Why Some Security Awareness Programs Fail

Organizations face a rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats. Some are malicious phishing, smishing, and vishing attacks on individual users that can result in business disruptions or ransomware attacks. Business email compromise attacks imitate senior executives or business partners to elicit payments for fraudulent invoices.

Non-malicious threats are also serious

However, non-malicious threats are also a concern to IT and security teams. Non-malicious threats arise from employees or insiders who, without any intent to harm, engage in actions that can result in accidental data breaches. These threats can stem from simple human error or lack of awareness. According to the Ponemon Institute, nearly 62% of security incidents are caused by negligent employees, including mistakes such as sending sensitive information to the wrong recipient or uploading confidential data to personal cloud storage services.

Regulatory standards increasingly require security awareness training

Malicious and non-malicious threats make it critical for organizations to implement strong security awareness programs. As cybercriminals increasingly target human vulnerabilities, the importance of educating employees on security best practices cannot be overstated. Regulatory requirements play a significant role in driving this, as several laws and standards mandate security awareness training to protect sensitive information and maintain compliance:

• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) explicitly requires covered entities to implement a security awareness and training program for all workforce members.
• The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) stipulates in Requirement 12.6 that organizations must establish a formal security awareness program to ensure all personnel are aware of cardholder data security policies.
• The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) also mandates that federal agencies provide security awareness training to inform personnel about information security risks and their responsibilities in mitigating these risks.
• International regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) emphasize the need for ongoing training to ensure that staff involved in data processing operations are aware of their responsibilities regarding personal data.

These regulatory frameworks underscore a key point: organizations must prioritize security awareness training not only to comply with legal obligations but also to foster a culture of security that mitigates human error and enhances overall cybersecurity resilience. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, investing in comprehensive training programs is not just a regulatory requirement; it is a strategic necessity for safeguarding your organization’s reputation and assets.

Why security awareness programs fail

On the surface, implementing a security awareness program seems straightforward; teams need to train employees to understand risk, recognize scams, and use organizational assets appropriately. Unfortunately, an overly simplistic approach often results in failure. Understanding the reasons behind these failures is crucial for organizations aiming to enhance their security posture.

“Tick box” Approach to Security Training

Organizations that treat security awareness as a compliance requirement rather than a valuable educational opportunity can undermine the effectiveness of the program. When security training is seen merely as a compliance requirement, it often results in uninspired sessions that fail to engage employees, leading to poor retention of critical information. Consequently, users may be unprepared to recognize and respond to real-world security threats.

Research shows that traditional, infrequent training does not lead to lasting behavioral changes. This increases the likelihood of risky behaviors that compromise organizational security. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) emphasizes the need for ongoing, interactive training to build relevant skills and understand the security risks associated with their activities.

Additionally, a compliance-driven mindset often leads to generic content that does not address the specific risks faced by an organization. Effective training should be tailored to focus on relevant threats and practical responses. When employees do not see the application of security practices in their daily tasks, they are less likely to take them seriously.

This approach hinders the development of a strong security culture that encourages personal responsibility for cybersecurity. To enhance effectiveness, organizations must prioritize engaging, relevant, and ongoing educational experiences that foster a proactive culture of cybersecurity awareness among all employees.

Event-based Training

Many organizations mistakenly treat security awareness training as a one-time event, conducting sessions annually. This approach fails to reinforce critical concepts, leading to poor knowledge retention among employees. Without regular reinforcement, information is quickly forgotten, resulting in a disconnect between training and real-world application.

Successful programs require ongoing efforts, such as refresher courses, simulations, visual reminders, and continuous communication about emerging threats. Phishing simulations, in particular, are effective in security awareness programs as they provide tactics and techniques used by malicious hackers, but in a safe way. By integrating these simulations, organizations can improve employee vigilance and strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture against evolving threats.

By fostering a culture of continuous learning and integrating security into daily operations, organizations can empower employees to proactively recognize and respond to potential threats, enhancing their cybersecurity posture.

Uninspired Training Content

Uninspired training content can hinder the effectiveness of security awareness programs. When training materials are boring, outdated, or irrelevant, employees are less likely to engage actively. This leads to diminished participation and poor retention of training lessons. If users fail to grasp essential concepts, they are left unprepared to handle real-world security threats.

To combat this issue, organizations should focus on creating engaging and dynamic training materials that reflect real-world scenarios employees might encounter. Incorporating interactive elements, such as quizzes, simulations, and group discussions, can significantly improve the learning experience. These interactive components not only make the training more enjoyable but also promote active participation and practical application of knowledge. By investing in high-quality, relevant content, organizations can foster a more effective learning environment that empowers employees to take cybersecurity seriously and apply best practices in their daily routines.

Failure to Collect Metrics

Failure to collect metrics on security awareness training can undermine the effectiveness of the programs. Organizations that do not measure the impact of their initiatives may overlook valuable insights that could help refine and adapt their training efforts to better meet the needs of their workforce. Without data on employee performance, engagement levels, and knowledge retention, it becomes challenging to identify areas for improvement or to assess whether the training is effectively reducing risky behaviors.

Implementing metrics such as pre- and post-training assessments, participation rates, and tracking incident reports can provide IT and risk teams with a clearer picture of their program’s effectiveness. By continuously monitoring and analyzing these metrics, organizations can create a more responsive and effective security awareness program that evolves alongside emerging threats and changing employee needs, fostering a stronger culture of cybersecurity awareness across the organization.

How to get started

Defendify helps IT teams deploy and manage effective security awareness programs without layers of overhead. Our all-in-one platform makes it simple to provide cybersecurity awareness training, reinforce that training with frequent, topical reminders, and videos, and provide phishing simulations based on real-world scenarios. To learn more, set up a no pressure conversation with a cybersecurity expert.