course, you can build the skills you need to develop training that will help your organization's employees to understand and follow these controls.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Engineer

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

CISOs are responsible for managing the overall security strategy of an organization and for ensuring that employees are aware of and compliant with security policies. This course will provide you with the knowledge you need to develop a training program that will help your employees to understand and follow these policies, and will help you to prove that your program is effective.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

IT Auditor

IT Auditors assess an organization's security posture and make recommendations for improvement. This course can help you to understand how to develop a training program that will help organizations to comply with regulations and avoid security breaches.

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Security Architect

Security Architects design and implement security solutions for organizations. This course can help you to help you understand how to develop a training program that will help organizations to implement these solutions effectively and keep their employees safe online.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Architect

Ethical Hacker

Ethical Hackers use their skills to identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks. This course can help to give you the knowledge you need to assess the effectiveness of an organization's security awareness training program.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ethical Hacker

Network Security Engineer

Network Security Engineers are responsible for securing an organization's network from cyber attacks. This course can help you to develop a training program that will help your organization's employees to understand and follow network security policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Security Engineer

Incident Responder

Incident Responders are responsible for responding to security incidents and breaches. This course can help you to develop a training program that will help your organization's employees to understand their role in incident response and to minimize the impact of security breaches.

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Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts monitor and analyze security data to identify and respond to threats. This course can help you to develop a training program that will help your organization's employees to understand their role in cybersecurity and to protect themselves and the organization from cyber attacks.

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Cloud Security Engineer

Cloud Security Engineers are responsible for securing cloud-based systems and applications. This course can help you to develop a training program that will help your organization's employees to understand the risks of cloud computing and to use cloud-based systems securely.

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Privacy Officer

Privacy Officers are responsible for ensuring that an organization complies with privacy laws and regulations. This course may help you to gain a better understanding of the privacy implications of information security breaches.

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Information Security Manager

Information Security Managers are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of an organization's information security program. This course may help you to develop the skills you need to lead a security awareness training program.

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Security Trainer

Security Trainers develop and deliver security awareness training programs. This course may help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to become a security trainer.

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Compliance Manager

Compliance Managers are responsible for ensuring that an organization complies with laws and regulations. This course may help you to develop a training program that will help your organization comply with information security regulations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Manager