Educating Employees about Cyber Security

Did you know an email phishing scam cost one Texas School District $2.3 million?

This month we will focus on an area that may be most important as it relates to reducing the risk of malicious content entering your system via phishing emails. That area is employee education, it may be your last line of defense.

So, why is employee education so important? “Having a firewall and antivirus software is important, but employees dealing with e-mail, the internet, portable data devices, mobile devices, etc., also contribute to security and can be considered the last line of defense,” (Lucy Security). But wait a minute…are school districts really at risk?

Phishing emails were sent to the school district last November and it led to three separate transactions that cost the school district $2.3 million out of pocket. How could this have been stopped? On the front end by educating employees on what to look for when opening email. Without the necessary training to help employees identify these messages, it can be very easy for these bad actors to succeed.

Here are 7 Benefits of providing employee education: 

1) Training reduces errors

2) Training enhances Security

3) An educated staff increases compliance

4) Security training can help protect a school district’s reputation

5) Education helps morale

6) The school district will save time and money

7) You will have peace of mind