Security Awareness and Training
164.308(a)(4)
Administrative Safeguards
High Risk
Moderate
Implement a security awareness and training program for all members of the workforce (including management).
Implementation Guidance
Develop and implement a comprehensive security awareness and training program including:
• Initial security training for new employees
• Ongoing security awareness training for all workforce members
• Role-specific security training
• Security incident response training
• Regular security updates and communications
• Training effectiveness evaluation
Key components:
- Security awareness training program
- Role-based security training
- Regular security updates
- Training documentation and records
- Training effectiveness measurement
- Incident response training
• Initial security training for new employees
• Ongoing security awareness training for all workforce members
• Role-specific security training
• Security incident response training
• Regular security updates and communications
• Training effectiveness evaluation
Key components:
- Security awareness training program
- Role-based security training
- Regular security updates
- Training documentation and records
- Training effectiveness measurement
- Incident response training
NIST References
NIST SP 800-66 Rev. 2: Section 3.1.4
NIST Cybersecurity Framework: PR.AT-1, PR.AT-2, PR.AT-3, PR.AT-4, PR.AT-5
NIST SP 800-53: AT-1, AT-2, AT-3, AT-4, AT-5, AT-6, AT-7, AT-8
NIST Cybersecurity Framework: PR.AT-1, PR.AT-2, PR.AT-3, PR.AT-4, PR.AT-5
NIST SP 800-53: AT-1, AT-2, AT-3, AT-4, AT-5, AT-6, AT-7, AT-8
Best Practices
• Develop comprehensive training program
• Provide role-specific training
• Regular security awareness updates
• Document all training activities
• Evaluate training effectiveness
• Use interactive training methods
• Provide ongoing security communications
• Provide role-specific training
• Regular security awareness updates
• Document all training activities
• Evaluate training effectiveness
• Use interactive training methods
• Provide ongoing security communications
Testing Procedures
• Review security awareness and training program
• Verify training materials and curricula
• Test training delivery methods
• Review training records and documentation
• Evaluate training effectiveness
• Test incident response training
• Verify regular security updates
• Verify training materials and curricula
• Test training delivery methods
• Review training records and documentation
• Evaluate training effectiveness
• Test incident response training
• Verify regular security updates
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often should security training be provided?
A: Security awareness training should be provided at least annually, with additional training for new employees and when job functions change.
Q: What topics should be covered in security training?
A: Training should cover HIPAA requirements, security policies, incident response, password security, and role-specific security responsibilities.
Q: How can training effectiveness be measured?
A: Training effectiveness can be measured through assessments, incident rates, compliance audits, and feedback from workforce members.
A: Security awareness training should be provided at least annually, with additional training for new employees and when job functions change.
Q: What topics should be covered in security training?
A: Training should cover HIPAA requirements, security policies, incident response, password security, and role-specific security responsibilities.
Q: How can training effectiveness be measured?
A: Training effectiveness can be measured through assessments, incident rates, compliance audits, and feedback from workforce members.
Control Information
Control ID:
164.308(a)(4)
164.308(a)(4)
Category:
Administrative Safeguards
Administrative Safeguards
Subcategory:
Security Management Process
Security Management Process
Risk Level:
High
High
Implementation Difficulty:
Moderate
Moderate
Estimated Cost:
Medium
Medium
Implementation Timeframe:
2-4 months
2-4 months
Views:
7
7
Last Updated:
Oct 1, 2025
Oct 1, 2025
Related Controls
Additional Resources
• NIST SP 800-66 Rev. 2: Security Awareness and Training Guidance
• HHS Security Awareness and Training Guidance
• Security Training Best Practices
• Interactive Training Development Guide
• Training Effectiveness Measurement Tools
• HHS Security Awareness and Training Guidance
• Security Training Best Practices
• Interactive Training Development Guide
• Training Effectiveness Measurement Tools