If you’re still teaching the same security training topics today as you were two years ago, then your training is already obsolete and not effective against the latest attacker tradecraft.. Here is a set of five cybersecurity awareness training topics and data privacy training topics that you really cannot do without.

Check out this video on the same topic.

AI-powered tactics

Your people need to know how to spot deepfake audio, “quishing” (QR code scams), and push-bomb MFA techniques. Each of these could make a list of top cybersecurity training topics on its own.

Password and passkey hygiene

Teach best practices for using passphrases and password managers, and be able to discuss the pros and cons of FIDO2 adoption at a minimum.

Social engineering red flags

These are still very effective, especially because they bypass so many of your cybersecurity defenses. Train your team to verify identity requests and recognize urgency plays for what they are. Their go-to reply really needs to be, "No exceptions. That would cost me my job."

Secure remote and mobile work

We're still working remotely and over mobile devices than we were pre-COVID, and that’s unlikely to change. So, how do you overcome the fact that more than 6 out of 10 businesses aren't confident in their remote device security? By training employees to patch their devices quickly, avoid rogue apps and websites, and remain vigilant to social engineering threats. Use Zero Trust across personal and corporate devices. 

Incident reporting culture 

You've heard of “See something, say something,” but that only works if people aren’t afraid to speak up. If your employees fear blame or consequence, you’ve got a problem.

In cybersecurity, the “five Cs” are the foundation of operational resilience:

• Change: If you’re not adapting, you're being left behind. The threat landscape never stands still. Make sure your people's understanding of it is just as dynamic.

• Compliance: This is not just “regulatory compliance,” but that is a great place to start. Beyond laws and regs, though, you should also strive to comply with industry standards, especially those incorporated by reference into contract terms.

• Cost: This is more than just “sticker price.” Cost in this context is the total cost of ownership, compared to the harm of not licensing the system. ROI would be more descriptive, but that's not a C.

• Continuity: You need business continuity, the ability to keep operating at a substantial percentage of your earlier capacity even after a major cybersecurity event. Your people need to know how to ensure that. 

• Coverage: All of your data systems need to be protected—covered—or none of them are truly safe. Your on-premises data infrastructure is just the start. What about your third-party services and cloud-based systems, and data?

If your internal training still relies on outdated examples or one-size-fits-all content, it’s time to rethink your approach.

Huntress Managed SAT provides timely, relevant, interactive, and engaging lessons that keep up with the latest threat actors while emphasizing time-tested best practices. 

Want to see what better training looks like? Take a look through our video content and get started today. So if you’re not 100% sure your internal training is working, Huntress can help.