Your organization’s security is only as strong as its weakest link. And for many organizations, that weakest link is security illiterate staff. Without the proper level of awareness, these employees tend to develop risky behaviors like using weak passwords, sharing login credentials, accessing open networks, and bypassing security measures. Worse, they easily fall victim to various social engineering techniques because more often than not, they don’t realize they’re already being conned. They click on phishing links, download unsolicited email attachments, and supply sensitive information to questionable entities, to name a few.
Fortunately, these risky behaviors in your own staff can be corrected with a comprehensive security awareness training from an IT services provider in Austin, as well as an enticing reward and recognition program for user diligence from your organization.
The Power of Positive Reinforcement
The effectiveness of training doesn’t come as a surprise. If employees know the dangers of cybercrime and the right course of action to prevent one from happening, there’s a far lower chance for them to engage in risky behaviors that can compromise security. But the reward and recognition program may be a tad unconventional, as many organizations still choose to focus on doling out punishment for errors. That’s not wrong. Employees who repeatedly make mistakes, especially ones that can affect your organization as a whole, should be reprimanded before further damage can happen. But punishment alone motivates through fear, so it leads to a lower morale and higher job dissatisfaction in the long run.
According to research, reward and recognition programs make employees want to do better. They’re motivated not by fear, but by desire to receive something good, whether it’s a simple praise or a sizable cash incentive. Not only do employees engage in behaviors the organization wants, but their morale and employee satisfaction get a boost. So, completion of the cyber security training from your provider of IT services in Austin ensures your employees have something to look forward to.
As for punishment, make it corrective and not punitive. The goal is for risky behaviors to be dropped in favor of security awareness.
The Right Provider to Work With
If you’re interested in finding a reliable IT services provider in Austin to conduct training for your employees as part of their services, search no further. At Contigo Technology, we are happy to help you. Our team of experts has designed our cyber security training for Austin businesses to be practical so that trainees gain knowledge that they can apply in real life. To get more information, contact us now!