5 hot topics to include in your cybersecurity awareness program

You've heard me say this before, and I'm saying it again… your cybersecurity awareness program needs to be built with purpose. When you build your program with purpose, your program will be different from mine, Bill's, and Sally's.


BUT…

There are some topics that every cybersecurity awareness program needs to address, and I've got


5 HOT TOPICS YOU NEED TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PROGRAM

  • Building a culture of cybersecurity – it's YOUR responsibility
    • Cybersecurity isn't just my responsibility. It' isn't everyone else's responsibility. It's YOUR responsibility. Each person in your business makes a difference, and everyone needs to be invested in creating and maintaining a secure environment, and it starts with culture.
  • Humans are the key to defending your business
    • Tell your humans that they matter to you and why they matter.
  • Social engineering
    • Tell your humans what social engineering is, why it's being used, and how it's being used against them
  • Phishing Emails
    • Phishing emails are the #1 way attackers get into your business. If you're not talking phishing emails, then you've got a gap. Raising awareness is more than just sending phishing email tests to your employees. You need to talk about them, show them examples, and share how to catch that phish.
  • Passwords
    • Keep beating that dead horse. Tell them why passwords matter and the benefits of using a password keeper.


To learn more about social engineering register for my on-demand video training, Social Engineering: The Art of the Click.



Comments

  1. TeresaJuly 29, 2025 at 3:30 PM

    This is a fantastic and highly actionable list of HOT TOPICS for any cybersecurity awareness program! You've nailed the most critical areas where human behavior plays a pivotal role in an organization's security posture.

    Emphasizing that cybersecurity is "YOUR responsibility" truly drives home the individual accountability necessary to build a strong security culture. Your points on the importance of human defense, breaking down social engineering, addressing phishing emails (the #1 threat!), and constantly reinforcing password hygiene are all foundational. It's not just about technical controls; it's about empowering every employee.

    For organizations looking to delve deeper into advanced training methodologies, share success stories in cultivating security champions, or discuss the latest social engineering tactics, a hacking forum can be an invaluable resource for learning and community engagement.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rising Cost of Mobile Forensics

Image
The cost of mobile forensics is increasing, and it's not just the price of the software to blame. As mobile phones continue to become more complicated and capable of doing more super cool things, the ability to retrieve and analyze data takes longer because it's all become more complicated. Gone are the days of the quick, 16-hour examination of an iPhone. If your client only cares about the content of texts, emails, and pictures, then, sure, you could grab that for them in 16 hours. But if you need anything more in-depth (and you will), it will take a lot more analysis and time than that. Things change in every update, which means the examiner must spend more time analyzing, testing, and validating the data. Even IF something has NOT changed with an update, many mobile device exams require some testing and validating of the data. All of this increases the prices passed to the clients in three ways. First, the cost of the software is passed along. Second, the longer it takes t...
Read more

Time is the longest distance between 2 points

Image
 "Time is the longest distance between two points."   These words by Tennessee Williams resonate deeply, considering the fragility of our memories and the challenges they pose in crucial moments. Imagine finding yourself on the witness stand, desperately grasping for recollections from the distant past. In this crucial moment, the true weight of time becomes evident.   The importance of detailed case notes cannot be overstated in legal proceedings. They are a vital link that connects our present selves with our past actions. Without them, our memories may falter, we have nothing to refresh our memory, and the quest for truth becomes an arduous struggle.   Case notes are the guardians of our actions, meticulously capturing what we did, discovered, what we found, and even what we didn't. They are the tangible records that safeguard the integrity of our recollections, preventing them from slipping away into the abyss of time.   Picture yourself in ...
Read more

How AI & Deepfakes lead to Sextortion

Image
Buckle up, and prepare yourself for the dark side of technological progress because AI is no exception to the rule. Imagine a world where scammers wield the power of AI to create mind-boggling deepfakes, exposing you in compromising situations. These sextortion scams have reached a whole new level of maliciousness. Let me shed some light on two prevalent ways these scams are executed: Picture this: someone close to you possesses naked pictures of you and shamelessly uses them to manipulate you into doing something you'd rather avoid. It's a terrifying thought, especially considering the perpetrator's familiarity with you. OR Picture receiving a random email that boldly claims to have a treasure trove of your intimate photos. Your disbelief drives you to click the link, only to realize you've fallen into a trap. As a result, your online accounts and even your beloved devices become vulnerable to compromise. I worked several sextortion cases in the FBI; some were your ave...
Read more