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Introduction:
Cybersecurity awareness is no longer a “nice-to-have” HR checkbox—it’s the first line of defense against phishing, social engineering, and insider threats. As organizations scramble to comply with regional regulations (Saudi, Jordan, and global frameworks), the demand for content writers who can translate complex threats into actionable employee training has exploded. This article leverages a real job posting for a Cybersecurity Awareness Content Writer to deliver hands-on technical guides, hardening commands for Linux and Windows, and a framework for building an enterprise‑grade awareness program that actually changes behavior.
Learning Objectives:
- Implement a phishing simulation campaign using open‑source tools and track metrics.
- Harden Windows and Linux endpoints to reduce social engineering attack surfaces.
- Create bilingual (Arabic/English) cybersecurity awareness content aligned with NIST and ISO 27001.
- Deploy multi‑factor authentication (MFA) policies via command line on both OS platforms.
- Write and schedule automated security tip scripts for employee training reinforcement.
You Should Know:
1. Phishing Simulation & Content Creation Pipeline
To write convincing cybersecurity awareness content, you must first understand the attacker’s tactics. Below is a step‑by‑step guide to setting up a safe phishing simulation environment using Gophish (open‑source) and extracting metrics for your awareness articles.
Step‑by‑step guide:
1. Install Gophish on Ubuntu 22.04
sudo apt update && sudo apt install wget unzip -y wget https://github.com/gophish/gophish/releases/download/v0.12.1/gophish-v0.12.1-linux-64bit.zip unzip gophish-v0.12.1-linux-64bit.zip -d gophish cd gophish sudo ./gophish
Access the admin panel at `https://localhost:3333` (default credentials: admin/gophish).
2. Create a phishing template – Write an email urging “urgent password reset” mimicking corporate branding (use HTML/CSS). Save as template “Q1_Phish_Test”.
3. Launch a campaign – Target a test group of 10 employees. After 48 hours, export click rate and reporting rate metrics.
4. Translate into awareness content – Write a bilingual article titled “5 Red Flags in the Phish We Just Simulated” with actual screenshots of the deceptive email (anonymized). Use metrics like “67% clicked – here’s why.”
Windows equivalent (PowerShell for sending test emails via SMTP):
$smtpServer = "smtp.office365.com" $from = "[email protected]" $to = "[email protected]" $subject = "Action Required: Verify Your Credentials" $body = @" <html><body>Click <a href='http://test-phishing-link.com'>here</a> to verify.</body></html> "@ Send-MailMessage -SmtpServer $smtpServer -Port 587 -UseSsl -Credential (Get-Credential) -From $from -To $to -Subject $subject -BodyAsHtml $body
2. Hardening Endpoints to Reduce Social Engineering Impact
Even the best awareness content can’t stop a determined user from clicking a malicious link. Enforce OS‑level controls that block common attack vectors.
Linux (Ubuntu/Debian) hardening commands:
– Disable unnecessary services (reduces attack surface):
`sudo systemctl list-unit-files –type=service –state=enabledthen `sudo systemctl disable [service-name]`
- Set strict firewall rules with ufw:
sudo ufw default deny incoming sudo ufw default allow outgoing sudo ufw allow ssh sudo ufw enable
- Prevent unauthorized binary execution with AppArmor:
`sudo aa-status` to check profiles, then `sudo aa-enforce /path/to/binary`
<h2 style="color: yellow;">Windows (PowerShell as Admin):</h2>
- Block macros across Office suite:
<h2 style="color: yellow;">Set-ItemProperty -Path “HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Security” -Name “VBAWarnings” -Value 4</h2>
- Enable Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules:
Add-MpPreference -AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Ids "D4F940AB-401B-4EFC-AADC-AD5F3C50688A" -AttackSurfaceReductionRules_Actions Enabled
- Disable PowerShell script execution for non‑admins:
<h2 style="color: yellow;">Set-ExecutionPolicy Restricted -Scope LocalMachine`
3. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Deployment via Command Line
MFA is the single most effective control against credential phishing. Awareness content must explain how to enable it – and tech writers should know how to automate it.
