User awareness training program

Annual User Awareness Plan for Synthetic Users

Objective:

To educate and reinforce security awareness among all employees, ensuring they understand and adhere to best practices for data protection, compliance, and cybersecurity. This plan is tailored to meet the stringent requirements of our banking sector clients.

1. Kick-Off Meeting (January)

• Audience: All employees
• Purpose: Introduce the annual security awareness program, outline the importance of security in our industry, and explain the expectations for the year.
• Content:
  • Overview of the program
  • Key security policies and procedures
  • Importance of data protection and compliance, especially for banking clients
• Format: All-hands meeting (virtual or in-person) with senior leadership and security officers

2. Monthly Security Focus Emails (February - November)

• Audience: All employees
• Purpose: Provide continuous education on specific security topics to keep security awareness top-of-mind.
• Content:
  • February: Phishing and Social Engineering
  • March: Password Management and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • April: Data Encryption and Secure Data Handling
  • May: Mobile Device Security and Remote Work Best Practices
  • June: Physical Security and Secure Workspace Guidelines
  • July: Data Privacy Regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA)
  • August: Secure Software Development and Coding Practices
  • September: Incident Response Procedures
  • October: Insider Threat Awareness
  • November: Compliance and Audit Readiness
• Format: Concise, engaging emails with links to further reading, videos, and quizzes

3. Quarterly Interactive Training Sessions (March, June, September, December)

• Audience: All employees
• Purpose: Engage employees in interactive, scenario-based training sessions that reinforce key security concepts.
• Content:
  • March: Phishing Simulation and Response (with live phishing test)
  • June: Data Protection and Encryption Best Practices
  • September: Secure Remote Work and Device Management
  • December: Incident Reporting and Response Simulation
• Format: Virtual or in-person workshops with interactive elements, such as role-playing scenarios and group discussions

4. Annual Security Awareness Quiz (November)

• Audience: All employees
• Purpose: Assess employees’ understanding of key security concepts covered throughout the year.
• Content: Questions covering all monthly focus topics, interactive scenarios, and policy-specific questions.
• Format: Online quiz platform with instant feedback and explanations for incorrect answers

5. Specialized Training for High-Risk Roles (Ongoing)

• Audience: Employees in roles with elevated security responsibilities (e.g., IT, DevOps, HR, Finance)
• Purpose: Provide deeper, role-specific training to those handling sensitive data or systems.
• Content:
  • Advanced threat detection and response
  • Secure coding practices and code reviews
  • Handling of sensitive customer data
  • Compliance with banking sector-specific regulations
• Format: Instructor-led training

6. Security Awareness Week (October)

• Audience: All employees
• Purpose: Intensify focus on security awareness through a series of events, coinciding with National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
• Content:
  • Daily webinars on various security topics
  • Interactive challenges (e.g., capture the flag, security puzzles)
  • Rewards and recognition for top performers in security challenges
• Format: In-person events

7. Policy Acknowledgment and Refresher Training (December)

• Audience: All employees
• Purpose: Ensure all employees are up-to-date on company security policies and have acknowledged their understanding.
• Content:
  • Review of updated security policies and procedures
  • Mandatory refresher training on key policies (e.g., acceptable use, data handling)
  • Digital acknowledgment form to be signed by all employees
• Format: In-person events

8. Program Evaluation and Feedback (December)

• Audience: All employees and management
• Purpose: Evaluate the effectiveness of the security awareness program and gather feedback for improvement.
• Content:
  • Anonymous employee surveys
  • Review of quiz and training participation data
  • Feedback session with management and key stakeholders
• Format: Online surveys, data analysis, and roundtable discussion