Why every sector needs non-technical cyber champions
The cyber risk that hides in plain sight
Cyber incidents no longer begin and end with IT teams. They now start with anyone who opens an email, uploads a file, or shares data through a cloud platform. That is why cybersecurity has shifted from being a technical concern to an organisation-wide responsibility.
In 2025, this reality has only deepened. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), Australia’s national authority for cybersecurity and threat response, recorded over 84,000 cybercrime reports in the past financial year, alongside more than 1,200 serious cyber incidents handled by its response teams. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs), education providers, and local government agencies continue to rank among the most targeted sectors. These incidents are rarely driven by complex code breaches alone. Most stem from poor digital habits, weak passwords, and low everyday cyber awareness.
SkillX recognises that most organisations do not need every employee to become a cyber expert. They need cyber champions: trusted non-technical staff who understand digital risk, model secure behaviour, and influence teams around them through structured cyber awareness training. The SkillX Cyber Security Fundamentals micro-credential builds these non-technical cybersecurity skills, helping employees develop the confidence to prevent everyday cyber incidents before they escalate.
Moving beyond IT: Cybersecurity as a culture
Cyber resilience depends on human behaviour. While organisations often invest heavily in security software and compliance tools, the biggest weaknesses remain cultural, not technical.
Common gaps include:
- Limited understanding of phishing and social engineering
- Overreliance on IT departments to fix cyber issues
- Minimal staff ownership over data protection
- Lack of leadership modelling around secure digital practices
Non-technical cyber champions help close these gaps. They sit within departments, not data centres, and translate cybersecurity into business language that resonates with their peers.
These champions help teams understand why security matters for their specific work, whether protecting student records, managing client payments, or maintaining patient data confidentiality.
The role of non-technical cyber champions in a cyber awareness program
A cyber champion is a designated team member who promotes good security habits and acts as the first line of defence. They do not need coding skills or advanced technical training. What matters is communication, credibility, and consistency.
Their role can be summarised as four key actions:
- Recognise early signs of risk, from phishing emails to unsafe file sharing.
- Report potential threats promptly to IT or security support.
- Reinforce secure habits across teams through reminders and peer influence.
- Raise awareness by supporting HR and leaders with simple, relevant messages.
A practical example illustrates how this works. In a regional accounting firm with 40 staff and no dedicated IT department, an office manager noticed a suspicious invoice email sent to several colleagues. Instead of opening it, she checked the sender address, alerted the team, and reported it to the company’s IT support partner. Her quick action prevented what could have been a costly ransomware breach.
This example shows how a non-technical employee, equipped with awareness and initiative, can make a measurable difference to an organisation’s security posture.
When embedded into business units, these champions become trusted points of contact. They normalise discussions around cybersecurity, making it less intimidating and more actionable for non-technical teams.
Why every sector needs them
Finance
Financial institutions already operate in high-risk environments. Yet many breaches occur due to non-compliance with basic protocols such as staff clicking on phishing links or mishandling data. Cyber champions within departments help maintain vigilance between formal audits.
Government
Local councils and public agencies handle sensitive citizen data daily. Non-technical champions support a stronger culture of accountability, ensuring cyber policies are understood, not just circulated.
Education
Universities and schools are frequent targets because of their open networks and diverse user bases. Cyber champions, especially among academic and administrative staff, help manage the balance between collaboration and security.
Across all sectors, non-technical champions make cybersecurity a shared value, not just a compliance box.
How HR can drive the change
HR and learning teams play a central role in embedding this capability. They are best placed to identify potential champions, align training pathways, and measure behavioural outcomes.
For example, some HR teams now integrate cyber champion selection into their onboarding process. During induction, new staff are introduced to key digital policies and invited to express interest in acting as departmental cyber contacts. Others schedule cyber awareness refreshers in the internal training calendar, ensuring consistent engagement throughout the year.
This approach works best when:
- Cyber training is contextualised - Linked to everyday work, not just IT systems.
- Leaders participate visibly - Senior endorsement drives adoption.
- Micro-credentials support ongoing learning - Employees can build confidence progressively.
That is where structured, accessible upskilling becomes critical.
Sustaining momentum: Making cyber awareness part of daily work
Creating cyber champions is only the first step. The real value comes when awareness becomes part of everyday decision-making. Organisations that sustain this momentum treat cybersecurity as a living practice, not a one-off campaign.
Practical ways to embed this include:
- Including short cyber awareness items in regular team meetings
- Recognising staff who demonstrate good digital habits
- Rotating cyber champion roles to broaden capability
- Encouraging peer-led micro learning sessions using bite-sized content
When cyber awareness is normalised in daily routines, risk conversations shift from reactive to proactive. Staff become more confident sharing potential issues early, and leaders gain clearer visibility of digital vulnerabilities before they escalate.
For further guidance, organisations can refer to national frameworks such as the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) Essential Eight or the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s (OAIC) cyber awareness guidelines. Both provide practical steps for embedding cyber hygiene and data protection across workplaces.
The cultural return on cyber awareness
Organisations that develop non-technical cyber champions do more than reduce risk. They strengthen trust. Teams communicate better about security. Leaders make faster, more informed decisions. Employees feel confident managing technology safely, even as threats evolve.
The result is a workforce that treats cybersecurity not as a task but as a shared responsibility.
Building champions with SkillX
SkillX offers the Cyber Security Fundamentals micro-credential, an ideal starting point for non-technical professionals to build cyber awareness and confidence. The course helps employees:
- Recognise common attack vectors and human vulnerabilities
- Apply safe data management practices
- Communicate cyber risks in plain language
- Build habits that strengthen team resilience
Start your free trial with SkillX and help your teams build cyber confidence through short, targeted micro-credentials that lead to measurable results, from faster incident reporting to fewer phishing clicks. Equip your staff to become cyber champions today.