Sharp, a leading provider of business technology services and products, today announced the launch of its cloud-based Security Awareness Training - minimising risk for businesses with thorough guidance on best practices regarding cyber security and data protection.
Following a survey of 5,770 European IT professionals, Sharp revealed that a lack of employee training is seen as the biggest risk overall to the effectiveness of businesses’ IT security, for nearly four in ten (37%) SMEs across Europe. This is more so than concerns about large scale industry attacks (33%) or not having the right protection in place (30%).
To address this, Sharp is providing Security Awareness Training through micro-training sessions and simulation exercises, aiming to test employees on how they should react to potential cyber-attacks. The training will focus on employees’ responses to phishing emails, social engineering links and ensure security and privacy regulations are being upheld.
In order to remain relevant to the evolving nature of cyber-threats, Sharp’s training will be provided on an ongoing basis, rather than the traditional annual course or refresh session, maintaining a threshold of security awareness across the workforce that can be regularly adapted according to needs. This model allows businesses to monitor employee progress around their response to threats, with a dashboard highlighting user activity and results to inform on suggested further training strategies.
In addition, the micro-training session formula provides a non-disruptive programme across easily digestible modules that can be completed in minutes. Through artificial intelligence (AI) integrated technology, training targets specific user concerns and knowledge too, with dynamic content that learns from the individual user needs. The service also includes simulated phishing and social engineering attacks, tailored to the user and organisation they work in, similar to how real-life cyber-criminals attempt to deceive users. As users progress, the training adapts with them, acting on insights into learning patterns, behaviour and areas of weakness to ensure the entire workforce is uniformly vigilant against security threats.
John Shackleton, Head of European Systems & Support Services at Sharp, says: “Technology is constantly evolving, so security training should be adapting at the same pace. An SME’s digital defence is only as strong as its employees’ knowledge. A single lapse in judgment, or moment of carelessness, can have devastating consequences, exposing not only an SME’s sensitive data and intellectual property, but also risking financial and reputational damage.
Our new Security Awareness Training ensures users know how to reduce opportunities for bad actors to threaten their business and personal data as well as empower them with the means to spot and defend against intrusions.”
Click here to find out more information about Sharp's new Security Awareness Training.
Notes to editor
The research mentioned was conducted by Censuswide in Q1 2023 and responded to by 5,770 IT decision makers and people responsible for purchasing IT within SMEs, from 11 countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.
About Sharp Europe
Sharp Europe enables small to large enterprises and organisations to enhance performance and adapt for their workplaces of the future through a range of business technology products and services.
Headquartered in London, Sharp Europe serves customers in the private and public sectors, Education and Government, a portfolio ranging from printers and advanced flat screen technologies, collaboration platforms, through to IT services.
As part of Sharp Corporation, and with the backing of Foxconn, Sharp Europe is investing and leading the industry in new areas of technology that have the potential to change the world. It developed the world’s first commercially available 8K monitor and in 2019 launched the world’s first certified Windows collaboration display.
To find out more about how Sharp Europe is changing the future of work, please visit www.sharp.eu
