Welcoming a new colleague? Don't overlook privacy and security!
The importance of privacy and information security awareness
In today's digital age, handling all internal and external business operations digitally has become the norm. Yet, for organizations, doing so in a controlled and careful manner presents challenges.
Protecting valuable business information is crucial for organizational survival. This includes customer, HR, and financial records, as well as business strategy, innovation projects, and marketing data. Employees handle this confidential information daily, bestowing upon them a great responsibility.
It's often said that employees are the weakest link in protecting sensitive business information, as accidents can happen. However, as an organization, we can make a significant difference by ensuring our employees are the most critical link in the data protection process. Creating awareness among employees and providing them with the necessary knowledge and solutions regarding privacy and information security is essential. With adequate support, employees become the primary defenders against data breaches and cyber threats. Moreover, heightened awareness not only protects the organization but also fosters trust with customers, enhancing the organization's reputation and encouraging customer loyalty. Therefore, investing in privacy and information security awareness contributes not only to compliance with privacy legislation (e.g. GDPR) and information security standards (e.g. ISO) but also to the organization's long-term success. It's crucial to convey this from the beginning of the employment relationship.
Why this is important for new employees too
Making secure data handling a priority and integrating it into the corporate culture is essential for any organization. Therefore, incorporating this aspect into the induction process of new employees is crucial.
By integrating privacy and information security during the induction of new employees, you lay the foundation for a corporate culture in which these values are central. New employees are eager to contribute to the organization's values. If it's clear that privacy and information security are among the organization's core values, employees are more likely to behave accordingly and play an active role. The more people within the organization understand this importance, the more deeply ingrained it becomes in the organization's essence. Including privacy and security in the onboarding process encourages new employees to be actively involved in protecting customer and company information, highlighting their shared responsibility for privacy and security as part of the organization's success.
The convenience of e-learning in your onboarding!
In the dynamic world of onboarding, where new colleagues are immersed in a wealth of information, striking a balance between learning about the organization and integrating essential aspects like privacy and information security is crucial. But how do you achieve this? Here are a few tips to seamlessly weave these aspects into your onboarding process:
Automated onboarding
Start by automating online onboarding. New team members should have immediate access to relevant information, even if they've been employed for a few weeks. This allows them to initially focus on their role and team before delving deeper into privacy and information security awareness. For example, platforms like Pluvo can automatically offer a module on information security four weeks after joining.
Connect with your employees' perceptions
Ensure relevance in e-learning by using examples specific to the organization. This makes the information not only understandable but also directly applicable. Incorporating privacy and information security awareness into the wider onboarding process ensures that new team members are not only properly inducted but also made aware of crucial aspects within the organization.
Take in knowledge at the employee's convenience
E-learning offers the advantage of accessibility when needed most. To prevent new employees from being overwhelmed by too much information at once, allow them to learn at their own pace and access relevant information when needed. Unlike traditional training methods, e-learning isn't tied to specific times or locations, offering flexibility and effectiveness. This enables employees to immediately apply the knowledge learned in practice.
Privacy & security awareness e-learning to suit your business
Privacy Company and Pluvo have joined forces to offer tailor-made e-learnings for organizations. Privacy Company's consultants have been visiting companies and organizations daily for years. They've observed how employees sometimes struggle with the rules and requirements imposed on their work, often due to unclear relevance, increasing resistance to privacy and information security. To effectively and engagingly explain what privacy and information security mean and how to act, Privacy Company has developed the Privacy Awareness and Security Awareness e-learnings. With the online learning platform and knowledge of Pluvo these e-learnings can be tailored to the organization's specific needs, making the content relevant and engaging. The use of interactive elements, such as quizzes and real-life examples, increases engagement and enhances employee understanding.
Want to know more?
Contact Anne Martine Koetsier, Manager of Training & Awareness at Privacy Company and request a demo!
