Cyber Security Training: Core Staff

Cybersecurity Awareness Training for Employees

1. Introduction

Cybersecurity is an essential aspect of protecting the organization's information systems, networks, and data. This training will provide employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect the organization's digital assets from cyber threats.

2. Cyber Threats

Employees must be aware of the various cyber threats that can impact the organization's information systems, networks, and data. The training will cover the following topics:

- Phishing

Phishing is a type of online scam that involves the use of fraudulent emails, text messages, or websites to trick individuals into disclosing sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card details, or other personal information. 

Phishing attacks typically involve a cybercriminal impersonating a trusted organization or individual, such as a bank, government agency, or well-known brand, in order to gain the victim's trust and convince them to divulge sensitive information. The phishing message may contain a link to a fake website that looks like the legitimate one, or a request for the victim to reply with their personal information.

Phishing attacks can be highly effective because they rely on social engineering tactics that exploit human vulnerabilities, such as curiosity, fear, or a desire to help. To avoid falling victim to phishing scams, it is important to be vigilant and cautious when opening emails or clicking on links, especially if they are from an unknown sender or appear suspicious in any way. Additionally, it is important to verify the authenticity of any requests for personal information, such as by contacting the organization or individual directly using a verified phone number or email address.

- Malware

    Malware is a type of software that is specifically designed to cause harm to computer systems, networks, and devices. The term malware is a combination of the words "malicious" and "software". Malware can be used by cybercriminals to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, banking details, or personal data, or to gain unauthorized access to computer systems and networks.

There are several types of malware, including viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, and rootkits. Each type of malware has its own unique characteristics and methods of attack.

Malware can be introduced to computer systems through a variety of means, such as downloading files or software from untrusted websites, clicking on links or attachments in emails, or using infected USB drives. Once installed, malware can perform a range of malicious actions, such as stealing data, damaging files or hardware, taking control of the infected device, or using the device to launch further attacks.

To protect against malware, it is important to use up-to-date antivirus software, avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments, and regularly backup important data. Additionally, users should be cautious when downloading and installing software or updates, and should only use trusted sources.

-Ransomware

    A ransomware attack is a type of malicious software (malware) that encrypts the files on a victim's computer or network, rendering them inaccessible, and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key to restore access. Ransomware is typically delivered through phishing emails, malicious websites, or social engineering attacks.

Once a computer or network is infected with ransomware, the victim will usually receive a message or notification from the attacker demanding payment in exchange for the decryption key. The payment is often demanded in a cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, to make it difficult to trace.

Ransomware attacks can be devastating for individuals and organizations, causing significant data loss, financial damage, and reputational harm. Victims may be faced with the difficult decision of whether to pay the ransom or attempt to restore their data from backups.

To protect against ransomware attacks, organizations should implement a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity, including:

1. Regularly backing up critical data and storing it in a secure offsite location.

2. Deploying anti-malware software and keeping it up to date.

3. Enforcing strong password policies and implementing two-factor authentication.

4. Providing cybersecurity awareness training to employees to help them recognize and avoid phishing emails and other social engineering attacks.

5. Segmenting networks and restricting access to sensitive data.

6. Creating and testing a ransomware response plan to minimize the impact of an attack.

- Social engineering

    Social engineering is a technique used by cybercriminals to manipulate and deceive individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that may be harmful to themselves or their organization. 

Social engineering tactics often involve psychological manipulation to gain the trust of the victim or create a sense of urgency or fear, in order to convince the victim to disclose sensitive information or perform a desired action. For example, a social engineer may impersonate a trusted authority figure, such as an IT support technician or a company executive, and request sensitive information or access to the victim's computer or network. 

Common types of social engineering attacks include phishing emails or phone calls, pretexting (using a false identity or story to trick the victim), baiting (luring the victim with an enticing offer), and quid pro quo (offering something in exchange for sensitive information or access). 

To protect against social engineering attacks, individuals and organizations should be aware of the different tactics that may be used, and should implement security protocols and policies that minimize the risk of sensitive information being compromised. This may include employee training and education programs, implementing two-factor authentication, and implementing strict access controls and verification procedures.

- Password attacks

    Password attacks are a type of cyber attack that involve attempting to gain unauthorized access to a system, network, or account by cracking or guessing passwords. Passwords are a common method of authentication, but if they are weak or easily guessable, they can be easily compromised by attackers. Password attacks can be carried out in a number of ways, including:

1. Brute force attacks: In this type of attack, an attacker attempts to guess a password by trying all possible combinations of characters until the correct password is discovered.

