Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- Phishing, social engineering, and password reuse often bypass technical defenses—awareness reduces these risks.
- Role‑based training ensures each employee knows their CUI handling responsibilities.
- Continuous reinforcement beats once‑a‑year slide decks.
Understanding the AT Controls
NIST SP 800‑171's Awareness & Training (AT) family (3.2.1 – 3.2.3) requires organizations to:
- Train individuals on security and CUI obligations (3.2.1)
- Document and monitor participation (3.2.2)
- Teach role‑specific responsibilities for privileged or unique functions (3.2.3)
Building an Effective Program
- On‑boarding Training – mandatory within first 30 days.
- Quarterly Micro‑Learning – 5‑minute videos and phishing simulations.
- Role‑Based Modules – developers, system admins, executives.
- Gamify & Reward – leaderboards, certificates.
- Measure & Improve – track click‑rates, quiz scores, policy violations.
Best Practices Checklist
- Simulate phishing at least monthly.
- Update content to include AI‑powered threats.
- Make training accessible 24/7 via LMS.
- Involve leadership to champion security culture.
Total Assure's SAT Offering
Our managed Security Awareness & Training platform delivers engaging content, automated phishing tests, and detailed compliance reports—aligned to NIST SP 800‑171. Schedule a demo.