-- Cybersecurity incidents remain one of the biggest risks facing small and mid-sized businesses, and experts warn that untrained staff are often the weakest link. vCISO.One, a Brisbane-based cybersecurity consultancy, is calling for urgent action as research shows that human error continues to account for the majority of breaches.
“Technology alone cannot solve the problem. Without continuous security awareness training, employees are left vulnerable to phishing, social engineering, and other attacks designed to bypass technical defenses,” said Andrew Egoroff, Principal Consultant and Founder of vCISO.One. “Attackers know that people are the easiest way into an organisation, and they exploit that every single day.”
While many organisations run a one-off security session during onboarding, few maintain regular, ongoing training. This leaves staff unprepared for evolving threats such as AI-driven phishing emails and highly targeted scams that mimic trusted suppliers or executives.
“Security awareness must be treated like workplace safety. It’s not enough to do it once. You wouldn’t train someone to use heavy machinery a single time and assume they’re safe for life,” Egoroff explained. “Cybersecurity is no different—it requires consistent reinforcement.”
The business impact of neglecting training can be devastating. According to recent industry reports, small businesses that suffer data breaches often face costs running into hundreds of thousands of dollars, reputational damage, and in some cases, closure. Many attacks that succeed do so not because of a lack of technology, but because a staff member clicked a malicious link or disclosed sensitive information.
Egoroff emphasised that training doesn’t need to be expensive or overwhelming. “Short, ongoing awareness sessions - tailored to real-world attacks - are highly effective. The key is frequency and relevance. Cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue, it’s a business survival issue.”
vCISO.One is encouraging business leaders to prioritise staff awareness training as part of their overall security posture. To support this, the consultancy has published a whitepaper, 'Secure Smarter, Not Harder', which outlines practical steps organisations can take to reduce human risk without overburdening staff or budgets.
The whitepaper is available for free download at https://vciso.one/secure-smarter.
“Cybercriminals are innovating daily,” said Egoroff. “The question isn’t whether they’ll target your business - it’s when. Training staff to be your first line of defence is one of the smartest investments any organisation can make.”
About vCISO.One
vCISO.One is an Australian cybersecurity consultancy founded by Andrew Egoroff. The firm specialises in delivering flexible virtual CISO services, cybersecurity program management, risk and compliance consulting, and managed security solutions tailored to small and mid-sized organisations. With decades of international experience and a practical, results-driven approach, vCISO.One helps clients strengthen their security, meet regulatory obligations, and build long-term resilience.
Learn more at www.vciso.one.
Contact Info:
Name: Andrew Egoroff
Email: Send Email
Organization: vCISO.One
Address: 29/97 Creek Street, Brisbane City, Queensland 4000, Australia
Phone: +61-1300-067-003
Website: https://vciso.one
Release ID: 89167865