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Michael Goedeker

Security Awareness Campaigns is about the components and reality of what makes awareness campaigns successful and which components are needed in it. This course will cover the basics of a security awareness campaign that is aimed at increasing security levels by addressing social engineering attacks and communicating the basics of awareness and threats companies face today.

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Security Awareness Campaigns is about the components and reality of what makes awareness campaigns successful and which components are needed in it. This course will cover the basics of a security awareness campaign that is aimed at increasing security levels by addressing social engineering attacks and communicating the basics of awareness and threats companies face today.

Learn the basic concepts of security awareness campaigns, quickly and easily.

This course goes through relevant research into successful and failed attempts at increasing awareness, also going through complex standards and making them simple and easy to understand.

The full version gives you research, tips and information you need to be successful in creating your own security awareness campaign.

There are over 22 lectures in the full version that cover:

  • Introduction to security awareness campaigns
  • What components are needed
  • Security Drivers
  • Vulnerabilities that companies face
  • Business value of campaigns
  • Components of the awareness campaign
  • Security Policy
  • Laptop and Desktop
  • Mobile Devices
  • Data Security and Encryption
  • Incident Response
  • Change Management
  • Security Organization
  • How awareness mitigates risks
  • Practical examples of how awareness has stopped attacks in reality

This course goes through materials and actual projects and gives you the simple scoop on how to create great awareness campaigns that work and which elements you can use in your awareness campaign. It also goes through information that is also important for everyone to know, even if you do not create an awareness campaign, it will help you understand basic concepts.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Choose the right security policy to begin with (if starting out)
  • Communicate the components and why you have them on the security policy
  • Use awareness to lower risk of social engineering attacks
  • Communicating basic security principles
  • Understanding how, what and why (criminal) hackers attack

Syllabus

Security basics

In order to understand why and what is needed in a security awareness campaign, we first need to understand what security principles are important and what they mean to the business and users.

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Security Drivers of Awareness

This lecture discusses the objectives of a security awareness campaign.

This lecture goes through some of the areas that are vulnerable in a company. These areas are also used as a guideline (depending on which ones come up in either internal or external audits.

Training methods and a schedule enable the security team to plan and tailor the message to various different groups and skill sets. Tailoring the campaign is one of the best ways to ensure that all groups accept and understand the policy and recommendations.

What components are in successful security awareness campaigns

Executive buy-in in security awareness campaigns is critical to its overall success, only when executives support an initiative will it actualy result in the desired behavioral changes.

Security policies are the glue to an organization and the security teams effort to keep things safe. When people understand the policy and its mechanisms then an organization can more easily identify threats and stop them. This section includes some examples of complex and really good (simple) policies that are accepted faster than more complex ones.

Identifying assets that need to be protected and how they will be protected is a vital part of any security initiative.

Passwords and applications seem to go hand in hand. Most attacks are aimed at cracking passwords in order to obtain data or critical information from an enterprise. When users understand the risks associated to weak passwords and their information, then they can make the right decisions to create better passwords that protect themselves and a company.

Some components in the campaign equate to savings faster than others. Antivirus and personal firewalls are a basic component in any policy or awareness campaign. As cyber threats increase, so does the importance on detection and remediation. The caveat is that this software only helps to an extent as many cyber threats are starting to circumvent traditional scanning methods in order to infect a users laptop or desktop.

Many people forget that others can look over your shoulder when you use a computer. With basic precautions everyone can increase personal security and protect their data and information from criminal hackers.

In 2015 (more than ever) we can no longer picture a world in which smartphones and tablets don't exist. As these mobile devices have gotten faster and have more memory, companies look at these devices to take over certain areas thought to be excusive to laptops. With added features we also have more risks when using these devices on the road or at your local café. Don't get scammed by cyber threats because you don't know the threats.

We hear a great deal about threats every day but what and how do they happen when you browse the internet? Some way is attackers are successful is by using infected websites that "host" malware downloads, other areas that you can use to secure your activities is by using secure and encrypted connections when browsing. We don't have anything to hide, but making things harder for a criminal hacker is the objective.

You get an email from someone you don't know, asking you to download a "critical" update or financial document. What do you do? If you are aware of the threats involved with this seemly "harmless" email you will know its how many devices get infected. Don't be conned into clicking on emails and links or files you don't know. Email is not always your friend!

This area has only recently become mainstream privately and in the enterprise. Data is the basis for many decisions and task both in our private as well as working lives. By using encryption technology and also being aware of the threats of using usb memory sticks, we can protect ourselves against some of the simpler attacks.

This lecture discusses the physical security aspects of security policies. When aspects such as tailgating , access card misuse and other aspects of social engineering attacks used by an attacker to get unauthorized access to a building are discussed, it helps everyone be aware of those risks.

