How can you incorporate real-world scenarios into security awareness training?

Without real-world scenarios, the protection plan is only theoretical. We can learn so much from attacks like solar winds and the Cozy Bear attacks. These, real-world, attacks give us more information and data than if we were to manufacture attacks. They are true examples of real-life attackers, and since they are real attackers, we can start to identify trends, techniques, and procedures of the attackers and stop trends before we actually see them in our networks.

Phishing simulations. Phishing simulations are a common type of real-world scenario that can be used to train employees on how to identify and avoid phishing emails. Incident response exercises. Incident response exercises are more complex real-world scenarios that can be used to train employees on how to respond to a cybersecurity incident. Penetration testing. Penetration testing is a type of real-world scenario where a security professional attempts to break into an organization's systems or networks. This can be a valuable way to identify security vulnerabilities and to train employees on how to defend against them.

I do not agree that real-world scenarios are simulations....I've always built labs based on actual TTPs using actual systems that replicate business organization models and execute real attacks based on research from reports on threat groups. Too many simulators all tie back to an agent or system running API calls - and that's not how attacks originate. You have to be able to show every stage of the attack life-cycle as it would actually appear to a SOC/IR analyst ---- and that's what my UPSET Investigation Workshops have been all about.

Real world scenarios help the audience relate to the situation. Examples based on actual incidents help the students increase their practical knowledge and refine their incident response planning. Lessons learned from exercises can be incorporated into future training and feed into security policies and incident response plans.

If you think outside the box on security awareness training and think about table top exercises ( which could be used in a lunch and learn setting too) - the goal of the table top is to test your teams (People), test your IR plans, playbooks and other process (Process) and in some scenarios utilize pertinent information like current tech and tool names in the exercise (Technology) in order to produce the most authentic and relevant table top that matches your environment. Then coupled with current cyber threat landscape info, or possibly a scenario that includes a threat that your organization recently faced, to again make it relevant.

To simulate real world scenarios, there are many real incidents that have been analyzed with published articles. I like to incorporate these with elements from real cases that have been adjudicated. There is a wealth of information in affidavits that are made public when cyber threat actors are prosecuted. US Department of Justice often publishes press releases on cases as well. Presenting penetration testing tools and techniques are also very effective in helping students learn what exploits are possible and how their systems are vulnerable. Scenarios should always align with the threats faced by the company or individual. For better or worse, many real-life examples are available to build training materials from.

You should be able to review incidents from the last 12-24 months and come up with plenty of situations to present as "real-world scenarios" that are actually specific to your exact organization. Your IR team may even be willing to send someone to speak about these incidents and help do some Q&A themselves.

Training programs must simulate the types of threats individuals encounter in their daily work using case studies or simulations. For instance, employees can be presented with a scenario resembling a recent phishing attack, prompting them to analyze the email, spot red flags, and decide how to respond. Moreover, conducting "live fire" exercises, where employees face simulated attacks and must follow security protocols, helps them grasp the consequences of security lapses and hone their response skills in a risk-free setting. To maintain relevance, these scenarios should be updated regularly to reflect current threats.

Things to consider for developing Table-Top scenarios, - Research and use recent threats and attack methods - Tailor scenarios to make them more relevant to your environment and audience. - Include familiar systems/apps in injects to enhance the realism - Strategically adapt injects to choices made. - Include surprise elements within these injects to escalate seemingly minor incidents into full-blown cyber attacks. This gradual escalation helps participants understand that, in the world of cybersecurity, the attack itself may be inevitable. However, the focus is on improving our response and delaying the attack through better decision-making. "Making better choices during an incident is likely to result in only delaying the cyberattack"

Identify Risks: Start by pinpointing common security risks, like phishing emails or lost devices. Craft Scenarios: Develop stories or situations based on these risks. For instance, a suspicious email or a lost laptop. Add Context: Make scenarios realistic. Describe who's involved, what happens, and why it's a security issue. Provide Guidance: Include clear instructions on how employees should respond in each scenario. Test and Revise: Test the scenarios with employees and adjust based on their feedback. Keep scenarios up to date with evolving threats. Use Feedback: Continuously gather feedback from employees to enhance and adapt the scenarios for ongoing training.

Start by utilizing immersive platforms like simulations or virtual reality to replicate potential situations. Encourage open discussions and feedback sessions post-scenario to foster a culture of continuous learning. Lastly, periodically update and rotate scenarios to keep the training fresh, ensuring employees are equipped to handle evolving threats.

Start with real world case law judgements. Remove the names and real locations and introduce the facts of the case leading up to the event. Break your team into small groups and have them assume the defense. Continue to introduce the facts of the case up to the adverse action. Have the small groups offer ideas of approach. Continue to add information up to conclusion and ask for them to come up with solutions. Ask: How could the structure be better? How were actions flawed? What training could have prevented it? What is the likely outcome? Discuss court findings. Explain Risk Management issues. Explain how the situation could have been different. Explain concepts of policy, procedure, training and leadership.

