FAQS

Cyber threat awareness involves educating individuals within an organisation, especially those in high-access or decision-making roles, about the nature of modern cyber threats, how they work, and what can be done to avoid them. It’s not just training for IT teams; it applies to everyone, from reception staff to the boardroom. Effective awareness programmes focus on real-world threats such as phishing, business email compromise, social engineering, ransomware, and insider risks. The goal is to help people recognise red flags, respond appropriately in high-pressure situations, and avoid becoming an entry point for attackers. The best programmes are role-specific and reflect the actual threat landscape the business operates in.

Business leaders and decision-makers are prime targets for attackers because of the level of access they hold and the influence they have over systems, people, and funds. Executives are regularly impersonated in phishing campaigns or directly targeted with tailored attacks like spear phishing or CEO fraud. A successful compromise at this level can lead to large financial losses, data breaches, or long-term reputational damage.

Founded by UK Special Forces veterans, Who Dares Group take a practical, role-specific, and data-driven approach to cyber threat awareness. We mainly focus on how attacks actually happen and how organisations can reduce their exposure through informed decisions and better behaviour. Who Dares Group deliver tailored sessions based on real-world threat scenarios, decision-making pressure, and human factors, ensuring the material is relevant, engaging, and applicable from day one. We also draw on a global network of cybersecurity experts, including penetration testers, behavioural analysts, and strategic advisors. This allows us to provide end-to-end cyber threat awareness consultancy, covering everything from technical risk validation and internal reviews to incident planning and ongoing advisory support. To find out more about our offerings and packages, contact a member of our team today to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation.

The most common cyber threats affecting UK businesses today include:

• Phishing and social engineering: fake emails, messages, or phone calls that trick staff into clicking malicious links or giving up sensitive information.
• Ransomware: malicious software that locks files or systems and demands payment, often with the threat of data exposure.
• Business Email Compromise (BEC): attackers impersonate executives or suppliers to trick employees into transferring funds or sending confidential data.
• Insider threats: threats that come from within the organisation, either from malicious insiders or careless staff with access to critical systems.
• Credential theft: stolen passwords used to access accounts, often through phishing, reused credentials, or poorly secured systems.
• Denial-of-Service (DoS/DDoS) attacks: overloading systems or websites to disrupt business operations and identify vulnerabilities.
• Unpatched software vulnerabilities: attackers exploit known weaknesses in outdated software or systems.
• Supply chain attacks: threats introduced through third-party vendors, service providers, or software integrations.

Each of these threats poses a unique challenge, and most successful attacks involve a mix of technical and human weaknesses. This is why threat awareness, technical controls, and leadership involvement are essential to avoiding or at least mitigating the risks.

The majority of successful cyber attacks involve human error. Phishing emails are opened, links are clicked, credentials are entered, and attackers get in, not through systems, but through people. Reducing human-related cyber risk means building consistent awareness, enforcing clear processes, and creating a culture of vigilance and accountability. This may involve regular training tailored to specific roles, real-world scenario exercises, and practical protocols for verifying communications and escalating concerns. Organisations should also limit unnecessary access to sensitive systems and ensure staff know how to recognise and respond to suspicious activity. The goal isn’t to turn every employee into a cybersecurity expert, it’s to give people the tools and confidence to make better decisions.

Cybersecurity consultancy is focused on risk: identifying it, understanding it, and reducing it. Consultants look at how systems, behaviours, and business processes expose an organisation to threats, and they provide expert guidance on how to mitigate that risk. IT support is operational: it’s about keeping systems running, fixing issues, managing updates, and ensuring availability. In short: IT keeps the lights on; cybersecurity consultancy makes sure no one breaks in while you’re not looking.

Yes, and arguably they need it more than most. Small businesses are often viewed as easy targets by attackers, as they typically lack in-house security expertise, mature controls, or dedicated risk assessment teams. Yet they still hold valuable data, process payments, and rely on digital systems to operate. Cyber threat awareness training helps small businesses understand where they’re exposed and what can realistically be done to improve defences.

Penetration testing, or ethical hacking, involves simulating real-world cyber attacks on a business’s systems, applications, or networks to identify vulnerabilities, like zero-days, before attackers do. The goal is to find weak points in security, whether technical or behavioural, and to then provide a clear path to fix them. Pen tests are most useful when launching new systems, after infrastructure changes, or on a routine basis as part of a security audit cycle. They should also follow cyber threat awareness training or policy changes to test how well defences hold up in practice. Who Dares Group offers this through trusted global partners, ensuring testing is realistic, controlled, and relevant to each client’s environment.

Social engineering is the manipulation of people to gain access to systems, data, or resources, usually by exploiting trust, authority, urgency, or fear. It’s the human side of hacking and it’s behind many high-profile breaches. Examples include phishing emails, fraudulent calls pretending to be from IT or finance teams, or attackers posing as trusted third parties. The goal is always the same: to get someone to do something they shouldn’t, like clicking a malicious link, sharing credentials, or transferring money. Protecting against social engineering requires awareness, process discipline (e.g. two-person approvals, verbal verification), and a culture that encourages caution over convenience.

While training is a core part of our service, Who Dares Group also support organisations with strategic advisory, executive briefings, response planning, and technical risk validation. Our approach isn’t limited to education; it’s about building long-term resilience. We work directly with leadership teams to assess the level of exposure, develop security strategies, and support policy alignment across departments. We also help implement clear escalation paths and decision frameworks, ensuring the business is prepared for the threats it’s most likely to face.

Behaviour is at the centre of most cybersecurity incidents. Whether it’s an employee clicking a link, ignoring an alert, using a weak password, or oversharing access, people are often the entry point. Even advanced technical defences can be bypassed by a single poor decision. That’s why cyber threat awareness, particularly around manipulation tactics, urgency triggers, and authority misuse is critical. Cybersecurity isn’t just about systems; it’s about people understanding how they’re targeted and knowing how to act under pressure. Organisations that train for behaviour, not just process, are far better equipped to spot threats early and respond correctly.