Welcoming a new colleague? Don't forget privacy and security!

New faces in your organization deserve a great welcome, right? So, laptop and mobile phone? Check. Access to the online onboarding program? Of course. As a good employer, you want to offer new employees a warm welcome, including a small gift upon arrival. But let's be honest, in the hustle and bustle of all this coordination, we sometimes overlook something important: privacy and information security.

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The importance of privacy and information security awareness

In this day and age, it has become the norm to handle all our internal and external business operations digitally. However, for organizations, it is often a challenge to do this in a controlled and careful manner.

Protecting valuable company information is crucial for the survival of any organization. Think of your customer, HR, and financial records, but also your business strategy, innovation projects, and marketing data. It is your employees who work with this confidential information every day, and as an organization, we entrust them with a great responsibility.

It is sometimes said that employees are the weakest link when it comes to protecting sensitive company information. After all, accidents can happen easily. But as an organization, we can actually make the difference by ensuring that our employees are the most important link in the entire data protection process!

It is essential to create awareness among employees and provide the right knowledge and solutions regarding privacy and information security. With the right support, employees are the primary 'protectors' against data breaches and cyber threats. Through the right information and training on topics such as cybersecurity risks, phishing, and secure communication, it is possible to prevent or reduce the risk of information and data breaches.

An added benefit is that high awareness of privacy and information security among employees not only protects the organization but also builds trust with customers, which enhances the organization's reputation and boosts customer loyalty. Investing in awareness regarding privacy and information is therefore not just a matter of complying with privacy legislation (GDPR) and information security standards (ISO, BIO, etc.), but also contributes to the long-term success of the organization. That is why it is important to convey this from the very beginning of the employment relationship.

Why this is also important for new employees

It is essential that handling data securely is a priority for every organization and forms an integral part of the company culture. Therefore, it is important to include this in the onboarding process for new employees.

By integrating this aspect during the introduction of new employees, you lay the foundation for a company culture where privacy and information security are central. New employees are eager to contribute to the organization's values. If it is clear that privacy and information security are among the organization's core values, employees will be more inclined to act accordingly and play an active role.

The more people within the organization are aware of this importance, the more deeply it becomes embedded in the fabric of the organization. By including privacy and security in the onboarding process, new employees become more involved in protecting customer and company information. This also emphasizes the shared responsibility of employees for privacy and security as part of the organization's success.

The convenience of e-learning in your onboarding!

In the dynamic world of onboarding, where new colleagues are immersed in a wealth of information, it is crucial to find a balance between learning about the ins and outs of the organization and integrating essential aspects such as privacy and information security. But how do you go about that? Here are a few tips to weave this seamlessly into your onboarding process.

Automated onboarding
Start by automating your online onboarding. New team members should have immediate access to relevant information, even if they have already been employed for a few weeks. This way, they have the space to focus on their role and team first, before diving deeper into the specific aspects of privacy and information security awareness.

With a platform like Pluvo, for example, you can automatically offer a module on information security four weeks after their start date.

Connect with your employees' frame of reference
‍Another key to success is ensuring relevance in the e-learning. By using examples that are specific to the organization, the information becomes not only understandable but also immediately applicable.

This contributes to privacy and information security awareness in the broader onboarding process, ensuring that new team members are not only well-trained but also aware of the crucial aspects within the organization.

Absorbing knowledge when it suits the employee
The advantage of e-learning is the accessibility of knowledge at the moment it is needed most. To prevent new employees from being overwhelmed by too much information at once, they can learn at their own pace and access relevant information when they need it. Unlike traditional training methods, e-learning is not tied to specific times or locations. This offers flexibility and effectiveness, as it allows the employee to apply the acquired knowledge directly in practice.

Privacy & security awareness e-learning, tailored to your company

Privacy Company & Pluvo hebben hun krachten gebundeld om (op maat gemaakte) e-learnings aan te bieden voor organisaties.

For years, Privacy Company consultants have been working on-site with companies and organizations every day. They see how employees sometimes struggle with all the rules and requirements imposed on their work. Often, the relevance of these is not clear to them, which increases resistance to privacy and information security.

To reach all these employees in an effective and engaging way with explanations of what privacy and information security mean and how they should act, Privacy Company has developed the Privacy Awareness and Security Awareness e-learning courses.

This e-learning can be tailored to the specific needs of the organization, making the content relevant and relatable. By using interactive elements, such as quizzes and practical examples, engagement is increased and employee understanding is strengthened.

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Would you like to know more?

Contact Anne-Martine Koetsier, Manager of Training & Awareness at Privacy Company, to request a demo.