A Canadian cybersecurity company’s lessons on security training
From a Canadian cybersecurity company to you: With recent talks of trade-wars, we are all about peaceful, collaborative protests to deliver what “the people want”.
If you’ve been following recent news, you know that many Canadians are boycotting American products in response to the threats of tariffs on imports to the USA.
In this light-hearted guide, we are suggesting, in a Canadian way, that if anything should be boycotted, it’s boring cybersecurity training.
Let’s be honest—when employees find training dull, they ignore it. That’s bad for security, bad for compliance, and bad for your company. The good news? You don’t have to settle for mind-numbing modules and tedious tests. Instead, here are five key lessons about ditching dull training for authentic learning experiences (from a Canadian cybersecurity company!), just like there’s nothing better than authentic maple syrup!
Lesson 1: Motivating employees to take training doesn’t have to be hard
Motivating employees to complete training can sometimes feel like trying to push a rope — it just doesn’t seem to work. The problem? Traditional training methods fail to capture attention. Employees view them as just another checkbox task rather than something valuable.
When training is visually dynamic, interactive, and fun, employees actually want to complete it. Instead of forcing participation through policies, companies should focus on making training engaging. Gamification elements — like challenges, unexpected experiences, leaderboards, and rewards — turn security training into an experience employees enjoy rather than avoid. When security training feels less like a lecture and more like a game, completion rates and proficiency soar because people naturally enjoy the experience, and absorb more of the concepts.
Lesson 2: Interactive learning challenges create memorable moments
Videos may be entertaining, but they aren’t usually interactive. And without interaction, training often becomes a passive experience — something employees watch (or let play in the background) without fully absorbing the material. This puts a cognitive load on employees that makes the experience seem “routine” or boroing.
Interactive learning challenges disrupt the tendency for our reptilian brain to “tune out” the routine experience of “consuming premade text and video content”, and trigger employees brains to think critically about security risks in real-world scenarios. These hands-on challenges not only reinforce learning but also create memorable moments that stick. When employees actively participate in training, they develop better habits and make smarter security decisions in their day-to-day work.
Want to take action on all these lessons and support a Canadian cybersecurity company? Book a call with Click Armor!
Lesson 3: When you find the right balance, it’s obvious and it works
There’s a fine line between training that’s too rigid and training that’s too relaxed. If cyber security training feels overly strict or time-consuming, employees resist it. But if it’s too loose and unstructured, it won’t be coherent or effective.
The best security training strikes the right balance by delivering visually engaging content that is structured enough to drive results but flexible enough to keep employees engaged.
The takeaway? Security training should be strategic, but it should never feel like a chore. The right mix of interactivity, storytelling, and gamification can make learning about cyber security more enjoyable and productive for employees.
And you’ll know when you’ve hit the right balance: training completion will rise and positive security conversations will start.
Lesson 4: Completing management tasks is also important
Even with engaging training, security managers still have to deal with logistical challenges — course assignments, reminders, reporting, and compliance tracking. If these tasks become overwhelming, even the best training program can lose its effectiveness.
Security managers need tools to automate training administration. With automated scheduling, notifications, and group management, security managers can ensure that employees stay on track without constant micromanagement. A well-managed training program doesn’t just engage employees — it also makes life easier for the people running it.
Lesson 5: Getting started is quick and easy
In a recent Cyber Security Awareness Forum panel session, we did a poll that revealed that one of the biggest reasons organizations stick with outdated training is the belief that switching to something better will be too complicated and expensive; or took too much effort or creativity. But here’s the truth: good, engaging security training doesn’t have to be difficult to implement.
With the right approach, onboarding should be seamless, allowing organizations to customize training to fit their needs.
The lesson? Security managers should choose solutions that are easy to roll out and adapt, with in-built motivational and interactive features that drive engagement, and automation that helps managers deploy faster and see real results. The faster employees can start engaging with effective training, the sooner they’ll begin making smarter security decisions.
Conclusion
If your employees aren’t completing their security training, or complain about having to take it, perhaps it’s time to ask “Why?”. If the answer is that the training is boring or irrelevant, then it’s time for a change.
Boycotting boring security training isn’t just about making learning more enjoyable—it’s about making it more effective, and contributing to a strong culture.
By focusing on interactive learning, gamification, and seamless management tools, you can transform cyber security training from a tedious obligation into a valuable, engaging experience. The right approach can make all the difference in keeping your organization secure.
So, are you ready to ditch dull training and embrace a better way? It’s time to take action — your employees (and your security team) will thank you. Reach out to Click Armor (An engaging Canadian biz!) to get started.