Humans have a natural desire to avoid threatening scenarios. The irony, of course, is that if we want to achieve any security, we must continue to be prepared to face the very same threats.
As a decision maker in your organization, you know this all too well. But no matter how many experts and trusted cybersecurity tools your organization has at its disposal, it's only as secure as its weakest link. There is still one group that can inadvertently open the gates to unwanted threat actors. It's your own people.
Security must be second nature in the first line of defense
Organizations need talented employees to grow. After all, they are the source of great ideas, innovation, and ingenuity. But they're also human. And humans make mistakes. Hackers understand that no one is perfect, and that's exactly what they're trying to exploit.
This is why employees must become the first line of defense against cyber threats. But for this you need to learn how to protect yourself from hacker betrayals. That's where Security Awareness Training (SAT) comes in.
What is Security Awareness Training (SAT)?
The overall purpose of the SAT program is to ensure the safety of your employees and your organization. However, the fundamental benefit is demonstrating compliance. Content may vary between programs, but most are generally similar, requiring employees to watch scripted videos, study common presentations, and take tests on cyber “hygiene” . The SAT program is essentially designed to help you:
- Educate your employees to be aware of cybersecurity risks such as phishing and ransomware.
- Minimize your organization's exposure to cyber threats
- Maintain regulatory compliance with cyber insurance provisions
These are all worthy goals that will help your organization grow amidst ever-evolving cyber threats. However, achieving these results may seem like a pipe dream. That's because there's one unfortunate truth about most SAT programs. It's just that they don't work.
The longstanding challenge of the traditional SAT
Traditional SAT programs have long come under scrutiny for their inability to induce meaningful behavior change. In fact, 69% of employees admit to “deliberately circumventing” their company's cybersecurity guidance.
If you oversee cybersecurity for your organization, you're probably familiar with the struggles involved in implementing, managing, and encouraging the use of cybersecurity. Given the complexity, traditional his SAT solutions effectively force non-technical employees to become full-fledged engineers.
| Challenges for administrators | Employee challenges | organizational challenges |
| Complex and ongoing management can be frustrating. Moreover, through everything they find only poor results. | they are bored. Unappealing content is harmful because it doesn't lead to knowledge retention. Boring and unappealing content doesn't help knowledge retention. | Most SATs are ineffective because they are created by generalists rather than true cybersecurity experts.Additionally, many SATs are designed with few reporting features, resulting in limited visibility into success rates. |
Because most SAT programs are complex to administer, they are usually ignored as a means to an end. Check the compliance checkbox to proceed. But when done correctly, SAT is a powerful tool that helps employees make smarter, more intuitive, and security-conscious decisions.
Ask the right questions before choosing a SAT solution
When choosing the right solution for your organization, there are some questions you should ask yourself first. Evaluating the following points will help you choose the best option for your specific needs.
learning based questions
- Are the topics covered on this SAT relevant to my organization's security and compliance concerns?
- Are episodes updated regularly to reflect current threats and scenarios?
- Does this SAT engage users in a unique and meaningful way?
- Is this SAT built and supported by cybersecurity experts?
- Has the teaching method been proven to increase knowledge retention?
Management based questions
- Can someone outside my organization administer the SAT for me?
- Can it be implemented immediately?
- Do you want to automatically enroll new users and automate management?
- Are we smart enough to skip non-human identities and not assign training to, say, a copier?
- Is it simple and intuitive enough for everyone across your organization to use?
Your ideal SAT will allow you to answer a resounding “yes” to all of the above.
