Q: With massive budget reductions and travel restrictions, can you give me some pointers on how I might continue to implement training and awareness initiatives?
Whenever organizations restrict spending, alternative means of delivering work must be considered carefully. Fewer budget dollars generally means having to eliminate or reduce projects and services. Training and awareness initiatives are often cut back, especially those with high costs. To continue to offer these programs, I would recommend conducting a simple exercise to view each program against the following criteria. First, rate how the intended program supports the company’s overall current goals. Next, rate the program against the company’s principles (such as maintaining a safe and secure workplace); and finally, does the program offer a value for meeting any legal or regulatory compliance.
Once this is completed, the options for delivering the “vital” security employee training or awareness methodologies can be considered. These should include a logical range of options from in person instructor led training to the use of online meeting applications to facilitate training long distance. E-mail campaigns and the company Intranet may also serve as excellent sources for disseminating awareness information to employees. Whatever the delivery form, by aligning efforts to highest needs of the organization, security programs can continue to implement training and awareness in all but the most dire business conditions.
Answer provided by Joseph C. Nelson, Security Executive Council Emeritus Faculty.