Certainly, delivering real-world scenarios offers various options. Online platforms like interactive videos or phishing simulations engage employees, while offline methods like case studies encourage collaboration. Blending online and offline methods ensures a comprehensive approach. Most importantly,provide clear instructions, balance difficulty, encourage participation, and offer timely feedback.

Regularly solicit feedback from participants to identify areas of improvement and gaps in the training content. Monitor the cybersecurity landscape for emerging threats and trends, ensuring the scenarios remain ahead of the curve. By intertwining collaborative feedback with proactive research, organizations can cultivate training modules that are both current and comprehensive.

Feedback will be instrumental in iteratively improve the training scenarios. Three suggestions: 1. Check understanding of the course material with knowledge checks / quizzes 2. Add a survey to the end of the training 3. Conduct feedback conversations with business leaders

Just like updating a map for a changing landscape, revising real-world scenarios based on data and feedback is crucial. By staying current and relevant, your team remains well-prepared to tackle evolving cybersecurity challenges, ensuring a strong defense for your organization.

We have to feel it - the people in the room when we're talking about it. Collectively. For instance, imagine I'm talking to a hospital. I can make it personal - mention that I had surgery in that hospital on (whatever date) to remove a tumor that would later be labelled as malignant. There'll be info about that surgery. Medical details. Maybe pictures (though it was 1991, so probably not). But I can verbally paint that picture. And then when everyone's involved in the story...then mention how devastating it would be to me if that info were public in detail. And that they serve thousands of "me" each day. And that's why they need to lock their screens, etc. - all the way on down the line. Always a story with enough detail.

In order to train employees on real world software security issues, we can utilize "OWASP Top 10" to identify on which issues we will work. Additionally we may use SonarQube, SNYK etc. as a tools which are not only focus on detection of existence of vulnerabilities but also provide guidance to fix the identified issues. Such tools also catagorize issues based on their severity level which may help on prioritization.

Begin by assessing the most prevalent risks and vulnerabilities specific to your organization. Engage with team members across departments to understand their daily tasks and the potential cyber challenges they face. Develop a prototype scenario based on this information, and pilot it with a small group to gauge effectiveness. Refine based on feedback, and gradually expand the scope and complexity as the organization becomes more familiar with the approach.

To enhance your security awareness training, define goals, conduct a risk assessment, and tailor scenarios accordingly. Monitoring progress and using real-world situations boosts employees' skills and transforms your security culture. Ready to empower your team with effective training? Real-world scenarios are the key!

Incorporar escenarios del mundo real en la formación de conciencia sobre ciberseguridad es fundamental para que las personas comprendan la importancia de protegerse contra amenazas digitales. Aquí hay algunas formas de hacerlo, simulaciones de ataques cibernéticos: Organizar ejercicios donde los empleados enfrenten situaciones simuladas de ataques cibernéticos, como phishing, ransomware o ingeniería social. Esto les permite experimentar cómo se ven y se sienten estos ataques en un entorno controlado. Estudios de casos reales: Analizar casos de ataques cibernéticos reales que hayan afectado a organizaciones similares. Esto ayuda a contextualizar los riesgos y a comprender las consecuencias reales de la falta de seguridad cibernética.

Consider this: Cybersecurity awareness training should include baseline knowledge; however, understanding employee personas (groups of employees that perform similar tasks or have access to certain data) and customizing training based on their personas will optimize your organization's "human firewall"

there are several other important considerations when incorporating real-world scenarios into security awareness training. First, ensure that training is ongoing, not a one-time event. Cyber threats evolve rapidly, so continuous education is essential. Second, tailor scenarios to different job roles within your organization, as each may face unique risks. Third, emphasize the importance of reporting incidents and suspicious activities, fostering a culture of shared responsibility. Lastly, consider providing incentives or recognition for employees who excel in security awareness, creating a positive reinforcement mechanism that motivates vigilance and compliance.

Do you know what the most effective way of knowledge transfer among people is? - Gossip Utilize this by collecting stories of issues and incidents from your immediate surroundings, preferably from your own company. Package them into casual narratives involving specific individuals with names and faces. If the person you intend to train happens to know the person who experienced the incident, it will have an even stronger impact on their imagination. Of course, remember to obtain consent from the individuals whose stories you're using in your narrative, if based on real people. Perhaps they would like to share their experiences themselves? ;)

Incorporating real-world scenarios into security awareness training is paramount for fostering a proactive cybersecurity culture. To achieve this, start by tailoring training content to reflect actual threats and vulnerabilities prevalent in your organisation's industry. Use recent security incidents or breaches as case studies to illustrate the consequences of poor security practices. Conduct simulated phishing exercises and social engineering scenarios to provide hands-on experiences. Encourage employees to report security incidents, turning them into valuable teaching moments. Regularly update training materials to stay current with evolving threats.

One option to increase the effectiveness of training scenarios is to factor in grey and black swan scenarios. These events are ones that are unlikely to occur but are capable of inflicting significant destruction . One such event would be a prolonged grid failure caused at a regional level by a hostile state sponsored actor or terrorist group.