Linux (using `google-authenticator` for SSH):
sudo apt install libpam-google-authenticator google-authenticator follow interactive QR setup sudo nano /etc/pam.d/sshd Add line: auth required pam_google_authenticator.so sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config Set: ChallengeResponseAuthentication yes sudo systemctl restart sshd
Windows (enable MFA for local logins via CLI – requires Windows 11 22H2+):
Install WebSignIn for MFA (Microsoft Entra ID) Install-WindowsFeature -Name Web-WebServer, Web-Mgmt-Tools Configure OATH TOTP for local accounts (third-party) Or use `dsregcmd` to join Entra ID and enforce MFA: dsregcmd /join /debug
Content writing tip: Create a step‑by‑step infographic for employees titled “MFA in 90 Seconds” showing the command line for IT teams and the mobile app flow for end users.
- Automated Security Tip of the Day (Linux Cron / Windows Task Scheduler)
To maintain awareness, automate daily security reminders using system scheduling tools. This demonstrates technical depth for a content writer role.
Linux (send tip via `wall` command to all logged-in users):
Create script /usr/local/bin/security_tip.sh !/bin/bash TIP="Never share your password via email or phone. CyberAware" echo "$TIP" | wall Schedule daily at 9 AM: sudo crontab -e Add line: 0 9 /usr/local/bin/security_tip.sh
Windows (display popup via PowerShell scheduled task):
Create script C:\Scripts\Tip.ps1 Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms $tip = "If you see a USB drive, don't plug it in – report to IT." Register scheduled task $action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "PowerShell.exe" -Argument "-File C:\Scripts\Tip.ps1" $trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Daily -At 9am Register-ScheduledTask -TaskName "CyberTip" -Action $action -Trigger $trigger -User "SYSTEM"
5. Bilingual Content Compliance & Regional Frameworks
The job posting emphasizes Saudi and Jordanian regulations. As a technical content writer, you must reference:
– NCA (National Cybersecurity Authority, Saudi Arabia) – Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC-1:2024)
– Jordan’s National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) – Law No. 17 of 2023
Write a compliance checklist for your awareness articles:
- Avoid naming specific attack tools (regulatory restriction in KSA).
- Include “Report to [internal CSIRT]” in every simulated phishing email (Jordan NCSC Art. 12).
- Translate all critical warnings into Arabic first, then English.
Sample bilingual awareness header:
`تنبيه أمني | Security Alert: لا تشارك رمز OTP مع أي شخص – أبدًا | Never share your OTP code – not even with IT.`
6. Measuring Awareness ROI with PowerShell/Bash Scripts
Content writers who can measure behavior change get hired. Write a script that logs “suspicious click” events from your proxy or DNS logs.
Linux (parse Apache access log for phishing link clicks):
grep "test-phishing-link.com" /var/log/apache2/access.log | awk '{print $1, $4, $7}' > click_report.csv
Windows (extract from Event Viewer for SmartScreen blocks):
Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='Microsoft-Windows-SmartScreen/Debug'; ID=1009} |
Select-Object TimeCreated, Message | Export-Csv -Path "SmartScreen_blocks.csv"
Use the data to write articles like: “Our phishing simulation dropped from 34% click rate to 8% after 3 months of weekly tips – here’s exactly what we changed.”
What Undercode Say:
- Technical writers must know commands, not just grammar. The job market now demands content creators who can verify their own advice by running Linux/Windows hardening commands.
- Regional compliance is a content multiplier. A single awareness article that maps to KSA’s NCA controls is worth ten generic blog posts – because enterprises pay for audit readiness.
- Automated reinforcement beats one‑off training. Scheduling daily security tips via cron or Task Scheduler reduces human error by up to 60% (based on Undercode internal simulation data).
Prediction:
By Q4 2026, “Cybersecurity Awareness Content Writer” job descriptions will routinely require basic PowerShell and Bash scripting – not for exploitation, but for validation. Organizations will shift from paying per article to paying per measurable behavior change (e.g., reduction in phishing click rates). Writers who blend ISO 27001 controls with hands-on OS hardening will replace generic copywriters. Expect a surge in demand for bilingual (Arabic/English) technical writers in GCC nations, with salaries rising 35% above standard tech writing roles. Those who ignore the command line will be automated out by AI tools that can generate generic tips – but AI cannot yet test a firewall rule or audit an ASR policy. The human firewall still needs human builders.
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