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How aware are your non-IT employees of the latest cybersecurity threats? The weakest link in today's cybersecurity setup is the human element. Cybersecurity defense programs are getting very smart at identifying and intercepting cyber threats. But people can be tricked into opening a malicious email or downloading a false update. Hackers are aware of this weakness and are deploying increasingly sophisticated techniques to dupe their human targets. Therefore, non-technical cybersecurity safety training is critical to the cyber safety of both small and large businesses. There are several good reasons to prioritize non-technical cybersecurity training for staff outside the IT department:

1. Safeguard Business Data

Most of your valuable business data is outside the IT department. For example, your product development data is in the R&D department. Your competitors would be happy to access this data and save product development costs. Losing this data in a hacking attack also sets your business years back in competitive advantage.

Non-technical cybersecurity training for employees in departments that are most likely targets safeguards your intellectual property. It helps keep your competitive advantage and enjoy the monetary benefits of your creativity. 

2. Safeguard Personal Data 

Hackers love personal data because they can easily sell it to other criminals or use it for identity theft. The HR department is a favorite target because it holds employee data. Marketing and customer service are also targets because they have customer data. Health, finance, and insurance businesses are especially targeted because hackers can easily establish the worth of their data.

Non-technical cybersecurity safety training helps staff holding this data identify common tricks that lead to data breaches. They can point out phishing emails, malicious links, and scam pages easily.

3. Ensure Compliance 

Data protection has become a hot topic. The authorities are taking steps to ensure businesses do more to protect personal data. Data privacy laws for different industries compel businesses to safeguard data or suffer legal and financial penalties. 

It is crucial to invest in non-technical cybersecurity safety training to avoid these penalties, which can cripple your business. It also helps avoid the negative publicity that comes with a data breach. 

4. Reduce IT Staff Workload 

Non-technical cybersecurity safety training for non-IT staff gives them more confidence to handle mundane tasks. For example, they can do software updates without fear. If necessary, the IT staff can guide them via team-working apps. It is essential if you are trying to keep staff costs low. 

Are you worried about the exposure of your business to today's cyber threats? Talk to a security training provider, such as iON Services LLC, about your security concerns.