Your company is like a living, breathing organism, evolving and growing. And fending off dangerous threats.
That makes solid cybersecurity much like an immune system, protecting and defending your company from all sorts of attacks.
And a good immune system needs to be strong, adaptable, and constantly evolving and learning to keep up with threats.
If we can push this analogy further, then knowledge is power, and therefore good training is absolutely vital!
Enter the world of cybersecurity training videos.
First of all, what is cybersecurity, actually?
It’s for anyone who uses passwords, and has access to sensitive company data–really, anyone on your team that handles a computer or device.
You might think that the main threat is from malicious hackers running sophisticated cyberattacks.
However, the majority of security breaches and leaks are caused by innocent mistakes as a result of lax cybersecurity awareness.
These include simple things like employees sharing passwords and logins, logging in remotely through insecure networks, unknowingly or unwittingly sharing data to the public, and so on.
This only underscores the importance of constant cybersecurity training and best practices for all employees, not just your IT team.
Moreover, your IT team should be proficient in doing a password strength test to ensure robust security measures are in place.
If your team has issues such as "no DMARC record found", this is another red flag highlighting the need for improved cybersecurity training and policies.
Excellent cybersecurity awareness should cover everything from network security and risk management to keeping your employees on the cutting edge on all the latest threats like malware, ransomware, and phishing– even the novices.
And cybersecurity training videos are simply what they sound like: videos that help train your employees on best practices and cybersecurity awareness.
Remember that like a chain, your organization is only as strong as its weakest link!
So take a moment to ask yourself: is your cybersecurity training strategy as healthy and effective as it could be?
In this day and age, you can’t be too diligent.
This is where cybersecurity training videos for employees come into play.
Drop us a line below if you want to find out how video can supercharge your training to whole new levels!
Confused about how to get started?
So here are 10 fantastic examples of cyber security training videos for employees of all industries and business types of all sizes.
Let’s dive in!
There’s a perception that cybersecurity is something only huge Fortune 500 corporations need to worry about and that it doesn’t affect small businesses.
And after all, small businesses don’t often employ a crack team of cybersecurity experts running top-of-the-line firewalls maintaining excellent network security, and all that high-tech jazz– they’re often simple mom-and-pop operations with enough on their plate.
So security takes a backseat. But this is a dangerous mindset to hold.
The Federal Trade Commission crafted this simple but effective animated cyber security awareness video to shed light on the vulnerabilities, risks, and threats that target small businesses in particular, from social engineering scams like phishing to sophisticated ransomware attacks.
It also offers good advice on how to protect yourself and your business from these threats in practical ways, using sensible risk management.
So just what is cybersecurity, exactly?
While outside threats, scams like phishing, and hacking attacks are probably what you think of when it comes to cybersecurity, there’s another threat that most companies don’t think too much about: threats from within.
And often, it’s done innocently and without malice.
Your employees are only human, and even the most driven and enthusiastic team can get frustrated and stressed out at times.
But in today’s completely interconnected world, even an innocent joke said in private can easily leak out and go public in the worst ways.
Your employees need to be mindful of internal communications spreading to people who never intended to see it.
So rather than being a downer, this cybersecurity training video went the route of using humor.
It demonstrates the consequences of careless email conversations that get a little too honest.
Brilliantly acted and sharply written, this one entertains while still making its point clear to the viewers.
This is a great example of using storytelling in employee training for the best cybersecurity skills.
By presenting a character in a commonplace situation, the viewer is able to connect with the story in a personal way.
And through this, the story teaches its audience about the risks involved in oversharing on social media.
And it does so in a way that feels real and relevant because the viewer realizes this could easily happen to them.
The animation helps to attract and hold attention easily, too, amplifying the story and bringing it to life.
The Crash Course series by the educational YouTube channel SciShow features lessons on a range of topics, using a mix of live expert hosts paired with beautiful animation.
They’re carefully crafted to go immersively in-depth but without overwhelming even a novice audience.
This is their cybersecurity overview lesson in their computer science course, and we can see their expert-level educational content at its best.
The animation is beautiful and sublime, with just the right levels of humor and levity to keep things interesting.
Note how they use kinetic typography animation in the form of blocks of text to emphasize the critical points.
It’s a great example of how to do cyber security training videos for students and employees alike.
Here’s a cyber security video we created for Cervais.
Seeing how complicated endpoint security can be for new IT professionals in the network security and cybersecurity applications space, Cervais wanted to make the technical feel second nature.
And to speak their audience's language, they wanted to make the information feel engaging instead of watering it down too much.
We helped them out with this dynamic infographics explainer video and we’re pleased to say that our client was delighted!
We think of hacking as some massively sophisticated, complex operation. But a lot of malicious attacks are surprisingly simple in nature.
This one-minute video is from a series on cybersecurity, summed up in simple bite-sized little videos teaching best practices for risk management and cybersecurity awareness.
By making their videos just a minute long, Carnegie Mellon University’s course on cybersecurity feels like something we could all breeze through and learn a lot quickly.
