Why Is Information Security Training Important?
In the digital age, data is the most valuable asset an organization owns. It is also the most targeted. Every day, headlines break news of another massive data breach, a ransomware attack halting hospital operations, or a phishing scam that cost a company millions. The question is no longer “will we be targeted?” but “when?”
Most organizations respond by buying expensive firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and advanced software. These tools are necessary, but they are not enough. Technology alone cannot stop a breach if the people managing it do not have the right skills, or if the employees using the network fall for a simple trick.
This is why information security training is important. It is the critical bridge between technology and true security. For the individual, it is the path to a recession-proof career. For the organization, it is the difference between business continuity and a catastrophic failure.
The Human Element: The Strongest Shield or the Weakest Link
Attackers know that breaking 256-bit encryption is mathematically difficult. Trickling an employee into handing over their password, however, is often shockingly easy. Social engineering and phishing attacks target human psychology, not software vulnerabilities.
Without proper training, your workforce is a series of open doors waiting to be walked through. An untrained employee cannot distinguish between a legitimate vendor email and a sophisticated spear-phishing attempt. They might plug in a USB drive found in the parking lot or reuse passwords across sensitive accounts.
Effective security training transforms your staff from a liability into a defensive layer (often called the “human firewall”). When employees understand the tactics hackers use, they become the first line of defense. They learn to:
- Identify suspicious URL structures and email headers.
- Recognize social engineering tactics like urgency and authority.
- Report incidents immediately rather than hiding mistakes.
For IT professionals, this goes a step further. It isn’t just about awareness; it’s about operational competence. A security analyst must know how to configure the firewall, not just watch it. This requires rigorous, hands-on training.
Compliance and Regulatory Requirements
Beyond the immediate threat of hackers, organizations face immense pressure from regulators. Governments and industry bodies have realized that data protection is non-negotiable. If you handle credit cards, healthcare records, or government data, training is not a “nice to have.” It is the law.
Meeting DoD Directives
For those working with the federal government or the military, the standards are precise. The Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 8140 (replacing 8570) mandates that anyone with privileged access to DoD systems must hold specific certifications. You cannot touch the keyboard without them.
This is where structured training becomes a career accelerator. Earning certifications like CompTIA Security+ creates immediate eligibility for government and defense contracting roles. These positions often offer higher security clearance, better pay, and more stability than the private sector. If you want these jobs, you must follow the compliance roadmap.
The ROI of Security Training vs. The Cost of a Breach
Many companies hesitate to invest in high-level training because of the upfront cost. This is a calculation error. The average cost of a data breach in the United States is now in the millions of dollars. This figure includes regulatory fines, legal fees, forensic investigations, and the immeasurable cost of reputational damage.
Compare that to the investment in a comprehensive training program. Sending a team to a Certified Network Defender (CND) course or ensuring your managers understand risk through CISSP certification training costs a fraction of a single security incident.
Trained professionals respond faster. They identify indicators of compromise (IoCs) earlier in the “kill chain.” Stopping an attack in the reconnaissance or delivery phase saves the organization exponentially more money than trying to clean up after the data has been exfiltrated.
Future-Proofing Your Career
If you are an IT professional, information security training is the only way to remain relevant. Automation and AI are handling basic administrative tasks. The days of simply resetting passwords for a living are ending. The industry needs problem solvers who understand architecture, risk, and adversarial tactics.
This is about momentum. You cannot rely on what you learned five years ago. The threats change weekly. The malware that worked in 2020 is obsolete today, and the defensive strategies have shifted from “prevention” to “detection and response.”
The Stackable Certification Pathway
Success in this field requires a system. You don’t just “learn cyber.” You build a stack of skills that prove your competency.
1. Foundation: It starts with understanding infrastructure. You cannot secure a network if you don’t know how packets move. Training in CompTIA Network+ provides this baseline.
2. Core Security: The next step is the industry standard. CompTIA Security+ validates you have the core knowledge required for any cybersecurity role.
3. Offense and Defense: To be an expert, you must think like the enemy. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) training teaches you the tools and mindset of a hacker so you can fix vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
4. Management and Leadership: For those aiming for the C-suite or senior architecture roles, the CISSP is the gold standard. It proves you can manage the entire security posture of an organization.
This path works. We have seen students like Pierce Novak use this exact “stackable” approach to pass 11 exams in 7 months and completely change their financial future.
Building a Culture of Security
Information security training does more than teach technical skills; it changes organizational culture. When leadership prioritizes training, it signals to the entire company that security matters.
A culture of security means that a developer doesn’t push code without checking for vulnerabilities. It means an HR manager pauses before opening an attachment labeled “Resume.” It means the IT team is constantly testing, patching, and improving.
This culture attracts better talent. High-performing security professionals want to work in environments where their skills are valued and where the organization is committed to defense. They do not want to work for companies that treat security as an afterthought.
How to Execute: Choosing the Right Training
Not all training is equal. Watching passive videos on YouTube is not the same as rigorous, instructor-led training. To pass difficult exams like the CEH or CISSP, you need structure. You need accountability. You need a mentor who has been in the trenches.
At Eric Reed Cybersecurity Training, we don’t believe in shortcuts. We believe in immersion. Our boot camps are designed to get you certified and ready to work in the shortest amount of time possible, without sacrificing depth.
Whether you need Security+ training in Tampa or a CISSP boot camp in Houston, the methodology is the same:
- Expert Instruction: Learn from instructors who are active in the industry.
- Hands-on Labs: Theory is useless without application. You will break things and fix them.
- Exam Focus: We teach you exactly what you need to know to pass the exam on the first attempt.
The Bottom Line
Why is information security training important? Because the alternative is negligence. In a world defined by digital warfare, ignorance is a choice. You can choose to leave your career and your organization vulnerable, or you can choose to level up.
The threats are real. The demand for skilled professionals is at an all-time high. The funding and resources are available.
It is time to stop thinking about training as a cost and start treating it as the most critical investment you will make this year. Structure your learning, commit to the process, and execute.
Ready to start? Check out our Level Up Program or view our upcoming course schedule.