As organizations gear up for budgeting in 2024, security professionals are allocating funds to various areas, with employee security awareness training being a crucial component. However, the efficacy of traditional training methods is being questioned, given the persistence of insecure behaviors and the prevalence of social engineering attacks. Despite challenges, organizations prioritize training, often increasing investments post-attacks, making it the second-highest priority for 51% of organizations, according to the IBM Security “Cost of the Data Breach Report 2023.”

The key question arises: What makes security awareness training indispensable despite its challenges? Surveys, discussions with IT security engineers, and insights from a new cybersecurity course shed light on the evolving landscape.

Time Constraints and the Need for Engaging Content: Efficiency issues in training can no longer be attributed to a lack of interest from employees. CybSafe research reveals that 64% of respondents sought allocated time for security awareness sessions within their work schedules. Additionally, 43% considered engagement and interactivity more compelling than financial rewards, emphasizing the need for dynamic and practical experiences.

The scarcity of time is a critical barrier to cybersecurity learning, as employees grapple with short deadlines in fast-paced work environments. To address this, content creators are adapting to shorter attention spans and busy schedules. Cybersecuritoons, a cybersecurity course designed by Moonlock, a cybersecurity division at MacPaw, condenses security fundamentals into 1 minute and 30 seconds, recognizing the preference for bite-sized, impactful training.

Human Errors, Stress, and Burnout: Human errors stemming from stress, tight deadlines, and burnout are common in workplaces and contribute to security lapses. Tessian’s “Psychology of Human Error” report indicates that 50% of respondents made errors due to time pressure. While advanced security tech fortifies defenses, one human click can render all tools redundant.

Security awareness training serves as a reminder in daily routines, potentially saving organizations from significant financial and reputational losses. IBM Security notes a $1.5 million difference in data breach costs between companies with high and low adoption of security awareness training.

Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Building a human firewall requires acknowledging individual differences. Security teams must continually review their training strategies, shifting from formal education to providing tools for colleagues to assist security professionals during cyberattacks.

At MacPaw, the organization believes in collective security responsibility. Regular awareness training aims not only to reinforce security hygiene fundamentals but also to foster a feedback security culture. The efficiency of training is gauged through internal audits, but the most valuable outcome is colleagues actively reporting suspicious events.

Short-form Content and Future Trends: Recognizing the evolving preferences for shorter, more accessible training, Cybersecuritoons represents a trend in the market. Short-form content, designed for varying levels of security expertise, aligns with busy work schedules and improves engagement.

As the cybersecurity training market is expected to reach $10 billion by 2026, organizations are likely to witness more content similar to Cybersecuritoons. Embracing a human-centric approach and integrating feedback mechanisms can enhance the impact of security awareness training, making it a pivotal component in fostering a resilient cybersecurity culture within organizations.