The world today feels more unpredictable than ever. From sudden geopolitical shifts to global economic pressures, organisations are navigating challenges that barely existed five years ago. Many of these forces are completely outside of our control – no matter how hard we try, we can’t stop international trade wars or market volatility from impacting our businesses.
But when it comes to cyber security, the story is different.
Visualising Risk: Think of Your Business as a Castle
I often find it helpful to use imagery to simplify what can otherwise feel like an overwhelming or “dry” topic. So, picture your organisation as a castle. Inside the castle walls are your most valuable treasures: customer data, financial information, intellectual property, and the trust you’ve built with your clients.
Surrounding the castle is a series of gates. Each gate is a potential entry point into your organisation. Some gates are locked and guarded – others may have been forgotten about, left ajar, or even propped open for convenience. Every new challenge your business faces is like a group of strangers approaching your gates, testing for weaknesses.
The Unavoidable Visitors
Some visitors you can’t keep out. A sudden regulatory change, an economic downturn, or a competitor’s new innovation – these forces can’t be stopped at the gate. They arrive whether you want them to or not, and you must adapt to withstand their pressure.
But then, there’s a different type of visitor: cyber threats. They don’t march up to the gate in plain sight. They sneak in through hidden passages, disguise themselves as friendly messengers, or slip in when someone forgets to shut the door. These risks are unique because, unlike global economics, you do have the power to defend against them.
Training Your Guards
Here’s where cyber security awareness training comes in. If your people are the castle guards, then training is the armour, the drills, and the watchtowers that keep those gates secure. Without training, your guards may unknowingly open the drawbridge to an attacker disguised as a harmless visitor – perhaps in the form of a phishing email or a suspicious link.
With the right preparation, though, your team can:
- Spot threats early – recognising phishing attempts, suspicious attachments, or unusual login behaviour.
- Respond effectively – knowing exactly what to do when something doesn’t look right.
- Protect your assets – keeping customer trust, data, and revenue safe from harm.
So, Who’s Watching Your Gates?
When you think about the risks your organisation faces, ask yourself: Would I ever leave the castle unguarded? Probably not. Yet too often, businesses treat cyber security as an afterthought – hoping that “it won’t happen to us” or assuming IT has everything covered.
Hope isn’t a strategy. Awareness is.
By investing in cyber security awareness training, you’re not just locking the gates -you’re empowering every person in your organisation to stand guard. And in a world where the next threat could come from anywhere, at any time, that kind of collective vigilance is the strongest defence you can build.
Ready to train your guards?
Let’s talk about how SCG Midlands can help you build a culture of security that keeps your castle safe. Ask about our free Cyber Awareness Briefing sessions.
Click here to learn more about our Cyber Security Solutions.