The script is clear, friendly, and accessible to viewers at any knowledge level.
A great example of how to do effective cybersecurity training videos!
Speaking of the holiday season, here’s a more in-depth and beautifully 3D animated video on the topic.
Using a warm and friendly character animation helps keep your interest while teaching you how to stay safe while you do your gift shopping.
It’s designed to disarm and relax the viewer so they feel comfortable and not overwhelmed by tech babble they might not fully understand.
The script for this explainer video is simple and friendly, breaking it down so that anyone can follow along.
This is what we mean when we say, don’t be afraid to be creative and use humor to keep things interesting.
Styled as an old-timey 1950s-era PSA, complete with cheesy voiceover and wholesome characters, this video gets your attention right away.
The quirky, amusing style, wildly incongruous with modern cyber security video production, doesn’t just make you smirk.
It makes you pay attention. And that’s what makes this cybersecurity training video work so well!
Ransomware is a tactic where malicious software is installed in your network, which then takes control of every available machine and locks you out of your own systems until some demand is met (usually money in the form of untraceable cryptocurrency).
Hence the name, "ransom-ware", because your entire company is essentially held at ransom.
It’s exactly as terrifying as it sounds, and can bring a company of any size to its knees overnight.
And it doesn’t end there.
Sometimes the ransomware operation is simply a smokescreen for even deeper hacking and breaching, leading to enormous data leaks.
The problem, of course, is getting your team to really understand all this so they can be ready for when and if it happens.
What we love about Cisco’s security awareness video for employees is that they went a different route, using storytelling and drama to bring this threat to life.
By making it an interview of sorts, we can put a face to this faceless, abstract threat.
It tells the story of a corporation reeling from the damage caused by a ransomware attack, making it feel real and plausible to the viewer.
The common perception that most people have of cybersecurity is the Hollywood image of a mysterious hooded hacker typing furiously in the darkness to hack banks and big corporations.
But the truth is that threats come in all shapes and sizes, exploiting vulnerabilities most never think of.
Phishing attacks are a form of what’s called “social hacking.”
A common trick is where attackers use convincing emails informing you of winning a lottery or prize, warning you of a needed software update, or providing a link to reset your password.
This way, an unsuspecting employee will be tempted to respond, or even think they’re doing the right thing by keeping their software up to date and/or their passwords safe.
But the attacker gets a foot in the door and gains entry to sensitive networks and does real damage.
Sophos commissioned this slick animated infographic-styled video to help explain how phishing attacks work to novice and intermediate users and give them the knowledge they need to stay vigilant going forward.
Remember that cybersecurity is like a chain–it’s only as strong as its weakest link!
Cybersecurity training videos cover a wide range of topics and can be categorized based on their focus, target audience, and learning objectives.
Here are some different kinds of cybersecurity training videos:
These are cybersecurity training videos that provide fundamentals, explaining cybersecurity basics, terminology, and principles.
They are aimed at beginners and individuals in need of a foundational understanding of cybersecurity.
These types of cybersecurity training videos delve into specific technical aspects of cybersecurity, like network security, cryptography, penetration testing, malware analysis, incident response, etc.
They are aimed at individuals with an existing level of expertise and need more in-depth knowledge in specialized areas.
This kind of cybersecurity awareness video is meant for non-technical users.
These videos focus on educating employees and general users about cybersecurity best practices, like phishing awareness, guides on how to use a VPN, password security, data protection, social engineering, and safe internet usage habits.
It can also be important to train them to use datacenter proxies in order to ensure their online activities are secure and their data is protected.
Additionally, including the use of a residential proxy can offer enhanced privacy and security, especially when accessing geo-restricted content or conducting secure web scraping activities.
These cybersecurity training videos cover the legal and regulatory requirements related to cybersecurity, such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and other industry-specific compliance standards.
They are essential for organizations and individuals needing to adhere to specific regulatory frameworks.
These types of cybersecurity training videos keep viewers informed about the latest cybersecurity threats, trends, and evolving attack techniques, including methods like privilege escalation.
They can cover recent cyberattacks, vulnerabilities, and ways to defend against emerging threats.
Simulated cyberattack scenarios are cybersecurity training videos that use real-world case studies to demonstrate how cyber threats can occur, their impact, and the steps taken to mitigate them.
These videos are created by cybersecurity product vendors that focus on training users on how to use their specific cybersecurity tools/software/solutions.
These cyber security videos provide guidance about career paths in cybersecurity, certifications, skills needed, and tips for aspiring professionals looking to enter the field.
Live or recorded workshops and demonstrations showcase practical examples, hands-on exercises, and walkthroughs of cybersecurity tools, techniques, or procedures.
These videos demonstrate ethical hacking techniques, red team exercises (simulating attacks), and blue team responses (defending against attacks) to enhance cybersecurity skills.
Note that these categories may overlap, and the content may vary in depth and complexity based on the intended audience and learning objectives.
These kinds of cybersecurity training videos can also be found on various platforms, including online learning platforms, cybersecurity organizations' websites, YouTube channels, and specialized training websites.
