The Role of HR in Building Cybersecurity Awareness Among Employees

Cybersecurity has become a major concern for businesses of all sizes. With the rise in cyberattacks and data breaches, it’s not just the IT department that needs to be vigilant—every employee must play a part. 

The Human Resources (HR) department, in particular, has a key role in raising cybersecurity awareness and creating a security-first culture in the workplace. As companies rely more on online tools and digital platforms, cyber threats have become more common and sophisticated. Hackers are always looking to target employees with phishing emails, malware, or other tricks that can lead to security breaches. While IT handles the technical side of cybersecurity, HR is responsible for ensuring employees know the risks and how to protect themselves and the company.

Let’s break down how HR can champion cybersecurity efforts.

Why Do Employees Need Cybersecurity Awareness?

Many cyberattacks happen because employees are unaware of how they are being targeted. Hackers know that tricking someone is easier than cracking a company’s security systems. This is why phishing emails, suspicious links, and weak passwords are such effective methods for attackers. Unfortunately, these hacking strategies work because employees are not aware they are being tricked. Moreover, without proper awareness, companies face the risk of data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage. In this sense, cybersecurity is not just a technical problem; it’s a human one too. 

On the other hand, when employees understand the risks and know what to watch out for, they become an important defense against cyber threats. 

HR’s Role in Promoting Cybersecurity

Since HR is involved with employees at every stage—from hiring to exit—it’s in a perfect position to educate and engage staff on cybersecurity.

1. Start with Onboarding

Kickoff cybersecurity training right from the start. During new employee onboarding, cover basic cybersecurity practices. This includes teaching them to create strong passwords, recognize phishing scams, and follow the company’s data privacy rules. Also, work closely with IT to make cybersecurity part of the mandatory training for new hires. By setting the tone early, employees will understand that security is part of their daily responsibilities too.

2. Provide Ongoing Training

Cybersecurity isn’t a one-time lesson. As threats evolve, employees need regular updates to stay informed. This is why you must organize training sessions every six months or annually to keep cybersecurity on top of their minds.

These training sessions should cover:

• How to spot phishing scams and malicious emails.
• The importance of using two-factor authentication.
• Safe practices for remote work, like using secure Wi-Fi and VPNs.
• How to avoid risky websites and keep company data safe.
• Updates on recent attacks and their modus operandi.
• How to report suspicious emails.

Make the training interactive, through quizzes or real-life scenarios, to make it engaging. The more relevant and hands-on the training, the more likely employees will remember and apply it.

3. Create Clear, Easy-to-Follow Policies

Work with the IT department and management to create clear cybersecurity policies that have unambiguous words. It’s not enough to just hand out a policy document. Rather, employees must know exactly what’s expected of them, and this means, using simple words and illustrations where appropriate.

Ideally, cybersecurity policies should cover:

• How to handle sensitive data and keep it safe.
• Steps to report a suspected security breach or phishing email.
• Consequences for not following cybersecurity policies.

Update these policies regularly as new threats arise and make sure employees can easily access them whenever needed.

4. Build a Security-First Culture

You have a unique opportunity to shape the company’s culture, and cybersecurity should be a core part of it. Employees must feel like they’re part of a team effort to keep the company safe, rather than being solely responsible for their own actions.

To build this culture:

• Recognize and reward employees who demonstrate strong cybersecurity practices.
• Host cybersecurity awareness events or challenges to get everyone involved.
• Encourage departments to share tips on how they stay safe online.
• Create internal content that revolves around cybersecurity. Include personal experiences, stories, and anything that can resonate with the audience. 

When security becomes part of the daily routine, employees are more likely to take it seriously and make it a habit.

5. Monitor and Enforce Security Measures

Along with formulating policies, make sure employees are following them. Work with IT to track who’s completed their cybersecurity training and identify anyone who might need additional guidance. If employees fail to comply with the policies, there should be clear consequences. For example, employees who click on phishing emails or share passwords may need to go through additional training, while repeat offenders might face stricter disciplinary actions.

Also, partner with IT to run periodic tests, like sending out fake phishing emails, to see how well employees handle potential cyber threats. These exercises are great for identifying areas that need improvement and reinforcing the importance of vigilance.

The above strategies can go a long way in improving your organization’s security posture and preventing cyberattacks. 

Tackling Cybersecurity in Remote Work

The shift to remote work has made cybersecurity even more challenging. Remote employees may not have the same level of protection as they would in the office, which makes them more vulnerable to attacks. As an HR leader, adapt your cybersecurity programs to help remote workers stay safe.

This includes:

• Encouraging employees to use secure internet connections and avoid public Wi-Fi.
• Advising them on how to securely access company systems from home, including the use of VPNs.
• Offering ongoing IT support to remote workers facing cybersecurity challenges.

With such tools and guidance, you can help them stay productive and secure, no matter where they work.

Key Takeaways

The HR team plays a vital role in ensuring employees understand and take responsibility for cybersecurity. Strategies like integrated cybersecurity in onboarding, continuous training, and a security-minded culture can reduce the risks of data breaches and cyberattacks.  With the right approach, HR can turn cybersecurity awareness into a shared responsibility that protects both the organization and its employees.