Passive and active training approaches for critical infrastructure protection

In order to strengthen Critical Infrastructure's protection and resilience, it is central to invest in training and simulations, to spread a security culture and develop the awareness among all personnel involved in the Critical Infrastructure security. Nowadays, attackers represent a major threat due to the combination of both cyber and kinetic operations, targeting human factors vulnerabilities. It is also critical to develop and straighten a human firewall inside critical organizations through the enhancement of Security Education, Training and Awareness (SETA) and stresses the need for the development of a security culture inside organizations. In such scenarios, today, the awareness within organizations, both in public and private sector, is achieved through passive and active training techniques. A hybrid approach is proposed as a powerful compromise between the two that can best deliver the desired level of awareness and meet the needs and satisfaction of employees. Adopting a balanced mix of techniques that comprise engagement-based and less interactive methods seems to be the best way to attain security awareness.

Automated summary

Investing in training and simulations, spreading security culture, and developing awareness among personnel is essential for strengthening protection and resilience of Critical Infrastructure. Attackers pose a major threat due to human vulnerabilities, combining cyber and kinetic operations. Developing a human firewall and enhancing Security Education, Training and Awareness (SETA) is crucial in building a security culture. Achieving awareness in organizations through passive and active training techniques, a hybrid approach is recommended for optimal awareness levels and employee satisfaction.