A cybersecurity awareness video for a novice beginner working a reception desk won’t be the same as one for a seasoned IT veteran—not just in subject matter, but in the way the information is communicated.
It’s always important to keep it simple, clear, and easy to understand.
However, in highly technical fields- like medicine, pharma, or of course IT- there’s no need to hold their hand and dumb it down so much that your communication becomes ineffective.
There’s a level of technical knowledge to consider and your script should match that accordingly, without getting too technical or boring.
Striking the right balance is all about understanding who you’re talking to, and speaking their language.
Video, especially animated video, has nearly infinite potential.
You’re only truly limited by your imagination.
So make full use of it. Use images, metaphors, characters, text— anything that makes your visuals more interesting and engaging.
The point isn’t to replicate long lectures and tedious seminars, it’s to create something far better.
The end result should be a suite of cybersecurity training videos that hold your audience’s interest and attention from start to finish.
If it entertains, that’s a bonus! And it all serves to improve memory retention of what you’re trying to teach them.
To that end, plan out your videoscripts and storyboards.
This helps put you in a visually creative mindset and helps your ideas become reality.
The real secret ingredient in all this is storytelling.
You might think that this isn’t relevant to cybersecurity training videos, but you’d be wrong, and missing out on a powerful and effective tool for better training!
You’ll be tempted to throw in everything but the kitchen sink into your cybersecurity training videos.
But it’s important not to overwhelm your audience with too much information, especially beginners, even if it’s highly technical and aimed at the most advanced professionals.
After all, you don’t want to bore your audience.
If there’s simply a lot of content that must be covered, then break it down into multiple videos.
It’s easier to remember the information from three ten-minute videos, than one thirty-minute video.
We keep saying that crafting good videos is more art than science. There’s no one perfect formula to crack it.
So don’t be afraid to experiment and try different things, and see what works and what doesn’t.
Don’t forget to include subtitles for differently-abled employees.
Know that creating a suite of top-quality training videos doesn’t end once they’re deployed.
You’ll need to keep things up-to-date and regularly add new content.
After all, learning never ends!
As we mentioned earlier, less is often more.
You want to strike the right balance between covering all the topics well, and not making a video so long that it overwhelms your audience.
Some of the best AI writing generator software will enable you to create a concise, effective, and organized script for your cybersecurity training videos.
Think of it in terms of efficiency, rather than writing an encyclopedia of training knowledge.
So to sum up: Your video should be as long as it needs to be to explain its points on cybersecurity skills, without overwhelming or boring your audience, especially novices/beginners.
If there’s simply too much information to cover, then it’s better to break it up into a series of smaller videos that cover individual topics.
This leads to better memory retention and makes it easier to hold attention and interest.
This is the question we get asked the most.
And the honest answer is: it depends.
Overall cost primarily depends on the length of the video and the complexity of the animation.
Factors like voiceover also come into play.
Some styles of animation are more complicated and work-intensive than others.
There’s also the factor of whether we’re writing the script or our client is providing one for us.
There’s no one-size-fits-all with video because every video is unique and crafted specifically for a target audience and need.
When it comes to animation styles, that too depends on what you’re saying and who you’re saying it to.
Some requirements demand 3D animation or character animation, while others can do the job just fine with say, a whiteboard animation style for example.
Training is essentially delivering information to an audience in a way that’s easy to understand, and more importantly, for them to remember.
To that end, two things you really don’t want your cybersecurity tutorial videos to be described as: confusing and boring.
Anything that helps accomplish this goal, is a useful tool to try.
✅ Don’t be afraid to use humor: Using humor doesn’t mean that your videos won’t be serious or professional. When done just right, humor can underscore and emphasize the points you’re trying to make, while also keeping things light and entertaining.
✅ Make it personal: A good way to get your audience to pay attention is by creating videos that depict scenarios they would face, using characters and storylines. This way, you make the training more practical and “real” as it applies to their jobs.
✅ Use storytelling: We can take the scenarios further by using storytelling. It’s a fantastic tool for capturing interest and holding attention. Want to know more? Check out the next section on storytelling!
Cybersecurity training videos don’t have to be long lectures in video form. With video, especially animated video, you’re free to try all sorts of techniques to drive the point home.
And you might be surprised to learn that storytelling is a powerful way to do this.
Aside from the obvious applications of showing real-world scenarios your team faces, there’s a lot you can do with a good story.
For example, here’s an explainer video we made for SUSE, with a plucky character hero taking us through their world.
Whatever the size of your company, and regardless of the industry you’re in, it’s just a fact that you must have a robust and dynamic cybersecurity strategy in place and running.
It’s like the immune system of your organization. And if you want to keep it strong and ready for any threats at any time, training is absolutely vital.
And for that training to be effective, it needs to be engaging, easy to understand, and easy to remember.
Video, especially animated video combined with storytelling, is easily the most powerful tool in your training arsenal.
No Comments Yet
Let us know what you think