How do you deliver security training to diverse learners?

1 Know your audience

Before you create or choose any security training content, you need to know who your learners are, what they already know, and what they need to learn. You can use surveys, interviews, or assessments to gather information about your learners' roles, responsibilities, skills, knowledge, attitudes, and challenges related to security. This will help you tailor your training to their specific goals, gaps, and interests.

2 Choose the right format

There is no one-size-fits-all format for security training. Depending on your audience, you may want to use different formats such as online courses, webinars, videos, podcasts, games, simulations, or workshops. You may also want to combine different formats to create a blended learning experience that appeals to different learning styles and preferences. For example, you could use an online course to introduce the basic concepts of security, followed by a webinar to demonstrate how to apply them in real scenarios, and then a game to test the learners' knowledge and skills.

3 Use clear and simple language

Security training can be complex and technical, but that does not mean you have to use jargon, acronyms, or complicated terms that may confuse or intimidate your learners. You should use clear and simple language that is easy to understand and relate to. You should also explain any terms or concepts that may be unfamiliar or ambiguous to your learners. For example, you could use phishing to refer to the fraudulent practice of sending emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, but are actually designed to trick the recipients into revealing sensitive information or installing malware.

4 Provide relevant and realistic examples

One of the best ways to make security training engaging and memorable is to use relevant and realistic examples that show how security concepts and practices apply to your learners' work and personal situations. You should use examples that reflect the common risks, threats, and scenarios that your learners may encounter or face in their roles or contexts. You should also use examples that demonstrate the consequences and benefits of following or ignoring security best practices. For example, you could use a case study to show how a security breach affected an organization similar to yours, or how a security awareness campaign improved its security culture and performance.

5 Encourage interaction and feedback

Security training should not be a one-way communication, but a two-way dialogue that involves your learners and encourages them to participate and share their opinions, questions, and experiences. You should provide opportunities for interaction and feedback throughout your training, such as quizzes, polls, discussions, exercises, or peer reviews. You should also solicit feedback from your learners after the training, such as surveys, evaluations, or testimonials. This will help you measure the effectiveness and impact of your training, as well as identify areas for improvement or reinforcement.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?