Recent statistics show that 64% of data breaches are caused by human error – even without an active cyberattack. At the same time, phishing campaigns succeed in 24% of attacks on average. What does this mean? A single careless click by an employee can cost a company tens of thousands of euros – or much more.
A 2024 survey further reveals that 89% of IT professionals consider “insufficient training or improper user behavior” to be the biggest internal security weakness – with phishing being the cause of 58% of security incidents.
NIS2: The deadline is approaching, and the pressure is rising
The NIS2 Directive, which will come into full force in 2025, will affect between 6,000–15,000 organizations in the Czech Republic. This includes large and medium-sized companies as well as organizations in critical sectors such as healthcare, energy, transport, finance, and public administration.
And what exactly does NIS2 require? In addition to audits, technical measures, risk management, and incident reporting, the directive explicitly mandates regular employee training.
Why Invest in Employee Training?
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Reduce Human Error: Most breaches happen due to mistakes, not hackers.
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Lower Financial Impact: The average cost of investigating and mitigating a breach can reach millions of dollars.
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Meet Legal Requirements: Employee education is a key component of NIS2 compliance.
- Build a Security Culture: Well-informed teams can spot threats earlier, reducing the risk of major incidents.
What Works in Practice?
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Phishing Simulations – Realistic mock attacks reveal weaknesses and teach employees how to react appropriately.
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Interactive Training – Short videos, practical scenarios, and simple quizzes help employees remember key security principles far better than long, theoretical lectures.
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Regular Refreshers – One-time training is not enough. To maintain awareness, key topics should be repeated at least once a year.
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Role-Specific Education – Risks vary for accountants, IT staff, and managers. Training content should be tailored to the responsibilities of different employee groups.
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Measurable Outcomes – It’s essential to know whether the training is making an impact. Test results or incident analysis before and after training can provide valuable insights.
How to Implement an Effective Cybersecurity Training Program?
A successful cybersecurity education strategy is more than just an annual presentation. It requires a thoughtful, ongoing process:
- Assess Current Knowledge – Through surveys or initial testing.
- Set Clear Goals – For example, reduce phishing link clicks by 50%.
- Choose the Right Training Format – Based on the organization’s size, industry, and employee roles.
- Train Regularly and Gradually – In small, digestible segments.
- Evaluate and Adjust – The threat landscape changes quickly, and training must evolve accordingly.
The security of your organization starts with your people. Even the best technical solutions can fail if a user makes a mistake. Regular and meaningful employee education is no longer optional – it’s essential for managing the growing threat landscape and meeting legal requirements like NIS2.
Need Help Getting Started?
Not sure where to begin? We can design tailored training and testing programs for your employees – whether you operate in the private or public sector. We’ll help you meet NIS2 requirements and significantly reduce the risk of a cybersecurity incident.
Contact us – we’ll be happy to explore the best solution for your organization.