Campaigns usually forget how changes and the change management process works in an enterprise, but there are so many advantages in talking about the change management process. When people know the process and how to suggest changes, it reduces risks and also speeds up the process in general (making it cheaper). Its a win-win situation!

Including information on how and to whom people should respond when an incident or something suspicious happens just makes sense. When we discuss what everyone can do to stop or limit the damage from an attack on the enterprise or institution, then we also reduce the downtime and costs associated with it. Awareness campaigns can be used successfully to lower costs drastically by helping the incident response teams gather information, identify an attacker or be aware of suspicious events. Everyone can help by being responsible for security, its a mindset needed in today's "cyber" world.

How an awareness campaign deters social engineering and other attacks.

Many things have changed in recent years in regards to IT, IT-Security and the rest of the Business. As Gartner, Forester and others pointed out back in 2001, enterprises now expect technologists to highlight, explain and be aware of the business value of projects they suggest. Many teams that do not understand these concepts ultimately fail. This lecture discusses how you can justify security projects (like awareness) by talking about business value to the company. One tip, IT and Security are CORE business functions.

Social engineering is one of the most difficult areas to protect against because it uses human nature. When teaching awareness, this is one of the core areas to concentrate on so that people learn how to recognize and detect when social engineering is happening. Don't be deceived, this requires the support of many departments including the executives to nurture and create an "aware" culture.

So what are the actual attacks that awareness campaigns can actually help with, many are obvious, some not so. This lecture will discuss the areas and how to use that to your advantage.

We have included some of the research out there that can help you justify the costs of security projects like an awareness campaign by taking neutral and non vendor specific research so that you can make your own mind up as to what and how to save money.

This section contains the materials, paper and presentation.

Presentation to the course.

This is the supplemental paper / handbook to the course.

This is a new section in prep where we will use the things we learned in this course to build that security awareness campaign! Woot, Woot! Time to get cracking and show everyone your leet sec aware skills! ;-)

This is the final exam to this course which solidifies key components of security awareness.

This exam verifies you have understood the key concepts of this course and security awareness campaigns in general.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores security awareness principles that align with industry standards
Provides strategies to lower the risk of social engineering attacks, a common security concern
Develops a comprehensive understanding of security awareness and its importance in protecting organizations
Covers a range of topics relevant to security awareness, from security drivers to incident response
Provides practical examples of how awareness campaigns have prevented attacks

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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 Introduction to Security Awareness Campaigns with these activities:
Review security fundamentals
Review basic security concepts and terms to ensure a solid foundation for understanding the course materials.
Browse courses on Security Fundamentals
Show steps
  • Review the OSI security model
  • Identify common security threats and vulnerabilities
  • Understand the principles of authentication, authorization, and access control
Explore security awareness campaigns
Seek out tutorials and online resources to gain a deeper understanding of the components and strategies involved in effective security awareness campaigns.
Browse courses on Security Education
Show steps
  • Search for online tutorials on security awareness campaigns
  • Follow industry blogs and articles to stay updated on best practices
  • Review case studies of successful security awareness campaigns
Conduct mock phishing attacks
Test employee awareness of phishing scams by conducting mock phishing attacks. Use various strategies and evaluate results to identify areas for improvement.
Show steps
  • Create realistic phishing emails
  • Send emails to employees and track their responses
  • Analyze the results and identify vulnerabilities
  • Provide targeted training to employees based on the findings
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Implement a security awareness program
Apply the principles learned in the course by developing and implementing a security awareness program tailored to your organization's specific needs and requirements.
Show steps
  • Assess your organization's security awareness needs
  • Develop a comprehensive security awareness plan
  • Implement and launch the program
  • Monitor and evaluate the program's effectiveness
  • Make adjustments to the program as needed

