Awareness and Training

The Awareness and Training family in NIST 800-171 Rev 2 is one of the 14 security control families that focuses on ensuring that employees and users of an organization’s systems are well-informed about cybersecurity risks and know how to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). This family emphasizes the importance of educating and training users to recognize and respond appropriately to potential security threats, thus helping to minimize human-related security vulnerabilities.

Key Awareness and Training Requirements in NIST 800-171 Rev 2:

There are three security requirements in the Awareness and Training family. These requirements focus on establishing training programs that enhance security awareness and ensure personnel are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to maintain security best practices.

1. Security Awareness Training (3.2.1):

Basic Requirement: Organizations must provide regular security awareness training to all users who interact with the information system. The goal is to ensure that employees are aware of the organization’s security policies, procedures, and the importance of protecting CUI.

Key Focus:

• Training should educate users on potential security threats, such as phishing, social engineering, malware, and insider threats.
• Employees should learn how to identify and report suspicious activities or security incidents.
• Regular updates and refreshers should be provided to keep employees up to date with evolving threats and the latest security practices.

Example: Conducting quarterly security awareness sessions that focus on identifying phishing emails, using strong passwords, and recognizing abnormal system behavior.

2. Role-Based Security Training (3.2.2):

Derived Requirement: Organizations must provide specialized training tailored to the specific roles and responsibilities of users within the organization, particularly those with elevated access to sensitive systems and data (e.g., system administrators, security personnel, and managers).

Key Focus:

• The training should be role-specific, ensuring that individuals understand the security controls they are responsible for implementing and maintaining.
• Those with administrative or privileged access should be trained on secure system configuration, incident response, and how to manage access to sensitive information.
• Training for developers, for instance, may focus on secure coding practices, while system administrators may be trained on managing system configurations and logs.

Example: Providing advanced security training for IT staff on implementing encryption, managing access control lists, and using monitoring tools to detect suspicious activity.

3. Continuous Training and Updates (3.2.3):

Derived Requirement: Organizations must regularly update and reinforce their awareness and training programs to reflect new security threats and evolving best practices.

Key Focus:

• Training should not be a one-time event; it should be part of a continuous process that adapts to the changing threat landscape.

• Incorporating real-world scenarios or recent incidents into training materials helps make the content relevant and engaging for employees.

• Organizations should ensure that employees remain engaged and aware of their responsibilities over time, using techniques like phishing simulations, security quizzes, or interactive workshops.

Example: Periodically sending out security bulletins, hosting refresher courses on the latest cybersecurity threats, or running organization-wide phishing simulations to assess and improve employee awareness.

Goals of the Awareness and Training Family:

Educate Users: Ensure that all employees, regardless of their role, are aware of the organization’s cybersecurity policies and understand their responsibilities in protecting CUI.

Prevent Human Error: Help users recognize common cyber threats (e.g., phishing, social engineering) and reduce the risk of security incidents caused by human mistakes.

Tailor Training: Provide customized, role-specific training to employees with elevated privileges or access to sensitive systems, ensuring they are well-prepared to handle their responsibilities securely.

Adapt to Evolving Threats: Update training regularly to keep pace with the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape, reinforcing new skills and awareness as new threats emerge.

Importance of Awareness and Training in Cybersecurity:

1. First Line of Defense: Employees are often the first line of defense against cyber threats, making them a critical component of an organization's overall security posture. Awareness and training ensure they can recognize and react appropriately to threats.

2. Mitigating Insider Threats: Security awareness helps reduce the risk of both accidental and intentional insider threats. Trained employees are less likely to fall victim to phishing attacks or mishandle sensitive information.

3. Compliance and Accountability: By providing regular training, organizations demonstrate compliance with security regulations and standards, such as NIST 800-171 and other federal requirements. This also fosters a culture of accountability among employees.

4. Reducing Security Incidents: Regular training and awareness programs help reduce the number of security incidents by educating employees about secure behavior, from password management to safe internet browsing habits.

Example Topics in Security Awareness and Training:

• Recognizing and avoiding phishing and social engineering attacks.
• Best practices for creating and managing strong passwords.
• Understanding the importance of data encryption and secure file sharing.
• Learning about remote access security and how to secure home networks (especially for employees working remotely).
• How to report suspicious activities and security incidents quickly and accurately.
• Understanding the principles of least privilege and why access controls matter.
• Best practices for handling removable media and securely transporting data.

Summary:

The Awareness and Training family in NIST 800-171 Rev 2 is essential for ensuring that employees and users are knowledgeable about their cybersecurity responsibilities and the specific threats they may encounter. Regular, tailored, and updated training helps foster a culture of security within the organization, reduces the risk of human error, and ensures the protection of CUI through informed and vigilant behavior.