The Million Dollar Question: Could Training Have Prevented This?
Imagine you’re woken by a phone call at 2am. A member of your finance team has clicked a link in a supplier email. Within hours, systems are locked and attackers are demanding a seven-figure ransom.
One question remains: could this have been prevented?
The answer, in most cases, is yes. According to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, 37% of all data breaches reported in the first half of 2025 were caused by human error, a significant increase from 29% in the previous reporting period. When you factor in social engineering attacks like phishing, the human element becomes the dominant factor in organisational security.
The Real Cost of Untrained Risk
IBM’s 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report estimates the average cost of a data breach in Australia at $4.26 million. That includes detection and investigation, lost business, remediation and legal response, and mandatory notification costs. On top of that, organisations can face fines of up to $50 million under the updated Privacy Act for serious or repeated breaches.
The Training ROI: Why Investment in People Delivers Measurable Returns
IBM’s research shows that organisations using AI and automation in security operations saved an average of $1.9 million per breach and reduced the breach lifecycle by 80 days. These tools only deliver results when teams are trained to deploy, monitor, and respond effectively.
Building Your Risk Reduction Strategy
Effective operational risk reduction rests on three pillars: People, Processes, and Technology. Weakness in any one of these areas creates exposure.
People: Your First Line of Defence
Every security control relies on people to configure, monitor, and respond. Without capable teams, even the best technology fails. Training should be aligned to role and responsibility across the organisation.
For All Staff: Security Awareness Training
All staff require practical awareness training. Programs like CyberSAFE Workshop equip employees to recognise phishing, handle data correctly, and respond to suspicious activity.
For Technical Teams: Foundational Security Skills
Technical teams need a baseline security foundation. For those new to cyber security, the ISC2 Certified in Cyber Security (CC) offers a strong entry point while those who have a couple of years of IT experience already, CompTIA Security+ establishes best practice cyber security knowledge.
For Risk and Compliance Professionals: Governance Expertise
Those responsible for managing organisational risk need specialised credentials. The ISACA CRISC certification demonstrates expertise in identifying and managing enterprise IT risk. For broader governance capabilities, ISC2’s CGRC certification integrates governance, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
For Security Leaders: Management and Strategy
Security managers need credentials that demonstrate both technical knowledge and business acumen. The ISACA CISM certification focuses specifically on security program development and management, while the ISC2 CISSP provides comprehensive coverage across all security domains.
For Executives and Board Members: Governance Understanding
Leadership teams increasingly bear personal accountability for security governance. Our Cyber for Leadership, Executives and Boards Workshop provides board members with the knowledge needed to discharge their governance responsibilities effectively.
Processes: Translating Knowledge into Action
Trained people need documented procedures to ensure consistent, effective response. Training enables organisations to develop and maintain:
Incident response playbooks with clear roles and responsibilities
Access management protocols implementing least privilege principles
Change management procedures preventing configuration drift
Third-party risk assessment frameworks for vendors and suppliers
Regular audit and assessment schedules
The ISACA CISA certification develops the skills needed to assess these processes and ensure controls are operating effectively, while our IT Audit Fundamentals course provides an accessible pathway for those beginning their audit journey.
Technology: Tools That Trained People Can Leverage
Technology multiplies the effectiveness of trained personnel. AI and automation tools reduce breach costs, but only when operated by capable teams.
Certifications such as CompTIA CySA+ prepare analysts to use threat intelligence and behavioural analytics to detect and respond to incidents. For organisations managing complex cloud environments, the ISC2 CCSP certification ensures teams can secure distributed infrastructure.
Meeting Regulatory Requirements Through Training
Australia has a number of regulatory bodies and depending on which one you fall under, there may be expectations and requirements when it comes to security and in some examples, requiring organisations to assign accountable owners for cyber security and demonstrate active oversight.
For organisations, training investment creates demonstrable compliance:
Board-level education demonstrates governance commitment
Technical certifications validate capability claims
Documented training records provide audit evidence
Ongoing professional development shows continuous improvement
A breach alone does not determine regulatory outcome. What matters is whether the organisation can demonstrate adequate training, effective controls, and responsible oversight.
Key Takeaways for Risk-Aware Leaders
Human error remains a leading breach driver. Training can help to reduce this risk.
With average breach costs of $4.26 million, even modest risk reduction from training delivers exceptional returns.
AI and automation tools aren’t effective unless users are trained on how to implement and use these securely and effectively.
Demonstrable training investment provides defence if and when incidents occur.
Ready to Reduce Your Operational Risk Through Training?
Understanding the connection between training and risk reduction is the first step. Lumify Work, named Cyber Security Training Business of the Year at the 2025 Australian Cyber Awards, delivers comprehensive training programs designed to reduce organisational risk at every level.
Our cyber security training offerings span the full spectrum of organisational needs:
Security awareness programs for all staff, including CyberSAFE Workshops
Technical certifications from CompTIA, ISC2, ISACA, and EC-Council
Governance and risk management programs including CRISC, CGRC, and IT Risk Fundamentals
Executive and board workshops addressing governance responsibilities and personal accountability
Custom training solutions including tabletop exercises designed for your specific environment
Whether you’re building foundational capabilities or developing advanced expertise, our training programs deliver measurable risk reduction and demonstrable compliance.
Explore Lumify Work’s complete range of cyber security training courses or contact us to discuss your organisation’s specific training needs. Don’t wait for a breach to discover your capability gaps—invest in prevention now.
