With traditional cyber security training, and in fact any learning and development within business, it’s easy to fall into the trap of long-form “death by PowerPoint” education methods. Countless studies show that this style of traditional learning, such as annual cyber security or compliance-based training, isn’t effective at getting people to remember critical pieces of information.
With almost 90% of cyber attacks now caused by employee risk, getting cyber training to resonate and really “stick” with your team is absolutely critical. Read on to learn more about this style of learning, and how to implement microlearning into your organisation for more effective, measurable training outcomes.
Gaming manuals and education apps have pioneered the term and philosophy of microlearning, which refers to offering bite-sized, contextual training content that enhances people’s engagement and retention.
We consume vast amounts of content every day, usually in a huge range of different formats. This might be through podcasts, videos, social media posts, interactive elements or something completely different. Microlearning content uses this multi-channel approach to deliver training content that’s memorable, engaging and succinct.
Microlearning has grown in popularity due to the learner having more autonomy and control over their training sessions - meaning they can complete training at a time and place that suits them. Microlearning in real-time takes this one step further, offering contextual, snackable training opportunities at the most relevant times.
Recent research has shown that microlearning can increase information retention by an impressive 80%, compared to traditional methods.
On top of this, learners also complete microlearning sessions just under 20% faster than more traditional courses - so not only does this snappier style of learning increase retention, it improves productivity too.
Microlearning in cyber security is redefining modern security awareness training for employees. Instead of employees experiencing information overload with long-form, formal training sessions, cyber security tips can be provided in real time.
One of the most effective ways of implementing this is through nudge theory. This refers to alerts and tips that are sent to employees before they take a high-risk action, such as replying to a phishing email or clicking on a spammy or suspicious link.
These nudges create just-in-time learning, reinforcing best practices when employees are most likely to apply them. They’re designed to be pre-emptive measures, shown in the moment to each employee, stopping them from taking a risky action.
With the boom of AI, critical thinking and problem-solving in business is vital. However, evidence shows that critical thinking skills in the workplace are depleting - with only half of managers believing their employees demonstrate this ability.
When it comes to cyber security behaviours, critical thinking is extremely important. We have to make rapid, autonomous decisions frequently - which can be anything from answering a quick email or clicking on a link. However, it’s these rapid, seemingly menial decisions that can result in the biggest risks.
By adopting a modern learning approach grounded in the science of microlearning, you can integrate real-time decision-making practices that better align with the fast-paced demands of today’s workplace.
A major pitfall of traditional security awareness training is that cyber security training is often treated as a compliance exercise - a once-a-year event to “check the box.” However, cyber threats don’t operate on an annual schedule, and neither should training.
Not only this, organisations that embrace continuous learning see positively measurable security outcomes - employees are more engaged, security habits improve, and overall risk is reduced.
To find out more about how ThinkCyber uses microlearning to revolutionise cyber awareness training in organisations like yours, please book a demo today.