The Cyber Defense eMagazine August Edition for 2023

weaknesses, tailors educational content to different roles and responsibilities within the company, and
accounts for behavioral differences.
For example, some employees may be more curious than others, which increases the likelihood that they
will click on a corrupt link in a phishing email. Others may be more fearful, which cybercriminals could
exploit to coerce them into providing sensitive information or access. When companies focus on these
individual characteristics, they will simultaneously provide the individual assistance employees need
while capturing their attention with content that’s hyper-relevant to their specific circumstances.
Workplace education should never be an imposition
It’s common for emails and other prompts about workplace training to include the word “mandatory,”
along with a demand for employees to complete the course by a specific date. At a time when employees
are asking for professional development and educational programs, this is a tremendous wasted
opportunity. Ninety-three percent of companies are concerned about employee retention, and the top
strategy they’re deploying to improve retention is providing learning opportunities. However, if training
content is monotonous and disengaging, employees will view it as a chore instead of a benefit.
According to Gallup, around one-in-five employees say they’re engaged at work – a situation which has
led to huge decreases in morale and productivity around the world. Gallup reports that key elements of
engagement include the availability of “opportunities to learn and grow” and the encouragement of
employee development. This is yet another reminder that the evidence for the value of workplace
education is overwhelming, and it demonstrates that training should never be forced on employees.
Rather, training is a mutually beneficial way to help employees pursue their professional aspirations while
creating a more capable corporate workforce.
The incentives to develop a personalized and engaging educational platform have never been clearer,
and companies should be capable of articulating these incentives to their workforces. By getting all
stakeholders on board with your workplace training program, you will ensure that this program leads to
long-term behavioral change while increasing employee loyalty and productivity along the way.
About the Author
Asaf Kotsel is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dcoya, a NINJIO
subsidiary offering a sophisticated simulated phishing platform that helps
cybersecurity leaders identify and address their employee’s individual
vulnerabilities while tracking organizational risk reduction. With two decades of
experience in sales and customer service, Asaf specializes in developing
innovative business strategies and leading cross-functional teams to deliver
class-leading solutions and enterprise growth.
Asaf can be reached on his LinkedIn page, as well as through the Dcoya website.
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