Why Generic Cyber Security Awareness Isn’t Enough

Many organisations invest in cyber security awareness programs - informative articles, training modules, posters in the breakroom - but still experience preventable security incidents. Why? Because awareness alone doesn’t change behavior.

Cyber security awareness is important, but it's only the first step. To truly protect an organisation from threats like phishing, credential stuffing, or social engineering, employees need more than knowledge—they need actionable training that helps them build lasting, secure habits.

Turning Awareness Into Action

Phishing continues to be one of the most common attack vectors, even in environments where awareness training is regularly delivered. This highlights a critical gap: knowing about threats doesn’t necessarily mean staff are equipped to recognise and respond to them in real time. 

Bridging this gap requires moving beyond generic awareness toward immersive, scenario-based training that builds confidence and skill in the context of your business. Realistic simulations, hands-on exercises, and role-specific content go a long way in preparing employees for the kinds of threats they’re most likely to face.

Engage Like a Marketer

Effective training isn’t just about content - it’s about engagement. Security teams can take a page from the marketing playbook by creating programs that are well-branded, culturally aligned, and visually appealing. When training feels like a chore, it’s often ignored or forgotten. But when it’s presented in a way that speaks the language of your workforce, it becomes sticky - something people remember and apply.

That means ditching the outdated, generic, service provider video modules in favor of contextualised, multi-touch campaigns, short-form content, and regular nudges that reinforce key messages over time.

Invest in Great Facilitators

The quality of delivery matters. A well-designed training program can fall flat if it's delivered by someone who lacks the ability to connect with their audience. On the other hand, a skilled facilitator can bring even the most technical topics to life, helping participants understand not just the “what” of cybersecurity, but the “why.”

If you're using internal champions or cyber advocates to drive change, invest in their training too. Equip them with the communication and presentation skills needed to influence behavior and culture.

Go Beyond the Basics

While topics like phishing, password hygiene, and MFA are essential, they’re just the starting point. Mature organisations build training programs that go deeper - covering topics which align to the data types specific to your organisation, its business processes, technologies you use and more. This contextualisation removes the need for employees to guess how generic advice applies to their environment and equips them with the real information to spot cyber risk and protect your business. 

Every employee plays a role in securing the organisation. The more advanced and customized your training becomes, the more equipped your people will be to defend against data breaches, malicious adversaries and cyber incidents. 

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