Looking to build or upgrade your cyber training program? With cyber threats growing more advanced, organizations of all sizes need a team that’s prepared to tackle evolving digital risks with confidence.
The good news? You can develop a robust, scalable cyber training program in just 90 days.
The 30-60-90 Day Plan to Build Your Cyber Training Program
The key objectives for each phase of the 30-60-90 day framework:
- 30 Days: Understand your organization’s current cyber training needs and gaps.
- 60 Days: Design and deliver targeted, engaging training materials tailored to specific risks.
- 90 Days: Integrate feedback, optimize adoption, and establish a sustainable training cadence.
30 Days: Assess the Current State
Before building a new program, it’s critical to understand where your organization stands today. These first 30 days are all about discovery: identifying your organization’s vulnerabilities, gathering input from key stakeholders, and finding quick wins to build momentum.
Step 1: Audit Your Current Cyber Readiness
- Conduct an initial risk assessment to identify areas of concern (e.g., phishing susceptibility, responsible AI use, lack of incident response knowledge).
- Review existing training materials and processes to uncover gaps.
Step 2: Build Buy-In with Key Stakeholders
- Meet with leadership to align on goals for the training program.
- Identify team leads, IT managers, and compliance officers who can act as program champions.
Step 3: Deliver a Quick Win
- Host a short, high-impact Microsimulation (e.g., third party breach, generative AI data breach) to immediately show how training can address gaps.
- Share initial results with stakeholders to highlight early value.
60 Days: Design and Deliver Targeted Training
With a strong understanding of your organization’s needs, the next 30 days are focused on curating, crafting and implementing a targeted training plan. This phase will help you address specific vulnerabilities while engaging employees effectively.
Step 1: Segment and Prioritize Training Needs
- Categorize risks by role or department (e.g., finance for phishing scams, IT for ransomware response, AI risk).
- Identify high-priority areas to focus on first.
Step 2: Develop Engaging, Relevant Content
- Use real-world scenarios to make the training relatable and impactful.
- Incorporate interactive elements like gamification and role-based scenarios.
- Ensure content aligns with regulations and standards.
Step 3: Pilot the Training Program
- Roll out training to a small, representative group first to gather feedback.
- Use metrics like completion rates, Microsimulation results, and key takeaways to measure effectiveness.
Step 4: Provide Deeper Insights
- Host follow-up sessions to review performance and share insights with teams.
- Offer additional resources for teams who need extra support.
90 Days: Optimize and Operationalize
The final 30 days are all about ensuring the program sticks and continues delivering value. Optimize the training, integrate it into your organization’s business as usual routine, and establish processes for long-term success.
Step 1: Gather Feedback and Iterate
- Conduct surveys and interviews with employees to identify what worked and what didn’t.
- Refine training materials and processes based on this feedback.
Step 2: Scale Adoption Across the Organization
- Create a regular training cadence (e.g., quarterly microsimulations, annual compliance simulation).
- Use engaging internal branding (logos, mascots, or a catchy program name) to build awareness.
Step 3: Measure and Share Success
- Track key metrics like reduced click rates on phishing emails, incident response times, compliance audit results, and key learnings.
- Share these results with leadership to demonstrate ROI.
Step 4: Embed Cyber Training into Your Culture
- Incorporate training into onboarding for new hires.
- Tie cyber readiness to organizational goals.
- Align cadence to existing routines: add a Microsimulation weekly staff meetings, cross-functional team meetings, town halls, and third-party quarterly business reviews.
Execute Your Cyber Training Program with Confidence
This 90-day framework is designed to take your team from ‘what if’ to ‘we got this’. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refreshing an existing program, focusing on actionable steps and continuous improvement ensures your team is ready for anything.
Want to learn more about building cyber resilience capability?
Get in touch to see how our Microsimulations can help you master the moment.