News

Online course aims to eradicate employees' unsafe computing habits

The PCI Security Standards Council has teamed with Security Essentials to create a program designed to help businesses establish a culture of security.

June 23, 2014

The PCI Security Standards Council and e-learning provider Security Essentials have partnered to create PCI Essentials, an interactive e-learning program that organizations can use to train employees in basic security practices to protect payment data and other sensitive information.

According to a recent study by Enterprise Management Association, more than half of all employees have received security awareness training, which can result in employees unwittingly exposing data to theft or abuse. PCI Essentials addresses unsafe computing habits and behaviors to help businesses establish a culture of security.

"In today’s high threat environment, employees at all levels within an organization must play a role in thwarting data compromises,” said Bob Russo, General Manager, PCI Security Standards Council. "It’s critical that they are trained in what to look for and how to avoid putting their company at risk."

PCI Essentials offers a series of 10 minicourses, each addressing an area vital to information security and PCI DSS compliance:

• protecting cardholder data;
• password practices;
• email and browser security ;
• avoiding social engineering;
• mobile device and tablet security;
• social media safety;
• security while working remotely;
• avoiding malicious downloads;
• updating software and anti-virus programs; and
• physical security.

The modules may be completed in any order; each requires approximately 15 minutes. More information is available at www.pci-essentials.com.