How to write a security awareness and training policy

Why awareness is a control, not a nicety

People are the most targeted layer of any organisation. A security awareness and training policy defines how staff are trained to recognise phishing, handle data and report incidents — turning your workforce from the weakest link into a detection layer. Auditors expect evidence that training actually happens.

What to include

Scope — all staff, contractors and, where relevant, role-specific training.
Onboarding training — completed before or shortly after access is granted.
Recurring training — at least annual refreshers, with completion tracked.
Phishing simulations — periodic tests, with follow-up training rather than punishment.
Role-based modules — extra training for developers, admins and finance (a frequent fraud target).
Records — completion evidence retained for audits.
Effectiveness — measure and improve (completion rates, phishing click rates).

Common mistakes

One slide deck at onboarding and nothing after.
Phishing tests used to punish, which destroys reporting culture.
No completion records, so you cannot prove training to an auditor.

Framework alignment

Maps to ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 6.3 (awareness, education and training), the SOC 2 criteria, and NIST CSF Protect (PR.AT).

Primary sources

NIST SP 800-50 Rev. 1 — Building a Cybersecurity and Privacy Learning Program (csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/50/r1/final).
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 — Annex A control 6.3, information security awareness, education and training (iso.org/standard/27001).
ENISA — awareness raising resources (enisa.europa.eu).

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Frequently asked questions

How often should security awareness training run?

At onboarding for every new joiner, then refreshed at least annually, with shorter targeted reminders in between. Annex A 6.3 expects awareness, education, and training to be appropriate and regular — a once-only induction does not keep pace with evolving phishing and social-engineering tactics.

What should awareness training cover?

The threats staff actually face: phishing and business email compromise, password and MFA hygiene, safe data handling, clear-desk and clear-screen habits, and how to report a suspected incident. Tie each topic to a real action the employee can take, not abstract policy text.

Do auditors check training records?

Yes. For ISO 27001 you need evidence that training happened — completion records, dates, and content covered. Annex A 6.3 is straightforward to fail if you deliver training but cannot show who attended, so keep an attendance or completion log per session.