Cyber security training once a year isn’t working: 9 Practical fixes for UK financial firms
Cyber security training once a year isn’t working for regulated wealth management and accountancy firms that handle sensitive client data every day. The once-and-done approach fails to build lasting habits, falls short of FCA and ICO expectations, and leaves gaps that attackers exploit with phishing, social engineering, and rogue browser extensions. A modern programme needs to coach people continuously, in the flow of work, and prove improvement with measurable outcomes that stand up to scrutiny.
Table of contents
- Why Cyber security training once a year isn’t working in regulated firms
- A better model: small, regular, human-centric interventions
- 9 practical fixes you can deploy within 90 days
- Prove it: metrics that support FCA and ICO obligations
- Short scenario: a 25-person Edinburgh firm pre-audit
- Quick checklist for decision-makers
- FAQs
- Suggested images and media
Why Cyber security training once a year isn’t working in regulated firms
Annual sessions often feel like a compliance chore. Teams click through slides, watch videos at 2x speed, and then move on. That box might be ticked, but real behaviour change rarely follows. Attackers iterate weekly, not yearly. Meanwhile, your people adopt generative AI tools and new SaaS apps, creating fresh risk that rigid, calendar-based training cannot address. The reality for partners, managers, and assistants in finance and accountancy is simple: decisions made under time pressure need timely guidance, not a memory of last year’s module.
Regulators increasingly expect evidence of ongoing competence, not static completion rates. The FCA focuses on governance and operational resilience, while the ICO looks for training that is role-appropriate and risk-driven. Guidance from the ncsc.gov.uk” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener”>National Cyber Security Centre and Cyber Essentials reinforces this principle: little-and-often beats once-a-year.
Cyber security training.
A better model: small, regular, human-centric interventions
Think of just-in-time nudges like roadside speed reminders. As someone drafts an email to an external recipient with a spreadsheet of client details, the system prompts a quick privacy reminder with a one-click option to encrypt. When an assistant hovers over a suspicious link, a pop-up explains what looks off and how to report. This is where Cyber security training once a year isn’t working, because it misses the critical moment of decision. Frequent micro-coaching builds habits without disrupting productivity.
9 practical fixes you can deploy within 90 days
- Monthly phishing simulations with targeted coaching
Run short simulations tailored to your firm’s workflows. After each exercise, deliver a 2-minute micro-lesson. Track improvement over time. See related insight in Employees are falling for 3x more phishing scams and Phishing Scams: 5 Essential Ways to Protect Your Business. - Real-time email and file-sharing nudges
Enable DLP prompts that flag sensitive client data, misaddressed emails, or unexpected file shares. Offer one-click encryption and clear escalation options. - Role-based microlearning paths
Partners get modules on data handling and reputational risk. Admins receive guidance on invoice fraud. IT managers focus on privileged access and logging. Keep lessons under 5 minutes. - Quarterly tabletop exercises
Simulate a ransomware incident or cloud misconfiguration. Assign roles, test decision-making, and capture gaps. For context, review Ransomware in Financial Firms: 8 Essential Defence Strategies. - Automated policy reminders
Trigger short reminders in the tools staff use daily when they hit risky patterns. Cyber security training once a year isn’t working because policies fade; reminders keep them alive. - Secure-by-default controls
Apply conditional access, MFA, least privilege, and device compliance. Reinforce with quick explainers on why controls matter. Start with Secure Passwords: 8 Essential Strategies to Protect Data. - Supplier and app hygiene checks
Gate new SaaS tools, set review cadences, and provide a 3-minute explainer on why data residency and audit logs matter. Pair with Vulnerability Management: 3 Vital Strategies for Success. - Positive recognition
Reward fast reporting and good catches. Share anonymised “near miss” stories at team stand-ups to normalise vigilance. - Board-level reporting
Embed a monthly security culture scorecard into leadership packs, covering risk trends