“Click.” That’s all it takes.

All the firewalls, software, and policies in the world can’t stop a distracted employee from clicking the wrong email. And when that happens, the cost isn’t just monetary. It can be lost productivity, reputational damage, customer/patient/client trust. It’s stress, scrambling, and trying to assess the damage done.

Too many small businesses treat awareness training like a check-the-box exercise—until it’s too late. The reality? Human error is still the #1 cause of cyber incidents, and awareness training is one of the most affordable, high-impact steps you can take to prevent them. You don’t need a fancy or expensive solution. You need repetition, relevance, and reinforcement.

Awareness training works best when it becomes a part of the culture—not just a once-a-year webinar. The most successful businesses integrate Awareness Training as short, engaging trainings into the regular rhythm of work. They also run Phishing Testing, encourage open conversations, and normalize the idea that asking before clicking is a strength, not a weakness.

Regular training, phishing simulations, and a few solid reminders can save you from costly and time-intensive cleanup costs. Even better, they build a workplace culture where people know what to watch for and feel confident reporting suspicious activity.

The best time to train your team is before a phishing attack.

Want to see what people-first training looks like? Watch our on-demand webinar: Beyond Awareness: Advanced Tips for Securing Your Humans.

For additional ideas on this and other smart cybersecurity tips, see our Resource Center.