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Security Awareness Campaigns will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Security Analyst
Security Analysts play a crucial role in protecting organizations from cyber threats and data breaches. This course provides a solid foundation in security awareness principles, enabling Analysts to develop and implement effective security measures. By understanding the components of successful awareness campaigns, Analysts can create tailored strategies to mitigate social engineering attacks and raise awareness about cybersecurity threats within their organization.
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analysts are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining security systems to protect an organization's data and networks. This course provides valuable insights into the importance of security awareness campaigns, helping Analysts to effectively communicate security risks to stakeholders and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness within the organization.
Security Consultant
Security Consultants provide guidance and expertise to organizations on cybersecurity best practices. This course equips Consultants with the knowledge to assess an organization's security posture, identify vulnerabilities, and create tailored awareness campaigns to address specific security risks. The ability to communicate complex security principles effectively is crucial for success in this role.
Security Engineer
Security Engineers design, implement, and manage security controls to protect an organization's systems and data. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of security awareness campaigns, enabling Engineers to embed security awareness principles into the design and implementation of security solutions. By fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, Engineers can minimize the risk of successful cyberattacks.
Cybersecurity Architect
Cybersecurity Architects plan and design the security architecture for organizations. This course provides Architects with a deep understanding of the role of security awareness campaigns in building a robust cybersecurity posture. By incorporating awareness principles into the design phase, Architects can create systems that are more resilient to social engineering attacks and human error.
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
CISOs are responsible for overseeing an organization's overall cybersecurity strategy. This course provides CISOs with a comprehensive understanding of the importance of security awareness campaigns in creating a culture of cybersecurity within the organization. By effectively communicating security risks and implementing tailored awareness programs, CISOs can significantly reduce the organization's exposure to cyber threats.
IT Auditor
IT Auditors assess an organization's IT systems and processes to ensure compliance with security regulations and standards. This course provides Auditors with the knowledge to evaluate the effectiveness of security awareness campaigns and identify areas for improvement. By understanding the components of successful campaigns, Auditors can make recommendations that strengthen the organization's cybersecurity posture.
Compliance Officer
Compliance Officers ensure that an organization complies with industry regulations and standards. This course provides Compliance Officers with a framework to incorporate security awareness campaigns into their compliance programs. By understanding the role of awareness in reducing security risks, Compliance Officers can effectively communicate the importance of cybersecurity to stakeholders and ensure that the organization meets its compliance obligations.
Risk Manager
Risk Managers identify, assess, and mitigate risks to an organization. This course provides Risk Managers with a deeper understanding of the role of security awareness campaigns in managing cybersecurity risks. By integrating awareness programs into their risk management framework, Risk Managers can effectively prioritize and address the most critical security risks facing the organization.
Privacy Officer
Privacy Officers are responsible for protecting an organization's data and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. This course provides Privacy Officers with the knowledge to develop and implement security awareness campaigns that address privacy concerns. By fostering a culture of privacy awareness, Privacy Officers can minimize the risk of data breaches and protect the organization's reputation.
Security Awareness Trainer
Security Awareness Trainers develop and deliver training programs to raise awareness about cybersecurity risks and best practices. This course provides Trainers with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and best practices of security awareness campaigns. By effectively communicating complex security concepts, Trainers can create engaging and impactful training programs that empower employees to protect themselves and the organization from cyber threats.
Security Educator
Security Educators teach cybersecurity concepts and best practices to students and professionals. This course provides Educators with the knowledge to incorporate security awareness campaigns into their kurikulum. By integrating awareness principles into their teaching, Educators can effectively prepare students to identify and mitigate cybersecurity risks in their personal and professional lives.
Security Journalist
Security Journalists report on cybersecurity threats and trends. This course provides Journalists with a solid understanding of the importance of security awareness campaigns in educating the public about cybersecurity risks. By effectively communicating complex security concepts, Journalists can raise awareness and empower individuals to protect themselves from cyber threats.
Security Researcher
Security Researchers identify and analyze cybersecurity vulnerabilities. This course may be useful for Security Researchers who want to understand the role of security awareness campaigns in preventing and mitigating cyberattacks. By understanding the human factors that contribute to cybersecurity risks, Researchers can develop more effective security solutions.
Security Manager
Security Managers oversee the security operations of an organization. This course may be useful for Security Managers who want to develop and implement effective security awareness campaigns. By understanding the components of successful campaigns, Managers can create tailored programs that address the specific security risks facing their organization.

Reading list

We've selected eight books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Security Awareness Campaigns.
Is excellent as a reference tool, containing a large amount of information about the components of an effective security awareness campaign.
Provides insights into the psychology of social engineering attacks and offers practical techniques for preventing them. It can help learners understand the human element of security and how to mitigate risks associated with social engineering.
Explores the psychological factors that influence security decision-making and behavior. It provides insights into why people make security mistakes and how to design security systems that are more resistant to human error.
Provides a detailed examination of social engineering techniques and how to defend against them. It covers topics such as phishing, pretexting, and quid pro quo attacks.
Is helpful as a supplemental reading and provides practical, real-world solutions for developing an effective security awareness program.
Provides a first-hand account of a real-life security incident investigation. It classic work in the field of computer security and can help learners understand the challenges and complexities of incident response.
Provides an insider's perspective on the world of hacking. It can help learners understand the motivations and techniques of hackers and how to protect themselves from cyberattacks.
Provides a detailed guide to network security assessment. It covers topics such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and security audits.

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