Cyber Security Awareness Training Course

Employees interact with an organisation’s systems, information and communications every day. This means the decisions they make can have a direct impact on cyber security, whether they work in IT, administration, finance, customer service or another role.

Employees can help protect an organisation by:

• Recognising suspicious communications – questioning unusual emails, messages or requests before acting on them.
• Protecting accounts and access – following secure password and authentication practices.
• Handling information carefully – considering how sensitive or personal information is accessed, shared and stored.
• Following security procedures – applying the organisation’s policies when using systems, devices and information.
• Reporting concerns promptly – raising suspicious activity or mistakes so they can be investigated and addressed quickly.

Technology and security controls are important, but they cannot account for every decision an employee makes. Building awareness helps staff understand their role in protecting the organisation and encourages safer behaviour as part of their everyday work.

Human error can lead to a cyber security incident when an everyday mistake unintentionally exposes information, accounts or systems to risk. These mistakes may happen because someone is distracted, under pressure or simply does not recognise that an action could have security consequences.

Common examples include

• Clicking a malicious link or attachment that appears to come from a trusted source.
• Sending sensitive information to the wrong person by selecting an incorrect email address or recipient.
• Using weak or reused passwords, making accounts easier to compromise.
• Approving an unexpected login or authentication request without checking whether it is genuine.
• Sharing information without verifying a request, particularly when someone is impersonating a colleague, supplier or manager.
• Failing to report a mistake or suspicious activity, allowing a potential incident to continue unnoticed.

Not every mistake will result in a cyber attack or data breach. However, helping employees recognise where risks can arise — and encouraging them to report mistakes quickly — can give an organisation a better opportunity to respond before further harm occurs.

Cyber awareness helps employees recognise when an email, message, phone call or request may not be what it appears to be. Phishing and social engineering often rely on manipulating people into acting quickly, revealing information or providing access rather than attacking technology directly.

Awareness can help employees identify warning signs such as:

• Unexpected urgency – pressure to make a payment, provide information or take immediate action.
• Unusual requests – particularly requests involving passwords, account details, sensitive information or changes to normal procedures.
• Impersonation – someone claiming to be a manager, colleague, supplier or trusted organisation.
• Suspicious links or attachments – especially when they arrive unexpectedly or the sender cannot be verified.
• Requests for secrecy – attempts to discourage an employee from checking a request with somebody else.

The aim is not for employees to investigate cyber threats themselves. It is to develop the habit of stopping, questioning and verifying something that appears unusual before taking action, and reporting concerns through the organisation’s appropriate procedures.

Reporting suspicious activity quickly gives an organisation the opportunity to investigate a potential cyber threat and take action before it develops into a more serious incident.

Employees should report concerns even when they are unsure whether something is genuinely malicious. Examples might include:

• A suspicious email, message or phone call asking for information or action.
• An unexpected login or authentication request that the employee did not initiate.
• Unusual account or system activity, such as unexpected changes or access attempts.
• Accidentally sharing information with the wrong person or through an inappropriate method.
• Clicking a suspicious link or opening an attachment before realising it may not be genuine.

Reporting a concern does not necessarily mean a cyber security incident has occurred. However, early reporting can give the appropriate team more time to investigate, limit potential exposure and take steps to protect systems, accounts or information.

Employees should therefore know what to report, who to report it to and how to do so as part of their organisation's security procedures.

Cyber awareness can help reduce avoidable security risks by giving employees the knowledge and confidence to make safer decisions when using workplace systems, handling information and communicating with others.

For an organisation, this can contribute to:

• Reduced human risk – employees are better prepared to recognise situations that could lead to a security incident.
• Earlier identification of threats – suspicious emails, unusual requests and other concerns are more likely to be recognised and reported.
• Safer handling of information – employees have a better understanding of their responsibilities when accessing, storing or sharing organisational data.
• Better security behaviours – secure working practices become part of everyday activities rather than something considered only by IT teams.
• Stronger security culture – employees understand that protecting systems and information is a shared responsibility across the organisation.

Cyber awareness cannot remove every security risk, but it can strengthen the human element of an organisation’s security measures, helping employees play an active role in preventing, recognising and responding to potential cyber threats.