Organisations are always looking for ways to improve their security practices, and one of the most effective ways to achieve this is by providing employees with cyber security training.
According to the cyber security firm AAG, 67% of small and mid-sized organisations say they don’t have the in-house skills needed to deal with cyber security concerns.
It’s an understandable problem. There is a huge demand for skilled data protection professionals, which makes it hard to find qualified candidates at reasonable salaries.
This presents a major challenge for organisations, but it offers huge opportunities for people looking to enter the information security industry or advance their career.
The sector offers generous salaries, plenty or room for career progression and it’s varied enough to suit people with an array of interests or skillsets.
By taking a certified training course on a topic such as ISO 27001 or the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), you can gain the knowledge and qualifications you need to take your professional prospects to the next level.
Meanwhile, organisations that encourage their employees to enrol on one of these courses can upskill their teams without to attract a new candidate.
Still not convincing that it’s the right option for you? Here are three ways that your organisation can benefit from staff training.
1. You’ll reduce the risk of data breaches
Almost all data breaches are caused by a mistake somewhere in the organisation. So if you want to keep your organisation secure, your employees to know what they’re doing.
That doesn’t only mean negligence – it could also be mistakes that you don’t even know are mistakes, such as gaps in your policies, ineffective processes or a lack of proper technological defences.
Placing staff on information security training courses will help them understand the mistakes they’re making and teach them to work more effectively.
This is especially useful if you intend to commit to a framework such as ISO 27001, the international standard for information security, as there are specific courses that teach you how to follow the Standard’s requirements.
2. You’ll meet compliance requirements
Cyber security laws and regulations inevitably contain complex requirements, so organisations need employees with specialist knowledge to achieve compliance.
For example, organisations that are required to appoint a DPO (data protection officer) under the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) must find someone with an in-depth understanding of data protection law.
The stakes associated with the position are huge; if the DPO doesn’t perform their tasks in accordance with the GDPR’s requirements, the organisation is liable to face regulatory action.
It’s therefore paramount that the DPO is given every resource available to do their job properly, and training courses should always be sought where possible.
They are not only the quickest way of studying but also usually include exams, which reassures employers that the individual is qualified.
The same advice applies for individuals in roles that involve compliance with the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), ISO 27001 or any other law or framework.
3. You’ll foster career growth
Training courses enable employees to pick up new skills and gain more advanced qualifications, which will help them move into more senior roles.
This isn’t only beneficial for them but also their employers. It’s getting increasingly hard to find qualified information security professionals, with 82% of UK-based organisations saying that there is a cyber security skills shortage.
Finding qualified personnel isn’t the only problem. A small pool of skilled workers also means job candidates can command a higher salary and more benefits.
As such, organisations might not be able to afford qualified professionals even if they can find them.
They should therefore do whatever they can to support employees who want to go on training courses. Organisations will almost certainly benefit from the extra knowledge, and it eases the pressure of finding skilled personnel in the job market.
Which course is right for you?
If you think you or someone one your team is ready to take the next step, IT Governance offers a range of training courses.
Plus, when you book a place on selected classroom courses before the end of March, you’ll get a free place* on our DPIA (data protection impact assessment) or cyber incident response management courses.
A version of this blog was originally published on 31 October 2018.
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