Ongoing Cyber Awareness Training Policy

# ONGOING CYBER AWARENESS TRAINING POLICY

**Document Reference:** [Company Name] - POL-SEC-03  
**Version:** 1.0  
**Effective Date:** [Date]  
**Review Cycle:** Annual  

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## 1. PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this policy is to establish a structured, mandatory cybersecurity awareness training program for all users. Human error and social engineering (phishing) remain the primary access vectors for security breaches; this policy is designed to reduce security risks through continuous education.

The training program is designed to fulfill regulatory compliance requirements, align with cyber insurance mandates, and build a culture of security vigilance.

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## 2. POLICY SCOPE
This policy applies to all full-time and part-time employees, contractors, interns, and third-party personnel who have active access credentials on **[Company Name]**'s network or business applications.

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## 3. SECURITY TRAINING FREQUENCY
All covered personnel must participate in mandatory training modules according to the following schedule:
* **Onboarding Training:** New hires must complete standard security awareness training within **[Number, e.g., 30]** days of their start date. Access to sensitive resources may be restricted until this training is completed.
* **Annual Refresher:** All personnel must complete an annual security training course covering current threat trends, password hygiene, and clean desk practices.
* **Quarterly Micro-Modules:** Focused training sessions (5-15 minutes) addressing specific topics like remote work safety, ransomware prevention, and secure data handling will be assigned quarterly.

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## 4. PHISHING SIMULATION PROGRAM
The Information Security Coordinator will orchestrate regular, unannounced phishing simulations:
* **Simulation Frequency:** Simulations will run at least **[Frequency, e.g., monthly or quarterly]**.
* **Variety of Scenarios:** Phishing templates will simulate realistic scenarios, including credential harvesting, malicious attachments, and urgent billing redirects.
* **Tracking & Metrics:** The system will track click rates, credential input rates, and reporting rates to evaluate program efficacy.

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## 5. SUSPECTED PHISHING REPORTING WORKFLOW
If a user receives a suspicious email in their inbox:
* **Do Not Interact:** Do not click links, open attachments, or reply to the email.
* **Phish Alert Button:** Report the email immediately using the **[Reporting Tool, e.g., Phish Alert Button]** in the email client.
* **Direct Escalation:** If the reporting tool is unavailable, forward the suspicious email as an attachment to **[Security Email Address, e.g., [email protected]]**.

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## 6. FAIL RESPONSE & REMEDIATION WORKFLOW
When a user fails an unannounced phishing simulation (i.e., clicks a link or enters credentials):
* **1st Failure:** Immediate redirect to on-screen coaching highlighting the indicators they missed.
* **2nd Failure (within 12 months):** Assignment of a mandatory **[Duration, e.g., 15-minute]** remedial training module, to be completed within **[Number, e.g., 7]** business days.
* **3rd Failure (within 12 months):** Remedial coaching session with the Security Coordinator. HR and department managers will be notified.
* **4th Failure (within 12 months):** Formal review by management, potential suspension of network access, or further disciplinary action.

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## 7. POLICY COMPLIANCE & AUDITING
The Information Security Coordinator will generate quarterly training compliance reports. Department heads are responsible for ensuring their teams complete assigned modules. Training logs and phishing metrics will be preserved for audit verification purposes.