The Right Time for Phishing Awareness Training is BEFORE a major incident

Why Phishing Is the Leading Cyber Risk

Training teams before an attack occurs is not just a best practice—it’s an urgent necessity. Phishing is the technique of tricking individuals into revealing sensitive information or clicking malicious links, usually via emails or messaging platforms impersonating trusted sources. In Australia:

• 92% of organisations reported a successful phishing attack in 2025, an increase of over 50% since 2021[2].
• Phishing scams accounted for $13.7 million in losses in the first four months of 2025—nearly triple the figure from the same period in 2024[5].
• Modern attacks use Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS), letting even novice criminals launch large-scale, convincing scams for a fee. This commercialisation means anyone can buy the tools to trick your employees—no technical expertise required[1][3].

Phishing is now the doorway for further attacks like ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), and credential theft, driving home its status as the top risk across Australian industries[3][6].

Small Business Impact in Western Australia

Small and medium businesses (SMEs) in WA are especially vulnerable:

• 82% of small businesses have experienced a cyber incident, up 3% on the previous year[4].
• The average cost per incident for a small business is around $50,000—a substantial sum, often difficult to absorb[4][7].
• SME owners often lack dedicated IT teams or advanced security tools, making human error the primary avenue for attackers[7].

Cybersecurity isn’t just IT’s problem; any employee can be the weak link in the chain.

Phishing Awareness Training: Why It Must Be Proactive

The critical point: If staff only learn how to spot phishing after an attacker has struck, it’s too late. Here’s why early and proactive training is essential:

• Phishing training reduces incident rates dramatically. Organisations that introduce ongoing security awareness programs can slash phishing risk by over 40% in just 90 days, and by 86% after one year of regular training[8][9].
• Training before an attack builds muscle memory—employees become practiced in thinking before clicking, verifying sender details, and reporting suspicious emails[10][11].
• The most effective training is ongoing, not a one-off session. Employees start to forget after about four months, but regular refreshers keep security front of mind and sustain strong results[12][10][9].

Official Guidance

Australian authorities—including the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)—specifically call for businesses to start cybersecurity and phishing awareness training well before any incident occurs. The ASD’s Information Security Manual outlines proactive awareness for all personnel as an essential control[13]. This supports a culture of caution and alertness, not panic after a breach.

Why Technical Defenses Alone Are Insufficient

Firewalls, email gateways, and anti-virus software are vital, but no system can block all phishing attempts. Attackers exploit human psychology—using alarming messages, urgent requests, and realistic branding to trick users. Only training empowers employees to spot the subtle signs of deception that automated systems might miss[3][11].

What Makes the Best Training Programs?

• Real-world simulations: Mimic the threats employees actually face in their day-to-day inboxes[10][9].
• Frequent, relatable sessions: Employees learn best when they see practical examples, like fake login alerts or invoice scams[10].
• Open reporting culture: Staff should be encouraged to report suspicious messages—even if they clicked—so support is immediate and lessons are learned before a real disaster strikes[10][11].
• Measurement and analytics: Robust programs track who engages and improve based on results[14][9].

In Simple Terms: Don’t Wait for a Fire to Teach Fire Safety

If you only start explaining fire evacuation after the building catches alight, it’s too late. The same applies to phishing—teach staff how to spot a scam before it hits their inbox. Waiting until after an incident risks financial loss, operational disruption, and long-term reputational harm.

Authoritative Reference Summary

• 2025 National Anti-Scam Centre, ASD, ACSC, ACCC, and Benchmark Industry Reports: These show the massive rise in phishing as the top attack vector and offer direct advice on why pre-incident training is vital for preventing financial and data losses[5][2][4][13][3][8][9].
• ACSC and ASD Guidelines: Strongly recommend continuous, scenario-based training as part of every business’s cyber hygiene plan[15][13].
• Industry Benchmarking: Just three months of consistent training drops risk by more than 40%—and after a year, organisations can reduce phishing susceptibility by 86%[8][9].
• Local impact: Small business owners in WA face a doubly high risk due to smaller IT budgets, less access to cyber professionals, and rising attack rates[7][4].

Takeaway

Phishing awareness training is the single most effective way to turn employees into a human firewall. Invest in regular, up-to-date training tailored for the threats your business faces now, not after a costly breach. Starting before an attack not only protects assets and sensitive information—it could mean the difference between business as usual and business closure.

Sources
[1] Phishing-as-a-Service drives surge in cybercrime for 2025 https://securitybrief.com.au/story/phishing-as-a-service-drives-surge-in-cybercrime-for-2025
[2] 81 Phishing Attack Statistics 2025: The Ultimate Insight https://www.getastra.com/blog/security-audit/phishing-attack-statistics/
[3] Protect Australian Businesses From Phishing In 2025 https://cyble.com/knowledge-hub/protect-australian-businesses-phishing-2025/
[4] Address to the COSBOA CyberWardens Roundtable, Perth https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/anne-aly-2025/speeches/address-cosboa-cyberwardens-roundtable-perth
[5] National Anti-Scam Centre calls for stronger business role ... https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/national-anti-scam-centre-calls-for-stronger-business-role-to-disrupt-scams
[6] Cyberattacks Are Costing Australia's Key Industries 2025 https://cyble.com/knowledge-hub/cyberattacks-are-costing-australias-key/
[7] The importance of cybersecurity for small businesses - Peninsula https://peninsulagrouplimited.com.au/resources/blog/small-business-cyber-security
[8] 2025 Phishing By Industry Benchmark Report https://www.knowbe4.com/resources/reports/phishing-by-industry-benchmarking-report
[9] Phishing Trends Report (Updated for 2025) https://hoxhunt.com/guide/phishing-trends-report
[10] Phishing training for employees: A complete guide https://training.safetyculture.com/blog/phishing-training-for-employees/
[11] Effective Phishing Awareness Training To Protect Employees https://www.metacompliance.com/blog/phishing-and-ransomware/phishing-awareness-training-for-employees
[12] How Often Do You Need to Train Employees on ... https://gaconsulting.com.au/how-often-do-you-need-to-train-employees-on-cybersecurity-awareness/
[13] Information security manual https://www.cyber.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/08. ISM - Guidelines for personnel security (June 2025).pdf
[14] Enterprise Security Awareness Training Courses And ... https://www.phriendlyphishing.com/enterprise-security-awareness-training
[15] Australian Signals Directorate and Australian Cyber ... https://www.peteraclarke.com.au/2025/07/03/australian-signals-directorate-and-australian-cyber-security-centre-release-a-statement-guidance-on-cyber-hygiene/
[16] Threat Labs Report: Australia 2025 https://www.netskope.com/resources/threat-labs-reports/threat-labs-report-australia-2025
[17] Biggest Australian Cyber Breaches in 2025 https://www.ottoit.com.au/blog/biggest-australian-cyber-breaches-in-2025/
[18] Australians better protected as reported scam losses fell by ... https://www.nasc.gov.au/news/australians-better-protected-as-reported-scam-losses-fell-by-almost-26-per-cent
[19] Cyber security https://content.nfplaw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cyber-security.pdf
[20] targeting-scams-report-2024.pdf https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/system/files/targeting-scams-report-2024.pdf
[21] Information security manual https://www.cyber.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/Information security manual (March 2025).pdf
[22] 2025 Email Security Recommendations: The Best Practices https://interscale.com.au/blog/email-security-recommendations/