Imagine you are a security analyst consulting with an HR administrator to develop a cybersecurity awareness campaign or cybersecurity training for all company employees. Select a topic for your awareness campaign from the following options:
Policy—implications of non-compliance
Unknown email and attachments
Social engineering
Incident response—contact whom? “What do I do?”
Laptop security while on travel—address both physical and information security issues
Supported and allowed software on organization systems—part of configuration management
Access control issues—address least privilege and separation of duties
Visitor control and physical access to spaces—discuss applicable physical security policy and procedures (for example, challenge strangers, report unusual activity)
Protect information subject to confidentiality concerns—in systems, archived, on backup media, in hardcopy form, and until destroyed
Describe how you would either create an awareness campaign or a training program using techniques from the NIST report. Explain why the delivery method you chose would be more effective for addressing your topic.
Full Answer Section
NIST Report Alignment: This campaign draws upon the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, specifically the "Identify" and "Protect" functions. It aligns with NIST's recommendations for user awareness training, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and responding to cyber threats. It also incorporates principles from NIST SP 800-16, "Security Training Awareness and Education," which stresses the importance of engaging and relevant content.
Delivery Method: A blended learning approach combining interactive online modules with simulated phishing exercises and regular "bite-sized" reminders.
Rationale for Chosen Method:
- Interactive Online Modules: These modules will cover:
- Phishing Basics: Definition, common tactics (e.g., urgency, impersonation), and real-world examples.
- Identifying Suspicious Emails: Header analysis, grammatical errors, unusual sender addresses, and suspicious links.
- Malware Risks: Types of malware (viruses, ransomware, spyware), how they spread, and the consequences of infection.
- Safe Email Practices: Never clicking on links or opening attachments from unknown senders, verifying sender identity, reporting suspicious emails.
- Simulated Phishing Exercises: These exercises will test employees' ability to identify phishing attempts in a safe environment. Realistic but harmless phishing emails will be sent to employees periodically. Those who click on the simulated links will be redirected to a training page reinforcing safe email practices. This provides a practical, hands-on learning experience.
- "Bite-Sized" Reminders: Regular, short reminders through various channels (e.g., posters, intranet articles, short videos, email tips) will reinforce the key messages from the training modules. These reminders will keep the topic top-of-mind and help employees develop a habit of cautious email handling.
Why this blended approach is more effective:
- Engaging and Interactive: Interactive modules and simulated phishing exercises are more engaging than passive lectures or reading materials. They allow employees to actively participate in the learning process, improving knowledge retention.
- Practical Application: Simulated phishing exercises provide a safe environment for employees to practice identifying phishing attempts. This bridges the gap between theory and practice, making the training more relevant and effective.
- Reinforcement and Retention: Regular reminders reinforce the key messages from the training modules, preventing knowledge decay and promoting long-term behavior change.
- Measurable Results: The simulated phishing exercises allow for tracking employee performance and identifying areas where further training is needed. This data-driven approach helps to measure the effectiveness of the campaign.
- Flexibility and Accessibility: Online modules can be accessed at employees' convenience, making the training more flexible and accessible.
Campaign Timeline:
- Phase 1 (2 weeks): Launch the interactive online modules. Promote the modules through various communication channels and require all employees to complete them.
- Phase 2 (Ongoing): Implement simulated phishing exercises. Start with less sophisticated phishing attempts and gradually increase the complexity.
- Phase 3 (Ongoing): Deliver "bite-sized" reminders through various communication channels. Rotate the content of the reminders to keep them fresh and engaging.
Evaluation:
The effectiveness of the campaign will be evaluated through:
- Employee completion rates of the online modules.
- Employee performance on the simulated phishing exercises (click rates).
- Feedback from employees on the training materials and the campaign as a whole.
- A decrease in the number of successful phishing attacks targeting the organization.
By combining interactive training, practical exercises, and ongoing reinforcement, this cybersecurity awareness campaign will equip employees with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves and the organization from the ever-evolving threat of phishing and malware.
Sample Answer
Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign: Unknown Email and Attachments
Topic: Unknown email and attachments – recognizing and avoiding phishing and malware threats.
Target Audience: All company employees.
Campaign Goal: To educate employees on the risks associated with unknown emails and attachments, empowering them to identify and avoid phishing and malware attacks, thus protecting company data and systems.
Campaign Approach: A multi-faceted awareness campaign combining interactive training modules with ongoing reinforcement through various communication channels