Key features of an effective SAT
A SAT solution that is easy to deploy, manage, and use can have a significant positive impact. That's because solutions that deliver ease take all of your organization's cybersecurity needs into account. In other words, an effective SAT does all the heavy lifting for you, with the following characteristics:
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Related topics …Based on real threats you might encounter. |
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What to look for:
Avoid cookie-cutter and outdated training by choosing an SAT solution with expert support. Cybersecurity professionals should regularly create and update episodes based on the latest trends they see hackers exploiting in the wild. Additionally, every episode must feature a unique cybersecurity topic that reflects the latest in real-world trade. |
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Fully managed by real experts …so you don't have to waste time creating, managing, and allocating training. |
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What to look for:
Ideally, you want a SAT solution that can manage all the tasks you need. Look for a SAT solution backed by real cybersecurity experts who can create, curate, and deploy learning programs and phishing scenarios on your behalf. |
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memorable episode …Fun, story-based lessons that are relatable and easy to understand. |
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What to look for:
Aim for SAT solutions that feature character-based narratives. This shows that the SAT has been carefully designed to attract learners across the attention span. If the episodes are intentionally funny and quirky, there's a good chance your employees will be having conversations about inside jokes, characters, and, of course, what they learned. As a result, these continued discussions only strengthen the culture of security. |
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Continuous enhancements …Thus, episodes are updated regularly in response to real-world threats. |
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What to look for: Look for SAT solutions that offer monthly episodes. This ensures that learners always have up-to-date information. Regularly encountering simulated cybersecurity scenarios can help strengthen your ability to identify and defend against risks such as phishing attacks. These simulations should be distributed at unpredictable time intervals (mornings, evenings, weekends, early months, late months, etc.) to keep learners alert and able to put their security knowledge into practice. . |
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minimal time commitment …so you don't have to spend tons of time managing everything. |
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What to look for: Choose an SAT solution that won't feel like a chore for your learners. Look for solutions that specialize in engaging episodes that are designed to be completed quickly. Choose SAT to suit your unique management needs and can regularly sync with the most popular platforms, including Microsoft 365, Google, Okta, and Slack. You can also easily sync your employee directory so that information is automatically updated every time you activate or deactivate a user. Finally, make sure you're intelligent enough to decipher human and non-human identities so you're only charged for accounts associated with real individuals. |
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actual results …through episodes that instill meaningful security-focused behaviors and habits. |
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What to look for: Influential SATs require monthly training based on science-backed teaching methodologies that are proven to help employees better understand and retain coursework. The SAT should include engaging videos, text, and short quizzes that introduce realistic cyber threats that you or your employees might encounter in real life.
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measurable data …with easy-to-read reports on usage and success rates. |
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What to look for: An influential SAT program must offer robust reporting. A clear summary should focus on learners who have not received training or who have been compromised by a phishing simulation. Plus, detailed reports give you all the data you need to prove your business, insurance, and regulatory compliance. |
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Easy to deploy ….This makes it easy to deploy and easy to scale with your organization. |
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What to look for: Choose a SAT solution built specifically for organizations with limited time and resources. Easy-to-implement solutions that can be deployed across your organization in minutes. |
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compliance …Compatible with various standards and regulations |
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What to look for: Compliance is the bare minimum that SAT should provide your organization, but it should not be underestimated. Every business has unique compliance demands, whether it's checking an insurance box or meeting important industry regulations. At a minimum, your SAT solution must meet the following requirements:
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The threat landscape is changing. Your SAT should change accordingly.
Cybercriminals think they are smart and maliciously targeting individuals across organizations like you. That's why you need to ensure your employees are smart. Being aware of the ever-changing tactics employed by hackers allows them to stand as your first line of defense. But before that, you need to deploy your solution with reliable training from real cybersecurity experts who understand real-world emerging threats.
Huntress Security Awareness Training is an easy, effective, and fun solution that helps you:
- Minimize time-consuming maintenance and administrative tasks
- Improving knowledge retention with neuroscience-based learning principles
- Keep you and your employees updated on the current threat landscape
- Establish a culture of cybersecurity
- Encourage meaningful behavioral habits and improve security awareness
- Engage you and your employees in creative and impactful ways
- Ensure regulatory compliance
- Keep cybercriminals away from your organization
See how a fully managed SAT can free up time and resources while empowering your employees with smart habits that better protect your organization from cyber threats.
Say goodbye to ineffective and outdated training. Say hello to Huntress SAT.
Start your free trial of Huntress SAT today.
