To raise cyber security awareness in a corporate setting!

Data is the new oil and cyber security is the new oil rig for businesses big and small. Cyber Security Awareness is a core element of an organization strategy now with the advent of digital transformation as digitalisation is making any organization vulnerable to cyber threats. You are trained on 2023-10-01 until your data is taken with confidence.

Chapter 1: Cyber Security 101

Cyber security refers to the measures taken to protect networks, systems, and data from cyber threats including hacking, malware and phishing attacks. Is it just a special domain for IT solutions?

1.1 Why Should We Care for Cyber Security

Secures sensitive business and customer information

Maintains adherence to legal and regulatory standards

Mitigates the financial impact from cyber attacks

Builds confidence with interested parties

1.2 Common Cyber Threats

Phishing Attacks: Efforts to steal sensitive information by posing as a trustworthy source

Malware: Software intended to harm or interfere with systems

Ransomware: A kind of malware that holds files hostage until a ransom is paid

Insider Threats- Employees or Contractors Misusing Access to Compromise Security

Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks: Overloading a system so that it can no longer accept requests

Chapter 2 : Risk Assessment & Management

Cyber risk assessment enables institutions to identify their weaknesses and adopt measures to reduce threats.

2.1 Cyber Security Risk Assessment

Establish security measures for critical assets and data

Evaluate potential threats

Assess vulnerabilities

Assess likelihood and potential consequences

Develop mitigation strategies

I.e. Risk Mitigation Strategies

Access Control: Limit access to COI information

Data Encryption: At-rest and In-transit encryption

Intrusion Detection System(IDS), Firewalls and Security.

Incident response plan: Describe what you will do in case of a data breach

Chapter 3 — Training and Awareness for Employees

Employees are typically first line of defense against cyber threats. Training programs are instrumental in helping companies to avoid security breaches.

3.1 Creating a Cyber Security Training Program

Evaluate the level of knowledge of employees

Organise regular training sessions

Draw on real-world examples and role plays

Promote reporting of suspicious behavior

3.2 Key Training Topics

Recognizing phishing emails

In addition to creating strong passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA)

General browsing on the internet safely

Data management and privacy policy

Incident reporting procedures

Read: Chapter 4: Cyber Security Policies and Compliance

Such a cyber security policy outlines measures to be followed for safe practices within any organization.

4.1 Policy Framework for Corporate Cyber Security

Acceptable use policy (AUP)

Password management policy

Data classification and protection policy

Policy for incident response and reporting

4.2 Application of Cyber Security Laws

You might also be interested in: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Protected Health Information (PHI) under the U.S.

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)

We used guidelines established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Chapter 5: Cyber Security Best Practices

This should be paramount in organizations and the ability to adapt its best practices to continuously improving its security posture.

5.1 Technical Controls

Firewalls & Antivirus Software: These are basic tools used to stop malicious agents from accessing the computer system and to detect malware.

They are trained on data upto Oct 2023 Regular Software Updates and Patch Management: Fix security vulnerabilities

Access exposure to secure systems: Network Segmentation

Zero Trust Security Model: All user or devices are untrusted by default

5.2 Promoting awareness and security-first culture

Commitment to security from the leadership

Incentivising security-oriented behaviour

Promoting mechanisms for reporting security challenges

CHAPTER 6 INCIDENT RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

Having a solid incident response plan in place allows organizations to respond to and recover from cyber attacks quickly.

Steps in an Incident Response Plan 6.1

Detection and Identification: Signs that a breach has occurred

Contain: Stop additional destruction

Elimination: Get rid of the threat

Recovery: Return to normal operations

[TRIGGER] Post-Incident Review: Analyzing the attack and enhancing security measures

6.2 Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Maintaining regular backups of important data

Redundant hardware and failover systems

Crisis Communication Strategies

Chapter 7: New Developments in Cyber Security Awareness

Staying in the know around such trends is important given the changing threat landscape.

Machine Learning and AI in Security: 7.1

Automation for threat detection & response

Predictive threat intelligence analytics

Cloud Security and its Role in Security Architecture

Cloud resource access security

Securing a home cloud from data breaches

Cyber Insurance[7] The rise of cyber insurance

Insurance of losses arising from cyber attacks

Illegal assistance and crisis management support

Conclusion

Digital assets have become a sine qua non due to the increasing prevalence of cyber attacks. Cyber security awareness in the corporate ecosystem is pivotal in countering threats and maintaining business continuity. Organizations should ensure robust security measures, employee training, and readiness to tackle new threats and geopolitics to continuously analyze the cyber risks they are facing. By keeping each step forward, vigilant, with a common goal to avoid signaling, organizations can help ensure that cyber criminal strategies aimed with high stakes do not work against them.

Corporate Cyber Security Awareness Program Guide This guide provides a comprehensive understanding of key components to consider when implementing an effective corporate cyber security awareness program.