How to build an agile cybersecurity training curriculum

The key to effective cybersecurity training is employee interaction. When you incorporate real-life scenarios and hands-on activities that allow employees to apply what you're teaching in real time, you reinforce the messaging, making it stickier. To make the training accessible and easy to understand, as not all employees may have a technical background, use a variety of teaching methods, such as videos, quizzes, and group discussions that are applicable to their daily work.

In our recent webinar, cybersecurity and learning experts, Stefanie Drysdale, Gaurab Bhattacharjee, and John Trest discussed how to build the most agile cybersecurity training for your employees. They provided a deep dive into the nuances of crafting effective cybersecurity training programs that cater to the needs of a diverse workforce, especially in the context of increased remote work.

So let's break down the biggest takeaways and key points, and be sure to catch the recording at the end of this article.

Most L&D professionals know that if your employee training isn't personalized, it's not going to stick. Stefanie Drysdale, Senior VP of Cyber at Prescient, stressed the significance of tailoring cyber training programs to the specific roles and responsibilities of individual employees to ensure maximum retention and impact.

By personalizing the learning experience, organizations can increase engagement and ensure that training is directly relevant to the work being done. She also emphasized the importance of keeping up with evolving cyber threats and updating training content accordingly. This approach, especially with compliance topics, makes the content as relevant and customized as possible, even for large enterprises.

Building a culture of cyber awareness

While tailoring training to individual roles is crucial, Gaurab Bhattacharjee, who leads cybersecurity at Go1, also stressed the importance of fostering a broader cybersecurity culture within the organization. He emphasized the importance of maintaining consistent and engaging training across all departments, not just IT. He introduced the concept of "cyber buddies" as a strategy to foster continuous communication and personalize the training experience.

Gaurab explained that cyber buddies are designated individuals within each department who act as mentors and advocates for cybersecurity awareness. This approach helps to create a network of support and promotes a culture of accountability and responsibility for cybersecurity within the company. By involving all employees and assigning roles in training and awareness efforts, the organization can better protect itself against cyber threats.

Metrics and evaluations are critical

But when it comes to any type of compliance training like this, data is everything. Gaurab stressed the importance of using metrics such as completion rates and susceptibility to phishing attacks as tools to measure the effectiveness of your training programs. These metrics, he noted, are crucial for demonstrating the value of cybersecurity initiatives to executive leadership and securing their support.

John Trest, CLO at Inspired eLearning also pointed out the significance of using metrics to quantify risks and justify budget allocations for cybersecurity initiatives to organizational leaders as well.

In addition to tracking metrics, regular evaluations and updates to the training program are essential for staying ahead of constantly evolving cyber threats. This can include regularly reviewing and updating training materials, incorporating new techniques and strategies, and staying up-to-date on industry trends and best practices, which Stefanie highlighted in the webinar.

By continuously improving and adapting your training programs, employees can identify and respond to potential cyber threats, ultimately strengthening the company's overall cybersecurity posture.

How to create memorable cybersecurity training

With tactics, threats, and new technology changing so quickly, all the panelists agreed, employee cyber training is best when it's year-round. By reinforcing cybersecurity principles throughout the year, these critical and time-sensitive topics stay top of-mind for employees, which builds retention and awareness. But how do we keep it interesting enough if the training is ongoing?

• John highlighted that storytelling supports memory retention far better than quizzes, as stories naturally engage and stick with employees, making training more memorable​.

• Stephanie suggested using a mix of macro and microlearning to cover essential topics in varied depth. While microlearning offers quick, digestible lessons, macro-learning sessions provide the depth needed for complex topics.

• Gaurab shared the need for bite-sized, "nugget" learning that employees can engage with over a short break or lunch. He emphasized that this approach not only respects employees' busy schedules but also supports frequent reinforcement, which enhances retention.

There are clear benefits to elevating cybersecurity awareness across the entire organization, and in a way that focuses on employee awareness, engagement, and retention. With practical guidance on how to source high-quality training content that's both consistent and finely tuned to the specific needs of each role, you can ensure your team is prepared to identify and report risks, avoid threats, and be an advocate for cyber safety at work.

By championing storytelling and continuous reinforcement, compliance and training officers can direct a clear path to maximizing the impact of cybersecurity training. Ultimately, this approach empowers your organization to proactively defend against the ever-increasing complexity of cyber threats.

Watch the full webinar to hear from our expert panel on the best practices for developing memorable cyber training programs.