Cybersecurity: Why Continuing Education Is Non-Negotiable
- Roark Tech Services
- Aug 12
- 6 min read
In cybersecurity, nothing stands still. Threats that were cutting-edge six months ago are now replaced by faster, more sophisticated, and often AI-powered attacks. Regulatory requirements evolve, software vendors push constant updates, and best practices shift as quickly as the technology they support.
In this environment, one truth remains constant: your security is only as strong as the people safeguarding it: your employees and your vendors. And the only way to keep those people effective is through structured, continuing education.
At Roark Tech Services, we view training not as a compliance checkbox, but as an essential part of a risk-managed IT strategy. It is what turns tools and policies into real-world protection, and it is what separates businesses that survive cyber incidents from those that suffer lasting damage.
THE SPEED OF CHANGE IS THE REAL THREAT
Most organizations don’t fail because they have no security in place; they fail because the security they do have is outdated. A firewall rule from 2023 doesn’t address a vulnerability discovered in 2025. The same is true for people, an employee who learned to identify phishing emails in a 2022 training session may now be entirely unprepared for AI-generated messages that mimic a CEO’s writing style with uncanny accuracy.
The gap between what someone knows and what they need to know is where breaches happen. That gap widens daily if you’re not deliberately closing it.
WHY STAFF TRAINING IS NOT OPTIONAL
Cybersecurity awareness training has long been a staple in compliance frameworks like NIST, HIPAA, and SOC 2. But compliance is only the starting point. True protection comes from making security awareness a living part of your organization’s culture.
When staff receive regular, relevant education:
They recognize evolving threats: from deepfake audio calls (“vishing”) to sophisticated QR code scams.
They avoid costly mistakes: like sending confidential data over unsecured channels or reusing passwords.
They respond quickly to incidents: reporting suspicious emails, plugging in to incident response workflows, and minimizing damage.
We have seen firsthand how training transforms outcomes. In one recent example, a client’s receptionist identified and reported a fraudulent wire transfer request before the accounting team even saw it. Her quick action, drilled into muscle memory through quarterly phishing simulations, prevented a six-figure loss.
Training staff is not about fear. It’s about empowerment, giving every person in your organization the tools to be an active participant in security, not just a bystander.
VENDORS: THE OVERLOOKED RISK VECTOR
While most companies understand the importance of training their own employees, far fewer extend that expectation to their vendors. This is a mistake.
Vendors often have direct or indirect access to your systems and data. A poorly trained vendor technician, an inattentive software support rep, or a subcontractor unaware of the latest threat vectors can introduce risks as easily as a careless employee.
In the 2020s, many high-profile breaches have occurred not because the target company was compromised directly, but because a trusted vendor was breached. Attackers know this and increasingly exploit the weaker link in the supply chain.
At Roark, vendor risk management is part of our security DNA. We vet our partners rigorously, and we require them to demonstrate ongoing education for their teams, not just one-time certifications earned years ago. We also prefer vendors whose training programs mirror our own philosophy: recurring, relevant, and directly tied to the threats we face today.
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
For some business leaders, ongoing training can feel like an expense without an obvious return. But the numbers tell a different story:
Cost of a breach vs. cost of training: According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average breach in the U.S. now costs $9.48 million. The cost of a robust annual training program for a mid-size company? Less than 1% of that.
Fewer incidents, faster recovery: Well-trained staff report threats more quickly and make fewer errors, reducing both the frequency and severity of incidents.
Compliance and insurance: Many cyber-insurance carriers now require documented, ongoing security training for employees and sometimes vendors as a condition for coverage, or to avoid premium hikes.
In other words, training is not a discretionary budget line. It is an operational necessity that protects revenue, reputation, and compliance posture.
WHAT GOOD TRAINING LOOKS LIKE
Not all training programs are created equal. A once-a-year slideshow that checks the compliance box will do little to protect you. The most effective programs share several characteristics:
Frequency: Training should be ongoing, not annual. Threats change too quickly for a single yearly update. At Roark, we recommend quarterly phishing simulations, monthly micro-learning modules, and semi-annual live refreshers.
Relevance: Training should address the threats your business is most likely to face, not generic scenarios. For example, law firms may focus on spear-phishing that targets confidential case data, while financial services firms may focus on account takeover attempts.
Practical Application: Theory is good, but practical drills are better. Phishing simulations, tabletop incident response exercises, and role-specific security briefings bring concepts to life.
Measurable Results: A good program tracks progress. Are phishing click rates going down? Are reports of suspicious activity going up? These metrics matter.
Integration with Onboarding: New employees and new vendors should be trained before they ever have access to your systems.
ROARK’S APPROACH TO CONTINUING EDUCATION
At Roark Tech Services, we’ve built our continuing education approach around two principles: relevance and responsibility.
For Staff: We deliver targeted security awareness programs customized to each client’s industry and regulatory environment. These include phishing simulations, video modules, and live workshops that adapt as new threats emerge.
For Vendors: We require our partners to document their training efforts and, where possible, take part in joint security sessions with our clients. This ensures everyone, inside and outside your organization, works from the same playbook.
For Leadership: We provide executive-level briefings, so decision-makers understand the business implications of new threats, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies.
We also manage the administrative side: tracking participation, issuing reminders, and producing the documentation needed for audits, insurance renewals, and compliance reports.
HOW TO GET STARTED
If your organization doesn’t have a continuing education program for security awareness, or if your current program is more than a year old, it’s time to act.
Assess the Current State
When was the last training conducted for staff? For vendors?
How is completion tracked?
Is the content still relevant to current threats?
Define the Scope. Include not just employees, but contractors and vendors with access to your systems.
Address role-specific risks: accounting teams, for example, face different threats than field technicians.
Select the Right Partner. Look for an IT partner (like Roark) who can deliver tailored, measurable, and recurring training, plus vendor oversight.
Commit to Ongoing Improvement. Measure outcomes, gather feedback, and adjust the program as threats and technology evolve.
THE RISKS OF STANDING STILL
Cybersecurity is not static, and neither is the knowledge needed to maintain it. Without a deliberate program of continuing education, you risk creating a workforce that is frozen in time while attackers move forward at full speed.
Standing still is not neutral. In the world of cybersecurity, it is equivalent to moving backward. The threats won’t wait for you to catch up.
THE ROARK DIFFERENCE
Many IT providers focus solely on tools like firewalls, endpoint detection, and backups, without addressing the human element. At Roark Tech Services, we take a different view. Tools are essential, but people are the constant presence across every workflow, every transaction, every decision. A well-trained person can catch what a tool misses. An untrained person can undo the best technology in seconds.
That is why our white-glove approach extends beyond technical solutions into the people and processes that make them effective. Our clients own their infrastructure, their data, and, most importantly, their readiness to defend them.
We believe the investment in continuing education pays dividends far beyond cybersecurity. It builds a culture of vigilance, accountability, and shared responsibility, qualities that benefit every aspect of business.
In a world where cyber threats evolve daily, continuing education for both staff and vendors is not a nice-to-have. It is as essential as the locks on your office doors and the backups of your critical data.
At Roark Tech Services, we ensure that every person with access to your systems, from your receptionist to your most critical software vendor, stays equipped with the knowledge to keep your business secure. Because in cybersecurity, standing still is simply not an option.
Established in 1998, Roark Tech Services is a boutique firm dedicated exclusively to supporting small businesses. If you wish to learn more about our automated Cybersecurity Awareness training, contact us.
At Roark Tech Services, we deliver "White Glove," personalized technology solutions tailored precisely to your unique business needs.
