Product Implementation Tips

To help make sure you get the most out of your awareness product purchases we've put together some tips to help ensure a successful implementation. Some general tips are listed below while links to product specific tips are listed in the left- and right-hand columns.

General Tips

• Confirm management's commitment to providing a security-aware culture by formally announcing your awareness program from a high management level.
• Ensure existing security policies and procedures are current, complete and have been announced to all staff.
• Lead by example. For instance, a new user is more likely to choose secure passwords if the initial password assigned to him is strong and unique like 'yT56Bc3c' rather than something weak and common like 'welcome'.
• Demonstrate management's continuing commitment through follow-up procedures such as (see our Free Material page to aid with the following):
  • routine desk checks,
  • before and after awareness measurement quizzes, and
  • checking for poor network passwords.
• Illustrate the importance of secure practices by making regular announcements of actual external security breaches that happened due to poor security awareness.
• Consider including security awareness as part of the formal evaluation process.
• Consider implementing a security improvement suggestion program to further demonstrate management's commitment.