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Why cybersecurity training is important for UX?

Cybersecurity training is crucial for UX designers.

Photo by Ed Hardie on Unsplash

Here's why it matters:

1. User trust translates into UX reputation
   Good UX builds trust but one security breach destroys it.
   Understanding cybersecurity helps you design experiences to be safe (think: secure login flows, password handling, consent, etc.).
2. Handling sensitive information
   UX often deals with user data, behaviour patterns, and analytics.
   If you're unaware of security basics, you might unintentionally design vulnerable interfaces or collect too much.
3. Challenges us to ask better questions
   Knowing security basics allows us to collaborate better with developers and stakeholders:
   "Is this cookie policy GDPR compliant?" , "How will users log in and create accounts? Where and how will they reset passwords?
   At what times of day or year might these actions occur? On which devices and, in which contexts, will these interactions take place,
   especially in today’s always-connected, multi-platform ubiquitous world?".
   You become a strategic voice.
4. You can design secure-by-design systems
   Cybersecurity training helps you:
   • Avoid dark patterns that lead to risky behavior.
   • Design for multi-factor authentication without making it painful.
   • Build with access control and data minimisation in mind.
5. The current landscape is changing fast
   AI, data, decentralisation... all come with new attack vectors. As UX evolves, so must your knowledge of digital safety.

UX without cybersecurity is like designing a beautiful house and leaving the door unlocked.

Even a little training about threat models, secure design patterns, and how to reduce user risk, helps you protect your users, earn their trust, and build better experiences.

Where you can learn more

Courses and videos

• Systems Thinking for Product Designers (LinkedIn Learning)
  Understand the interconnectedness of product components to help you design more cohesive user experiences.
• What is insecure design? (Video. LinkedIn Learning).
• What is threat modeling? (Video. LinkedIn Learning).
• Designing and Implementing Effective Cybersecurity Controls.
  How to design and implement effective cybersecurity controls, which is essential for ensuring secure user experiences.
• Introduction to Identity and Access Management
• Mapping to NIST CSF to design controls (Video. LinkedIn Learning).
• Introduction to security design patterns (Video. LinkedIn Learning).
• Cybersecurity Foundations
• Cybersecurity Fundamentals
• Cybersecurity at Work (LinkedIn Learning)
• Human Factors in Cybersecurity (FutureLearn).
  FREE course! Focuses on psychology, user behavior, and secure system design.
  
• Usable Security (Coursera, University of Maryland).
  Teaches how to evaluate and design secure user-facing systems.
  
• Cybersecurity Awareness (edX, University of Washington)
  Broader overview with design implications.
  

Books and articles

Must-Read Article:
"Designing for Security" by Irene Pereyra (UX Collective)

Book: "Security for Everyone" by Tanya Janca

Learn more about her community here: We Hack Purple

Tools to get familiar with

• 1Password / Bitwarden – Password manager UX
• Authy / Google Authenticator – 2FA flows
• Have I Been Pwned? – See what breached data feels like
• OWASP Top 10 – Learn common attack types that affect UX

YouTube channels and podcasts

• Cybersecurity For Beginners (Techlore)
• Darknet Diaries – Real security failure stories
• The Secure UX Podcast – Real-world UX + security advice