ISO 27001 Awareness Training

Security awareness training is important for companies that need to comply with ISO 27001/2 clause 7.2.2. Such ISO 27001 awareness training does not have to take several days. On-demand online training offers more flexibility for the very different working hours of employees in companies. Especially if employees do not speak German well, alternative training in English is a way to better meet the needs of the individual employee.

What is the use of security awareness training?

All companies are exposed to common risks. Some industries are particularly at risk or have typical points of attack that other industries do not experience due to a lack of critical components. When the workforce is educated in an understandable and targeted manner, companies build a cyber-resilient workforce. The ISO 27001 standard expects top management to provide all necessary resources for employee training.

Does awareness training reduce user-related security incidents?

Most data breaches arise from the activities of your own employees. These cybersecurity incidents are due to a lack of expertise (IT skills shortage), lack of insight (ignorance in other departments), inadequate training (austerity measures) or negligent behavior. Cybercriminals are often aided by a lack of knowledge and misconduct on the part of the workforce. Employees share their access data with a stranger on the phone without hesitation, thereby allowing hackers into the company network. Curious employees insert found USB sticks into their work computers and infect the entire company. Clerks ignore the regulations and click on infected email attachments.

Scientific studies show how effectively regular and interesting cyber security awareness training protects an organization. Several insurance companies have recognized a damage-reducing effect. The damage levels decrease exponentially the more management consistently trains internal and external employees on a regular basis. Due to the extremely high financial losses from ransomware and hacker attacks, the costs of the risk-oriented security awareness training programs were paid off for the company after just 3 months.

How realistic is ISO 27001-compliant security awareness training?

In order for employee training to have realistic content, findings from internal and external information security incidents are used. One must view these focused courses as part of human risk management. Although ISO 27001 does not require you to run simulated phishing campaigns, it is more effective to use them throughout the year. Even simplified policy management can never replace information security awareness training.

Employees often do not understand the changes in the threat landscape. Some citizens believe that the government is responsible for protecting the population and economy. They place too high expectations on the limited human and technical capacities of the authorities. First and foremost, every citizen must actively contribute to security through their personal behavior. Ignorance does not protect against punishment or damage, because: one acts without guilt if, when committing the act, one lacks the insight that one is doing injustice, as long as this error could not have been avoided.

Insurance companies are also not willing to insure risks and damages resulting from (intentionally) negligent behavior. Therefore, some insurance companies require their customers to improve basic cybersecurity accordingly. Only after ISO 27001 certification, employee training and several security tests (e.g. penetration tests) have been carried out are some well-known insurers prepared to issue an insurance policy. Consequently, ISO 27001-compliant security awareness training must be realistic to the extent that employees understand the seriousness of the situation and voluntarily commit to actively contributing more to security. This also includes understanding how to follow company policies in the daily work environment. Practical education for the workforce also reduces operating costs.

Why is awareness training for ISO 27001 necessary?

In order to ensure a functioning ISMS, companies must document the training of their employees. During an ISO 27001 audit, the audit team can request the training program documents. The training documents show that employees regularly undergo ISO 27001 security awareness training.

Safety awareness training is designed to educate employees about potential hazards and to create a basic understanding of how everyone can contribute to greater safety. The aim is not to stir up fear of reprisals or dangers. Personnel must behave correctly in the event of information security incidents. Reality shows that not every employee and worker can optimally deal with the modern digital working world. Age, qualifications and difficulties in understanding make it difficult for employees to behave correctly in a threatening situation.

The training requirements of ISO 27001 and other related standards (e.g. TISAX) can be met with convenient and compact courses. Instruction must be clear and without technical terms. This will then make it easier for colleagues in other departments to avoid cyber threats. In this way, they also help their IT colleagues to largely protect the company from dangers.

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Which training courses provide employees with basic knowledge for more information security in the company?

The following training courses help companies to train their employees in an economically viable manner in order to meet legal/regulatory requirements:

  • Data protection instructions (GDPR)
  • ISO 27001: Information Security Awareness Training

How do you save working time when training employees?

The Econry Academy training program offers virtual classroom training and self-service video tutorials worldwide. It is obvious that user courses do not take up too much working time and that sustainable learning success is achieved. This will help employees better deal with information security threats. ISO 27001 certified operations can maintain compliance standards through automated user training programs.

What is the correct approach to awareness training?

The following elements increase the sustainability of an investment in security awareness training:

  • Management takes responsibility for security awareness
  • Analysis of the existing security level
  • Training plan with regular and consistent actions
  • Repeated verification of learning achievements and security awareness
  • Sustainable dealing with employees who act incorrectly
  • Retraining of inadequately trained employees
  • Implement policy processes transparently and measurably