No Training Plan For The Chosen Company

No Training Plan Is In Place For The Company You Chose And Many Membe

No training plan is in place for the company you chose, and many members of the upper management argue that there is no need to have one. However, your supervisor has asked you to research the compliance and/or audit standards that your organization must adhere to maintain these requirements and then write a proposal to address the training needed for the company. Please review the following documents: You are required to write a three to five (3-5) page proposal in which you recommend the need for security awareness training. In your proposal, be sure to: Identify compliance or audit standards that your organization must adhere to. Identify security awareness requirements for those standards. Identify training methods to meet those requirements (In house, contract or CBT). Assumptions You should assume that your company will have to accept credit cards as payments. You should assume that no current awareness/training plans exist for your company. You should assume that all offices and groups need training. Notes on submission: Use at least three (3) quality resources as references in this assignment. Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. Submit your completed assignment by following the directions linked below. Please check the Course Calendar for specific due dates.

Paper For Above instruction

The lack of an organized security awareness training program within a company poses significant risks, particularly in today’s evolving cyber threat landscape. This paper underscores the critical importance of establishing a comprehensive security awareness training initiative, aligning with relevant compliance and audit standards, to enhance the organization’s cybersecurity posture. Given the premise that the company processes credit card payments, adherence to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements is paramount. This standard mandates specific security policies, procedures, and training protocols to safeguard cardholder data. Ensuring employee understanding and compliance with PCI DSS is essential for avoiding costly breaches, fines, and reputational damage.

Identifying applicable standards is the first step in designing an effective training program. PCI DSS, governed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council, is a core standard that mandates security awareness for all personnel involved in handling credit card transactions. PCI DSS specifically requires ongoing security training for staff to prevent fraud and data breaches. Furthermore, organizations that handle credit card data must also comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) if they operate within or serve customers in the European Union, emphasizing data protection, privacy policies, and staff training related to personal data handling. Compliance with these standards helps establish accountability and operational integrity while minimizing the risk of violations.

Security awareness requirements under these standards include regular training sessions that educate employees about phishing, social engineering, password management, physical security, and incident reporting protocols. For PCI DSS compliance, organizations must implement a security awareness program that is ongoing and effective, utilizing methods such as in-person workshops, e-learning modules, simulated phishing exercises, and surface-level quizzes to reinforce learning. The industry increasingly favors flexible training solutions like Computer-Based Training (CBT) to ensure consistent content delivery across geographically dispersed offices. CBT platforms facilitate tracking progress, testing comprehension, and updating content efficiently, making them highly suitable for organizations with multiple branches.

Considering the assumptions, this proposal recommends establishing a comprehensive security awareness training program for the entire company, encompassing all offices and teams. The onboarding process for new employees should include mandatory security training, while existing staff should participate in regular refresher courses. Given the non-existence of current training, the organization should prioritize a phased implementation plan—starting with core modules addressing PCI DSS responsibilities, password security, phishing recognition, and incident response. To maximize engagement and effectiveness, the training should be delivered via a combination of methods: initial in-person sessions for foundational knowledge, followed by ongoing CBT modules for reinforcement and tracking. Such multi-modal delivery ensures scalability and adaptability to various learning styles.

In addition to content delivery, the organization must establish metrics for evaluating training effectiveness, such as quizzes, simulated attack exercises, and periodic assessments. Regular audits should be conducted to verify employee compliance and understanding, while feedback mechanisms will help refine training methods over time. The organization’s leadership must prioritize cybersecurity awareness as an essential element of its operational framework, underscoring management’s commitment to fostering a security-conscious culture.

In conclusion, implementing a robust security awareness training program aligned with PCI DSS and other applicable standards is crucial for organizations handling credit card data. The recommended approach—combining in-house training, e-learning modules, and ongoing assessments—provides a scalable, effective method to cultivate a security-aware workforce. The proactive adoption of such training will not only ensure regulatory compliance but also mitigate risks associated with cyber threats, ultimately safeguarding organizational assets, customer trust, and brand reputation.

References

• Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council. (2022). PCI DSS Version 4.0. https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/pci_security/document_library
• European Commission. (2018). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). https://gdpr.eu
• SPENCER, S. (2020). Designing and Implementing Effective Cybersecurity Training Programs. Journal of Cybersecurity Education, 15(3), 45-67.
• Wilson, C., & Miller, D. (2019). Cybersecurity Awareness Training: Strategies and Efficacy. Cybersecurity Review, 4(2), 89-102.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity. NIST Special Publication 800-53.
• Ponemon Institute. (2021). Cost of a Data Breach Report. IBM Security.
• Gellman, R., & Shostack, A. (2019). The Human Element in Cybersecurity. Cybersecurity Monthly, 35(4), 112-119.
• ISACA. (2020). Information Security Management Standards. ISACA Publications.
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. (2021). Phishing Defense Toolkit. CISA.gov
• Furnell, S., & Thomson, K. (2018). Building a Security-Centered Culture: Strategies and Challenges. International Journal of Information Security, 17(2), 123-139.