Cyber threats are evolving, but your people remain the first line of defence.
For growing businesses, cyber security isn’t just about having the right software in place; it’s also about empowering your team with the knowledge and confidence to act safely and respond quickly. That’s where cyber security training comes in.
In fact, most cyber attacks don’t start with clever code, they start with a single click. A dodgy invoice. A fake password reset. A message that looks just legitimate enough to fool someone into handing over credentials. These are phishing attacks, and they target human behaviour more than system vulnerabilities.
That’s why IT security awareness isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Why Ad-Hoc Cyber Training Isn’t Enough
Cyber Security training isn’t a set-and-forget activity. Growing businesses are under increasing pressure to meet compliance and cyber insurance standards, with frameworks like SMB1001 requiring a proactive approach to people, policies, processes, and technology.
Relying on a once-a-year presentation just won’t cut it anymore. Short, relevant, and regular cyber security training builds better habits, helps staff respond to suspicious activity with confidence, and reduces the risk of human error, one of the most common causes of breaches in small to mid-sized organisations.
What to Include in Your Staff IT Training
Building a culture of cyber awareness starts with the basics. Some of the key elements every staff IT training program should cover include:
Phishing Awareness | Teach staff how to identify suspicious emails, links, and attachments. Encourage them to verify unexpected requests and report anything unusual without fear of blame.
Password Best Practices | Reinforce safe password habits, including using secure password managers and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for key systems.
Screen Locking & Clean Desk Policy | Promote simple physical security habits, lock screens when stepping away and store sensitive documents securely at the end of the day.
Incident Response Protocols | Ensure staff know who to contact and what steps to take if they click on a suspicious link or notice unusual activity. Quick reporting helps reduce the impact of a potential breach.
Physical Security Awareness | Remind staff not to allow tailgating into offices and to challenge unfamiliar visitors where appropriate.
Even small, budget-conscious businesses can implement IT security training using simple tools:
- Monthly email tips
- A clear onboarding checklist
- Simulated phishing campaigns
- Quick refresher quizzes or videos
Why It Matters for Your Risk Assessment
Training your team isn’t just good practice; it’s a vital component of your overall cyber security roadmap. It reduces the chance of successful phishing attacks, supports your risk assessment, and demonstrates a people-first approach during a security audit or insurance review.
When combined with technical measures like endpoint protection, threat detection, and regular security audits, a trained team becomes a powerful part of your defence strategy.
Build a Culture of Vigilance with IQPC
At IQPC, we help Perth businesses improve cyber security resilience through clear, people-first strategies. Whether you’re pursuing SMB1001 certification or simply want to reduce your risk exposure, our team can support your organisation with custom training, policy design, and technical support.
Want to level up your staff cyber security training? Let’s have a chat about building a more security-aware culture across your team.
