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Guide to role-based security training for salespeople and account managers

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guide to training salespeople-1

 

Discover how targeted security training can empower your sales team to build trust with customers and how we train our salespeople at CyberCoach.

Understanding the Importance of Security Training for Sales Roles

With access to sensitive customer data and critical business information, salespeople are at the frontline of your organization’s security defenses. However, cybersecurity is often overlooked in favor of hitting targets and closing deals. That’s where robust security awareness training comes in - and CyberCoach is here to help.

In an era where trust is a key component of customer relationships, ensuring that sales staff are well-versed in security protocols helps in maintaining the confidence that clients place in your business. It's not only about protecting data; it's also about protecting the company's reputation and its bottom line.

"Working in a commercial role, you're always 'on-the-go' either on calls, quickly responding to emails, reaching out to prospects on social media, you name it! CyberCoach allows me to do training in my own time, in a short and interactive format. As we use it also internally for our own training, I can truly understand the product we are offering to customers, and speak about the benefits of our training tool from my experience."

Ines Goncalves
Ines Goncalves, Account Manager for LATAM at CyberCoach

Identifying Common Security Threats for Sales Professionals

Salespeople and account managers handle vast amounts of sensitive information, from customer contact details to confidential business deals. This access makes them a lucrative target for phishing scams, social engineering attacks, and other cyber threats. The stakes are high: a single data breach can lead to significant financial losses, reputational damage, and even legal consequences.

Incorporating security awareness into the daily routine of sales teams is not just a best practice - it’s a necessity. Effective training equips sales professionals with the knowledge they need to recognize and avoid potential threats, safeguarding both their own data and that of their clients. 

"Throughout my career, I have conducted various types of training sessions, many of which were either overly technical for sales teams, or excessively lengthy and monotonous. With Cybercoach, non-technical professionals can easily grasp concepts through real-life scenarios. The interactive, gamified training not only fits seamlessly into demanding schedules but also makes the learning process engaging and efficient."

Yagmur Saritas
Yagmur Saritas, Account Manager at CyberCoach

How We at CyberCoach Train Our Salespeople

At CyberCoach, we don’t just preach the importance of security awareness—we eat our own dog food. Our sales team is assigned a learning path in CyberCoach that is tailored to the risks associated with customer-facing work. Here are our tips for ensuring that salespeople are equipped to handle the challenges of today’s cybersecurity landscape:

  • Realistic Simulations

    Our sales team is assigned a comprehensive learning path in CyberCoach which includes relevant scenario-based training that mimics the real-world cyber threats they face in sales work. Trainings include phishing, QR code phishing ("quishing"), various other social engineering scenarios, secure data handling practices, secure client communications, and compliance and privacy training. 

  • Psychologically Safe Training Learning Environment

    Salespeople come from a variety of backgrounds, and it is not uncommon for even senior salespeople to have received very little security training in previous roles. Psychological security is important so that salespeople can feel comfortable making mistakes without it affecting their learning.

  • Continuous Learning

    Besides onboarding training, we provide our salespeople with ongoing, bite-sized learning through CyberCoach to keep them up to date on the latest threats and best practices.

  • Privacy and Compliance Education

    With the increasing complexity of privacy regulations like GDPR and LGPD in our global operations, CyberCoach provides our sales team specialized training on compliance in their region. This training covers the importance of data protection and how to maintain compliance in their daily interactions with clients.

  • Culture of Security

    We have a dedicated Teams channel where we share funny and not-so-funny social engineering attempts, as well as our own mistakes and near-misses, so everyone can learn from them. When even leaders and technical people share their blunders, it reinforces a culture where everyone feels safe to voice concerns and admit mistakes.

"A day in a salesperson's life is usually really hectic, which means mistakes can easily happen. For example, clicking the wrong link or accidentally sending the wrong document to a customer. With CyberCoach, recognizing risks becomes a routine and part of everyday life, reducing the likelihood of errors. It's great that we can benefit from the training we offer to our customers. This way, our salespeople can truly stand behind the product and explain its benefits from their own experience"

Juulia Hellgren
Juulia Hellgren, Account Director at CyberCoach

Key Security Awareness Training Areas for Sales Teams

To ensure comprehensive protection, your security awareness training program should cover the following critical areas:

1. Understanding Phishing and Quishing Attacks

Phishing remains one of the most prevalent threats to salespeople. Training should help your team recognize phishing emails, SMS ("smishing") scams, QR code scams ("quishing") and other fraudulent communications designed to extract sensitive information or install malware.

CyberCoach Tip: Engage your sales team with real-world scenario training to help them spot various types phishing attempts and help them build confidence in handling these situations.

2. Safe Data Handling Practices

Sales teams often share and store customer data across various platforms. Training should emphasize the importance of using encrypted communication channels, ensuring data is stored securely, and being mindful of data minimization principles.

CyberCoach Tip: Scenario training can also help salespeople learn how to handle sensitive information.

3. Secure Use of Mobile Devices

Given the mobile nature of sales roles, securing smartphones, tablets, and laptops is crucial. Training should cover best practices for using these devices safely, including the importance of strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and safe use of public Wi-Fi networks.

CyberCoach Tip: Remember to include travel safety training!

4. Privacy and Data Protection Regulations

Understanding legal obligations around data protection is vital for sales teams. Training should cover the basics of these regulations and how to stay compliant in day-to-day operations.

CyberCoach Tip: Our CyberCoach privacy modules are tailored to the specific needs of salespeople, ensuring they are well-versed in both global and regional privacy laws.

 

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