Security Awareness Training
A structured program designed to educate employees and other authorized users about information security threats, policies, and best practices, equipping them to recognize and respond appropriately to security risks in their daily work.
Security awareness training addresses what is consistently identified as the most significant factor in information security incidents: human behavior. Phishing attacks, social engineering, credential compromise, and inadvertent data exposure are all risks that technical controls alone cannot fully mitigate. A comprehensive security awareness program educates personnel about common threats (phishing, pretexting, baiting), organizational security policies and procedures, safe handling of sensitive data, password hygiene and authentication practices, physical security awareness, incident reporting procedures, and their specific responsibilities within the ISMS.
Security awareness training is required or strongly implied by every major compliance framework. ISO 27001 Clause 7.2 requires that persons doing work under the organization's control are competent and, where applicable, trained. Annex A control A.6.3 specifically addresses information security awareness, education, and training. SOC 2's Common Criteria require that personnel are trained on their security responsibilities. NIS2 explicitly mandates that essential and important entities provide cybersecurity awareness training, and requires management bodies to undergo specific training to identify risks and assess cybersecurity practices. GDPR Article 39 tasks the DPO with promoting awareness and training for staff involved in processing operations.
Effective security awareness programs go beyond annual checkbox training. Modern approaches include regular micro-learning modules that maintain engagement throughout the year, simulated phishing exercises that test and reinforce learning, role-specific training for personnel with elevated security responsibilities (developers, system administrators, executives), gamification elements that encourage participation and knowledge retention, and metrics that track training completion, phishing simulation results, and incident reporting rates. The program should be continuously improved based on feedback, training metrics, and evolving threats. Organizations should also maintain records of training completion for audit evidence and to demonstrate compliance with training requirements.
Related frameworks
Related terms
Acceptable Use Policy
A document that defines the rules and guidelines for how employees and other authorized users may use the organization's information assets, systems, networks, and data, including permitted activities, prohibited behaviors, and consequences for violations.
Incident Response
The organized approach to detecting, containing, investigating, and recovering from security incidents. An incident response plan defines roles, procedures, and communication protocols to minimize the impact of security breaches and other adverse events.
Information Security Policy
A high-level document approved by top management that establishes the organization's overall direction and principles for information security, defines the scope of the ISMS, demonstrates management commitment, and sets the framework for establishing security objectives and controls.
Information Security Management System
A systematic framework of policies, processes, and controls that an organization establishes to manage and protect its information assets. An ISMS addresses people, processes, and technology to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
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