Forum Discussion
MicrosoftNeed for a Microsoft Security Certification for End-users
Hello Learning Community! I'm a Security Skilling Portfolio manager at Microsoft and looking for community feedback on an idea for a new certification. What if Microsoft offered a certification specifically for an organization's business users/end-users on cybersecurity best practices and how to be a security first/responsible business user. The cert could cover Cybersecurity basics, data security best practices, keeping your devices and data safe from malware, protect your info from phishing scams, defending against ransomware, and more.
This certification would not be as exhaustive as our technical certifications, uniquely targeting the business/end-user audience.
Would you or your organization benefit from this type of certification? All feedback welcome, thanks!
3 Replies
In my view, this initiative could be even more impactful if integrated directly into a platform such as the Defender XDR Portal (next to Attack Simulation Training) or other training platform for that matter.
Organizations need a dedicated platform to host and deliver this learning path to their users. From my experience, simply directing employees to MS Learn (as IT professionals often use) is not sufficient. Every organization should maintain ownership of the training it provides, ensuring it aligns with business objectives and compliance requirements. Security awareness training is critical for a healthy and secure organization, especially since end users remain the weakest link in the security chain.
A dedicated platform would not only help organizations manage this training effectively but also provide valuable reporting capabilities for management. This is why I believe integrating an official personal Cybersecurity Basics certification offered by Microsoft into an organization’s training platform or business academy should be considered.
On the other hand, if such a certification exists only as a standalone program for end users, its value may be limited, as many organizations already operate their own training academies or partner with external providers, leading to overlapping or competing offerings.That said, certifications for IT professionals remain particularly valuable, as they directly contribute to personal development and career growth in the field.
we appreciate if you can avail cybersecurity contents suitable for end users or beginners. a credential based on assessments will be helpful, not so much of a certificate.
I think this would be really valuable! Most security risks start with end-users, so having a certification that focuses on practical things like spotting phishing, protecting data, and safe device use would definitely help build a stronger security culture. I can see a lot of organizations benefiting from this.
