Statistics from last year show that 64% of data breaches are caused by human error – even without an active cyberattack. At the same time, 24% of phishing campaigns are successful on average. What does this mean? If one of your employees clicks on a malicious link, it could cost your company tens of thousands of dollars—or much more.
In addition, a 2024 survey found that 89% of IT professionals consider “insufficient employee training or improper user behavior” to be the biggest weakness within organizations, with phishing accounting for 58% of reported security incidents.
NIS2: The Deadline Is Approaching, Responsibility Is Increasing
The NIS2 Directive, which comes fully into force in 2025, will apply to approximately 6,000–15,000 organizations in the Czech Republic. This includes both large and medium-sized enterprises, as well as organizations operating in critical sectors such as healthcare, energy, transportation, finance, and public administration.
What does NIS2 actually require? In addition to audits, technical safeguards, risk management, and incident reporting, it explicitly requires regular cybersecurity training for employees.
Why Invest in Employee Training?
- Reduce Human Error: We already know that most data breaches are caused by mistakes—not sophisticated hacking.
- Lower Financial Impact: The average cost of investigating and recovering from a data breach can reach millions of dollars.
- Meet Regulatory Requirements: Employee training is one of the key components of NIS2 compliance.
- Build a Strong Security Culture: Well-informed employees can detect threats earlier, significantly reducing the risk of major security incidents.
What Works in Practice?
- Phishing Simulations – Realistic phishing campaigns that identify weak points while teaching employees how to respond correctly in real-life situations.
- Interactive Training – Short videos, practical scenarios, and simple quizzes help employees retain security best practices far more effectively than lengthy theoretical presentations.
- Regular Training – One-time training is not enough. To maintain awareness, key topics should be refreshed at least once a year.
- Role-Based Learning – Accountants, IT specialists, and managers face different cyber risks. Training content should be tailored to the responsibilities of each employee group.
- Measurable Results – It’s important to evaluate whether training is actually improving security. Phishing test results and comparisons of security incidents before and after training provide valuable insights.
How to Build an Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Program
Successful cybersecurity awareness is not about giving one presentation a year. It requires a structured and long-term approach:
- Assess Current Knowledge – Use surveys or initial assessments to understand employees’ current awareness levels.
- Define Clear Goals – For example, reduce phishing link click rates by 50%.
- Choose the Right Training Format – Tailor the program to your organization’s size, industry, and employee roles.
- Train Regularly – Deliver shorter training sessions throughout the year rather than relying on a single annual event.
- Measure Results and Continuously Improve – Cyber threats evolve rapidly, so your training program should evolve as well.
Your organization’s security begins with its people. Even the most advanced technical solutions can fail if a user makes a mistake. Regular, practical cybersecurity training is no longer optional—it is essential, not only because of the growing cyber threat landscape but also to meet regulatory requirements such as the NIS2 Directive.
Need Help Getting Started?
Not sure where to begin? We provide tailored cybersecurity awareness training and phishing simulations for both private companies and public sector organizations. We’ll help you meet NIS2 requirements while significantly reducing your cyber risk.
Get in touch with us—we’ll be happy to discuss the best solution for your organization.
