Estimated reading time
6 min
Key points
- Cyber security training should be a top priority for any business owner – it can empower your employees to keep confidential data safe and potentially save you hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars.
- Phishing scams, remote access scams, and insider threats are some common types of cybercrime you should teach your employees about.
- Educating your team on the cyber security basics and cultivating a healthy cyber culture are essential to encouraging cyber-smart behaviours in your business.
Running a business comes with many priorities, and cyber security deserves the same level of attention. For Australian businesses, a single cyber incident can disrupt operations and damage customer trust.
Many cyber incidents begin with everyday actions - clicking a link, responding to an unexpected message or approving a payment. When staff recognise common threats and know how to respond, cyber security becomes a shared responsibility rather than just an IT issue.
This article outlines the key cyber threats employees should understand and practical ways to build cyber awareness, helping your business reduce risk and stay cyber safe.
Why it’s important to train your staff on cyber security
Staff handle emails, links, logins and payment requests every day. Without recognising the red flags, these routine tasks can expose businesses to scams and cyber‑attacks.
Training helps employees to be on guard – to pause, question unusual activity and verify requests before acting. This not only reduces risk but builds a culture where staff feel confident reporting suspicious behaviour - often stopping incidents before they escalate.
Five common cyber threats to teach your staff about
Most cyber threats look normal at first glance. Teaching staff to recognise these risks can help reduce exposure:
1. Business email compromise (BEC)
Criminals impersonate trusted contacts (such as suppliers, executives or finance teams) to trick businesses into paying fake or modified invoices or sending money to a bank account controlled by the scammer. Learn more about BEC.
2. Phishing
Phishing uses emails, SMS, phone calls - or even AI‑generated voice or video - to trick staff into clicking links, opening attachments or sharing sensitive information. Scammers often impersonate trusted organisations or people to appear legitimate.
These communications can look genuine but typically lead to fake websites or malicious software (malware) designed to steal passwords, money or important business information.
3. Remote access scams
A remote access scam occurs when a criminal tricks someone into giving them control of their computer or device from a distance. Scammers typically pose as IT or telco providers and ask for remote access to “fix” an issue.
Once access is granted, they can install malware or steal data. Staff should never allow unsolicited callers remote access to their devices.
4. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that locks or steals files and demands payment to restore access. It’s commonly spread through unsafe links, harmful email attachments or compromised websites.
5. Insider and access threats
Cyber risks can also come from people with legitimate access; including employees, contractors or suppliers. Issues arise when systems or data are accessed beyond what’s required, either deliberately or by mistake.
How to train your employees on cyber safety
- Educate your team on the basics of cybersecurity. This includes implementing measures such as turning on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts, having a strong and unique password or passphrase, and pausing to think before you act if you receive an unexpected message or call.
- Develop a cyber security training program. Identify the gaps in your team’s cyber safety knowledge and develop a program around that information gap. Use online resources, such as guides from the Australian Signals Directorate, to help shape the content. You can also enrol team members in accredited courses.
- Conduct simulated phishing exercises. This is when you send your employees a fake, malicious-looking email and assess how they respond. Running this type of exercise can help teach your staff how to recognise a phishing email and, in turn, help protect your business.
- Cultivate a healthy cyber safety culture to encourage cyber-smart behaviour. Discuss cyber safety openly with your team and create a safe space for them to share when they’ve spotted something suspicious.
How can your team respond to a scam?
- If your employee has shared financial information or transferred money, contact your bank immediately. If you’re an ANZ business customer, contact us immediately to report the fraud.
- If you have shared business credit card details, ‘block’ or cancel those cards immediately. If your cards are with ANZ, you can report the stolen card through the ANZ app or by calling us.
Who can you contact if you’ve been scammed?
- Contact the Australian Cyber Security hotline, 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1300 CYBER1 (or 1300 292 371).
- Report the scam to the Australian Signals Directorate’s ReportCyber portal. This resource is there for reports of scams where money or personal information has been lost.
- Help others by reporting to Scamwatch to help them prevent future losses, monitor trends and educate the population about emerging threats.
- You can also contact IDCare, a not-for-profit organisation providing support to those experiencing identity and cyber security concerns.
- Contact your bank immediately if you share personal, business, or financial information.
- If you’re an ANZ customer, you can report fraud or suspicious activity in multiple ways, such as through the ANZ app or by calling us