2. Dictionary attacks: This type of attack involves using a pre-built dictionary of common words and phrases to try and guess a password.

3. Rainbow table attacks: In this type of attack, an attacker uses a pre-built table of encrypted passwords and their corresponding plaintext values to quickly guess the password.

4. Phishing attacks: In some cases, attackers may attempt to trick users into revealing their passwords through phishing emails or websites.

Password attacks can be very effective if successful, as they provide attackers with access to sensitive information and resources. To prevent password attacks, it is important to use strong passwords that are difficult to guess or crack, and to avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. Additionally, multi-factor authentication methods, such as using a password in combination with a security token or biometric authentication, can provide an additional layer of security against password attacks.

- Denial of service attacks

    A denial-of-service (DoS) attack is a type of cyber attack in which an attacker attempts to disrupt the normal functioning of a network, system, or website by overwhelming it with a flood of traffic or requests. The goal of a DoS attack is to prevent legitimate users from accessing the targeted resource, rendering it unavailable or significantly degrading its performance.

DoS attacks can be carried out in a number of ways, including:

1. Flood attacks: This involves sending a large number of requests or data packets to the targeted system or network, overwhelming its resources and causing it to crash or become unavailable.

2. Amplification attacks: In this type of attack, the attacker uses a third-party system to generate a flood of traffic or requests that are directed at the target, making it more difficult to detect and block.

3. Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks: This is a more sophisticated version of a DoS attack, in which the attacker uses a network of compromised devices (known as a botnet) to launch a coordinated attack against the target.

DoS attacks can be very disruptive, and can cause significant financial and reputational damage to organizations that rely on their online presence. To protect against DoS attacks, organizations can use various techniques, such as implementing firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems, limiting the number of connections that can be made to a server, and using content delivery networks (CDNs) to distribute traffic across multiple servers. Additionally, organizations can work with internet service providers (ISPs) to mitigate the impact of DDoS attacks.

- Insider threats

    An insider cyber security threat refers to a threat posed by an individual or group of individuals within an organization who have authorized access to its computer systems and networks, and use that access to cause harm or engage in malicious activities. 

Insiders can be employees, contractors, vendors, or other individuals who have been granted some level of access to an organization's resources. Insider threats can take various forms, including:

1. Malicious insiders: Employees or other authorized users who intentionally misuse their access to steal sensitive information, damage systems or data, or engage in other malicious activities.

2. Careless or negligent insiders: Users who unintentionally cause harm by violating security policies or failing to follow best practices for protecting sensitive data.

3. Compromised insiders: Users whose accounts have been compromised by attackers who have gained access to their login credentials or other sensitive information.

Insider threats can be particularly challenging to detect and prevent because insiders already have access to sensitive information and systems. Organizations can mitigate the risks of insider threats by implementing a combination of technical, administrative, and physical security controls, such as access controls, network segmentation, monitoring and auditing, and employee training and awareness programs. It is also important for organizations to have a plan in place for detecting, responding to, and mitigating insider threats when they occur.

3. Best Practices

Employees must understand and follow the organization's cybersecurity policies and procedures to minimize the risk of cyber threats. The training will cover the following best practices:

- Use strong passwords and change them regularly.

- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments in emails.

- Keep software and operating systems up-to-date with the latest security patches.

- Use antivirus software and firewalls.

- Protect sensitive information by encrypting it or limiting access to those who need it.

- Be cautious when using public Wi-Fi networks.

- Report any suspicious activity or security concerns to the IT department.

4. Data Protection

Employees must understand their responsibility in protecting the organization's data. The training will cover the following topics:

- Data classification and handling

    All data processed, transmitted, or stored by the organization must be classified according to its sensitivity, value, and criticality to the organization. The following classification levels will be used:

- Confidential: Data that, if disclosed or compromised, could cause significant harm to the organization or individuals, including personally identifiable information, financial data, or trade secrets.

- Sensitive: Data that, if disclosed or compromised, could cause some harm to the organization or individuals, including confidential business information or customer information.

- Internal Use: Data that is for internal use only and is not to be shared outside of the organization.

- Public: Data that is intended for public release.

The following procedures and controls will be put in place to ensure that data is handled appropriately based on its classification:

- Access Control: Access to confidential or sensitive data will be restricted to authorized personnel only, and access will be granted based on the principle of least privilege.

