Introduction to CyberSecurity

This course introduces staff and managers to the real-world threats facing organizations today and the practical steps they can take to reduce risk. Participants explore how cybercrime has evolved, why human error remains one of the biggest vulnerabilities, and how everyday behaviors at work, at home, and on social media can either strengthen or weaken an organization’s defenses.

Through case examples, scenarios, and interactive activities, learners will learn to recognize common attack methods (phishing, smishing, vishing, malware, social engineering), understand company-wide security measures, and apply simple, repeatable habits to keep data, devices, and people safe. The course closes with the creation of a personal cybersecurity plan that each participant can immediately put into practice.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will be able to: 

• Describe how cybercrime has grown over time and its financial and operational impact on organizations.
• Identify common types of cyberattacks and explain how they work (phishing, spear phishing, whaling, vishing, smishing, malware, social engineering, malicious QR codes, etc.). 
• Explain how human error contributes to successful attacks and why security culture matters as much as technology. 
• Recognize clues that indicate phishing and related scams in email, SMS, voice calls, and social media. 
• Apply good security practices when using social media, working remotely, or travelling. 
• Understand the organization’s key security and privacy policies, including data classification, privacy obligations, and roles of IT and the Privacy Officer. 
• Take appropriate first steps when they suspect malware, a data breach, or another cyber incident. 
• Build a simple personal cybersecurity plan to protect themselves and their organization online.