How do you teach information security best practices?

Teaching information security best practices needs a thoughtful and tailored methodology, and understanding your audience is fundamental to the success of your training program. First of all, conduct a baseline assessment of the audience's current knowledge and skills in information security. Next, clearly define the learning objectives for your training program. Moreover, Tailor your training content to the specific needs of your audience. For example, the information security training for IT personnel may differ from that for non-technical staff. Lastly, training methodology and real-world examples will go a long way teaching information security best practices.

Customers, Support, Sales, Professional service, Engineers, Developers or Product testers all operate differently. Awareness training must be tailored to the various roles and actors so you'll need to determine the level and scope of your training material.

If your audience includes your customers, don't just hand some bullet points to Marketing. Collaborate to make sure the message remains accurate.

Understanding your audience's baseline knowledge is akin to a cybersecurity professional evaluating a network's vulnerabilities. Just as the network needs layers of tailored defenses, so too does the training require layers of adaptive instruction. Knowledge isn't one-size-fits-all; a rookie and a veteran will glean different insights from the same lesson. Regularly reassess to adapt, much like updating a system's threat assessment.

As far as my personal experience is concerned, one needs to select the topics carefully. In the training, one would be having limited amount of time. Further to that, one cannot go in much detail of one topic because there would be other things to cover as well. Therefore, up-to-date and most relevant topics need to be taught first. Apart from this, any training needs to begin with the fundamentals being covered in a little detail so that everyone gets on the same page for that particular training. Examples can include CIA Triad, difference between cybersecurity and information security, Malware and its categories, firewalls and VPNs etc.

Targeted training should consider and be centered around the processes the individual is exposed to. For developers you should teach them about secure code practices and the dangers of using 3rd party libraries. For support you would teach them on doing Identity verification or transferring files securely.

In cybersecurity, prioritization is key. With an ever-evolving threat landscape, it's imperative to align topics with the most pertinent risks. Reflect upon the biggest threats of the past year – were they ransomware attacks or insider threats? Structure your content like a cybersecurity framework: foundation (principles), procedures (operational best practices), and adaptation (response to emerging threats).

Diversity in learning methods parallels the layered security approach in cybersecurity. Consider this: a single-layer defense, like a simple firewall, is often insufficient. Similarly, solely relying on lectures could be ineffectual. Mixing demonstrations, discussions, and exercises is like having firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular audits together, building a more resilient learning environment.

In my opinion, using real world examples is the bridge needed for individuals to truly appreciate security. For example when delivering awareness training, I highlight the importance and the difference reporting incidents in a timely fashion makes using the SolarWinds hack. It's a situation most are familiar so when you connect the need to an end result, staff compliance and resilience goes up.

Reading threat intelligence reports often provides relevant information on the hack that can be used as a teaching example. You should review, update and deliver your new content at least once a year.

When communicating anything technical, you need to start with respect. Use: - appropriate language to ensure the message is received - practical examples of why your message is important and how it applies to them - easy, actionable steps they can do to reach the overall goal If you follow this, be ready for more questions... Once an individual sees they understand this topic, which they thought was difficult or overwhelming before, they can become curious and feel safe enough to ask if you can break down similar topics they don't understand. This is a great way to foster the culture of curiously that Yusuf Purna discusses in this section.

Beyond structured training, cultivate a culture of curiosity and continuous learning. In cybersecurity, the landscape shifts not just yearly, but daily. Encourage exploration of the latest journals, forums, and threat feeds. In essence, nurture the mindset of a vigilant cyber sentinel, ever-watchful and ever-ready to adapt.