Telstra and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) have come together with the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) to sponsor the Cyber Wardens pilot program that will help protect small businesses from cyber threats and scams. 

Australia’s biggest bank and telecommunications company are the founding sponsors of COSBOA’s new cyber program, which aims to become Australia’s first cyber safety workplace certification or microcredential for the small business sector. 

COSBOA CEO Alexi Boyd says the aim of the Cyber Wardens program is to develop crucial skills training for small business owners who have felt powerless in the digital safety space.  

Ms Boyd notes that many small businesses struggle to upskill in cyber security, which is made harder by limited resources, time and technology expertise. 

“We believe that having a Cyber Wardens on the team will help give small business owners the confidence that their business and customers are protected,” she says. 

The Cyber Wardens program will be designed by small businesses and will aim to upskill them by giving owners and employees the tools they need to stay safe online through a free and easy-to-use accredited e-learning platform. 

“With the support of Telstra and CBA, and I hope many more corporate partners, we can provide free, simple and accessible resources to the small business community,” Ms Boyd says. 

“We want to foster a culture of self-determination and understanding in cyber safety — no IT degree, excel expertise and cloud wizardry required.” 

CBA’s Group Executive for Business Banking Mike Vacy-Lyle says it is crucial that the small business sector is equipped with the skills it needs to stay safe online. 

“Understanding a complex topic like cyber safety can be challenging and we are always looking for ways to better support small businesses in this space,” he said. 

“We’re excited to launch the Cyber Wardens pilot program to help demystify cyber safety, instil a cyber mindset and empower small businesses to identify and manage cyber threats.” 

The Cyber Wardens pilot program, which was designed specifically for non-tech employees, will be rolled out for free in the coming months to help empower small businesses in becoming Australia’s cyber security frontline. 

Source: CommBank media release. Content has been edited for style and length.

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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