User/ Staff Cyber Awareness Training

What is employee IT training?

Information Technology (IT) is now a complex and far-reaching subject, with many specialisations, with a seemingly endless level of detail. IT underpins many aspects of a typical modern business. IT training is a general term for educating individuals on IT-related topics. Employee IT training is a term used to describe the education an employee needs to have to be competent in using the IT systems they use on a daily basis.

This is distinct from training for IT professionals. Professionals in the field often require detailed training, experience and accreditation to be able to operate effectively.

Why is employee IT training important?

Some skills can be learned as you go along, this is learning by experience. Some skills require a minimum level of competence to be able to even make a start - driving, for example - and can be imparted by teaching and training. IT systems are like this - they are quite inscrutable until you have understood a minimum level. Therefore, there are two main reasons for employee IT training:

Cost: In business, one of the factors governing cost of operation is the time it takes for staff to undertake their work - 'time is money' goes the adage. So it makes sense to ensure that staff are able to achieve their objectives and use their IT systems effectively. They can then work efficiently, reducing costs and increasing productivity.
Empowerment: Staff who understand the systems are in a position to find ways to make improvements, developing their own capability and providing additional benefits to the operation. Plus, local experts can provide quick and efficient assistance to other staff; for example, helping bring new staff 'up to speed'.

IT Training Courses/ Portal

Target different abilities towards different courses

There is not one specific type of training that meets the needs of all businesses. Some employees require knowledge of specific applications, while others need a broader level of training across several areas. Some operations - hence their employees - require a very low level of IT training indeed.
Businesses therefore need to understand the level of competence in all the skill areas their staff need, and devise a program of training to ensure employee skills are correctly developed. This is the basis of the 'Training Plan'.

IT Staff Training Plan Template

Create checklist of required competencies

The checklist for competencies is often best done by involving the individual(s) in the job role. They are familiar with the areas where skills development can be most effective. Similarly, competencies are not static; as time moves on, some skills can become obsolete and new skills become necessary. So, once created, the checklist needs some attention to ensure it is kept relevant.

Identifying Users/ How to approach

Setting goals

To make a training plan effective, it needs to be applied to individuals. In many cases, training is a short-term orientation exercise to ensure staff have enough knowledge to undertake their work. Other training is more long-term. Irrespective, the plan sets goals for each person so they know the standard they need to attain.

Implementing training plans

Some key questions to be considered when implementing a training plan include:

How many people should take part in each training session?
How long should the training last?
What training environments are required?
How will you evaluate the attendees each day / end of the training?
How will you evaluate the effectiveness of the training plan?
This last is a management loop-closure question. The training plan is intended to achieve specific objectives and it is important to consider the mechanism to evaluate whether it is effective. After all, if it is not effective the training plan is adding no value.

Training methods and examples

Different people learn in different ways and at different rates. A good training plan can accommodate and adjust for these differences. One way of keeping training fresh and effective is to use a variety of different mechanisms to ensure the message is retained and used. Such methods might include:

On-the-job training
Films and videos
Instructor-led training
Coaching/mentoring
Role Playing
Case studies

Staff IT Security and Awareness Training

One particular area of training to be considered for most modern businesses is cyber awareness training. Cybersecurity is an opaque and nebulous topic, commonly viewed as jumping at shadows. All staff should be made aware of the very real threats that exist, the extent of damage that a compromise may cause, and the critical role they play in keeping a business' data secure. Keeping staff informed on such factors should be high on the list of the requirements of any business's training plan. See our articles on the subject https://www.flex.co.uk/industry-insights-help-you-understand-our-ethos/what-cyber-security-awareness-training.