More and more organizations are investing in our Msafe secure file transfer software to securely exchange confidential documents, personal data and contracts. And rightly so. With encryption, access rights, audit trails and controlled collaboration, they are taking important steps toward better information security and compliance.
But technology alone is not enough.
Files are still shared by people. And that’s precisely where risk arises. An employee who clicks on a phishing email, shares a document with the wrong recipient, leaves too broad permissions, or works outside the secure channel because it seems faster, can put pressure on even the best-equipped environment. That’s why secure file sharing, security awareness and compliance training belong together.
Secure file sharing protects documents. Training protects behavior.
The bottom line is simple: a secure environment works optimally only when employees understand how to use it safely. Security awareness and compliance training reinforce each other precisely when combined and offered on an ongoing basis. That combination helps organizations strengthen their human defense layer and reduces the risk of fines, reputational damage and loss of customers.
For our Msafe customers, this is directly relevant. Secure file sharing is not just about the software, but also about behavior. When can a file be shared externally? What information is sensitive? How does an employee verify that the recipient is correct? What do you do in the event of a suspicious request? And how do you prevent someone from using an insecure alternative? Once employees are better trained on this, the value of secure file sharing immediately increases in practice.
1. Make training relevant to daily work
One of the strengths of KnowBe4’s training is that training only works when it logically connects to the employee’s practice. Old, traditional compliance training often falls short in this regard: long, boring modules taken once a year rarely produce lasting behavior change.
Effective training therefore begins with clear goals. What risks do you want to reduce? What knowledge does each employee need? And what additional obligations apply to specific roles, such as HR, finance, legal or IT? By linking training to function, responsibilities and business goals, the content becomes more relevant and therefore more effective.
For secure file sharing, for example, that means that not everyone needs the same training. An employee in sales especially needs to know how secure external sharing works, while HR or legal needs more depth around privacy, sensitive information and compliance requirements. It is precisely this role-oriented approach that makes training credible and useful.
2. More often and shorter works better than once a year
Those who truly want to encourage safe behavior must move away from the idea that one annual training session is enough. Employees remember more when they learn more frequently, in smaller and more digestible parts. Short learning moments result in less disruption of work and more repetition at the right times.
That’s exactly why modern security awareness training is much better suited to today’s reality. Instead of one long session, a rhythm of short modules, microlearning, videos or other varied content works better. Not only does this increase engagement, but it also makes it easier to recur topical topics.
For customers who use Msafe secure file transfer, this is ideal. You can incorporate secure sharing, data classification, privacy, password behavior, phishing and reporting procedures into smaller steps. This keeps secure working top of mind, without training feeling like a stand-alone required number.
3. Combine compliance with phishing awareness
Many security incidents start not with technology, but with deception. A convincing phishing email, a fake login page or a request that seems legitimate is often enough to make a user fall into the wrong. That’s why it’s smart not to view compliance training separately from security awareness, but rather to combine it with phishing simulations and behavioral training.
4. Keep security and compliance in constant focus
Training is not a one-time project. Organizations that get real results treat security awareness and compliance as an ongoing program. That requires more than just classroom modules. It also requires internal communication, repetition and visible support from within the organization.
When employees understand why working safely is important, engagement increases. Consider short reminders, practical tips, internal campaigns or a message from management explaining the importance of safe file sharing. This does not have to be heavy or formal. An accessible and creative approach ensures that the message sticks better.
For secure file sharing, this is crucial. A secure culture is created when employees know not only how the solution works, but also why it is important to share sensitive information through the proper channel, properly monitor recipients and report suspicious situations immediately.
5. Measure progress and make compliance demonstrable
What you don’t measure, you can hardly improve. Therefore, measurement is an essential part of a good training program. Not only after the fact, but also beforehand and during the program. A baseline measurement helps to determine where the greatest risks are. Then you can focus on improvement.
Completion rates remain important, especially for compliance and audits. But they don’t tell the whole story. Real value also lies in other signals: phishing results, knowledge checks, trends per target group, and whether employees show safer behavior. It is precisely this combination that reveals whether training has a real effect.
For organizations deploying secure file sharing, this is particularly valuable. Not only do you demonstrate that you are using the right technology, you also demonstrate that you are investing in the knowledge and behavior required to use that technology properly. That strengthens both your security position and your compliance story.
This is why we partner with KnowBe4
We believe secure file sharing is strongest when technology and human behavior come together. That’s why we partner with KnowBe4. That partnership helps organizations invest in a structural program for security awareness and compliance in addition to secure technology.
With KnowBe4, organizations can offer training that is more relevant, varied and measurable. Think role-based content, short learning modules, phishing tests and clear reporting. Thus, training becomes not an annual obligation that employees want to complete as soon as possible, but a practical way to reduce risk and strengthen compliance.
Get more value out of the investment!
Do you use secure file sharing to securely share confidential information? Then training employees is not a bonus, but a logical next step.
Technology can catch a lot, but not everything. Human error, unconscious risk and lack of compliance knowledge remain a major factor. By combining secure file sharing with security awareness and compliance training from KnowBe4, you reduce risk, increase engagement and get more value from your security investment.
Free consultation
Want to get more out of your secure file sharing environment? Schedule an appointment with Gwen Boone or Ray van der Palm for a no-obligation consultation.