- Encryption: Confidential or sensitive data will be encrypted during transmission and storage, using industry-standard encryption algorithms and key management practices.

- Storage and Retention: Confidential or sensitive data will be stored on secure servers or storage devices with appropriate access controls and backup procedures. Data retention policies will be established to ensure that data is retained only for as long as necessary.

- Transmission: Confidential or sensitive data will be transmitted only over secure communication channels, using encryption and other security controls as appropriate.

- Disposal: Confidential or sensitive data will be disposed of securely, using appropriate data destruction methods.

- Encryption

    All sensitive or confidential data that is transmitted or stored must be encrypted using industry-standard encryption algorithms and key management practices. The following standards will be used:

- Data in Transit: All sensitive or confidential data transmitted over public networks must be encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols, with a minimum of 128-bit encryption.

- Data at Rest: All sensitive or confidential data stored on servers, laptops, mobile devices, or removable media must be encrypted using strong encryption algorithms, such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), with a minimum of 256-bit encryption.

- Backups

    All sensitive or confidential data that is transmitted or stored must be encrypted using industry-standard encryption algorithms and key management practices. The following standards will be used:

- Data in Transit: All sensitive or confidential data transmitted over public networks must be encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols, with a minimum of 128-bit encryption.

- Data at Rest: All sensitive or confidential data stored on servers, laptops, mobile devices, or removable media must be encrypted using strong encryption algorithms, such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), with a minimum of 256-bit encryption.

- Proper disposal of sensitive information

    The following procedures will be followed for disposal of sensitive information:

- Data Identification: Sensitive information must be identified and classified based on its level of sensitivity, with appropriate controls for disposal.

- Disposal Methods: Sensitive information must be disposed of using approved methods, such as shredding, burning, or electronic erasure, to prevent unauthorized access or recovery.

- Disposal Location: Sensitive information must be disposed of in a secure location, such as a locked disposal bin or shredder, to prevent access by unauthorized individuals.

- Disposal Schedule: Sensitive information must be disposed of in a timely manner, with disposal schedules based on the sensitivity of the information and any regulatory or legal requirements.

- Disposal Documentation: Disposal of sensitive information must be documented, including the date, time, method of disposal, and the individual responsible for disposal.

5. Incident Response

Employees must know what to do in the event of a security breach or incident. The training will cover the following topics:

- Incident response plan

    -Detect and identify the security breach or incident.

- Determine the scope and impact of the incident.

- Contain the incident to prevent further damage.

- Notify appropriate personnel, including the IT Security Manager or Incident Response Team Leader.

- Isolate affected systems or networks.

- Collect evidence for further analysis.

- Implement temporary fixes or workarounds to prevent further damage.

- Implement access controls to limit access to the affected systems or networks.

- Eliminate the root cause of the incident.

- Restore affected systems or networks to normal operation.

- Verify the effectiveness of the eradication and recovery efforts.

- Implement permanent fixes or improvements to prevent future incidents.

- Conduct a lessons learned review to identify areas for improvement in the incident response plan.

- Update the incident response plan based on the lessons learned review.

- Document the incident and response efforts for future reference.

- Notify appropriate personnel, including the IT Security Manager or Incident Response Team Leader.

- Reporting procedures

    - Immediately notify the IT department or their supervisor.

- Provide as much detail as possible about the event, including the time, date, and type of event.

- Do not attempt to investigate or resolve the event on their own unless instructed to do so by the IT department.

- Preserve any evidence related to the event, such as screenshots or log files.

- Containment procedures

    - Confirming the type and severity of the incident.

- Determining the scope and impact of the incident.

- Identifying the source and cause of the incident.

    - Isolate the affected systems or networks to prevent further damage

    - Preservation of Evidence

    - Notify the incident response team and other relevant parties

- Recovery procedures

    - Restoring data from backups, if available.

- Recovering data from redundant systems or networks, if applicable.

- Reconstructing data from physical documents or other sources, if necessary.

    - Apply security patches and updates to affected systems or networks.

- Conduct a security audit to identify and address vulnerabilities.

- Restore system configurations and settings.

- Conduct functional tests to ensure that systems or networks are operating as expected.

- Conduct security tests to ensure that systems or networks are secure.

- Verify that data has been recovered and is accessible.

6. Conclusion

Cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility. By following best practices and staying vigilant, employees can help protect the organization's digital assets from cyber threats. Thank you for taking this training, and please contact the IT department if you have any questions or concerns.