Beyond Box-Ticking – How to Build a Security Culture That Actually Works

Most businesses treat security awareness as a tick-box exercise. Run a training session, send a phishing test, and expect employees to become security experts overnight. It never works.

Security needs to be part of how people actually work, not just something they’re forced to sit through once a year. Here’s how to make security a natural habit instead of a compliance chore.

Make Security Fit the Job, Not Just the Policy

Security policies don’t stop threats—behaviour does. Long documents full of rules won’t help if employees can’t apply them to their daily tasks. Instead, training should focus on what people actually do.

• Show employees how to verify requests before approving payments or sharing data

• Give them a simple way to report phishing instead of making it a hassle

• Tailor training to different roles so it’s relevant, not generic

If security doesn’t fit into daily workflows, people won’t follow it.

Stop Blaming People for Security Failures

Most security training makes employees feel like the problem. When people get blamed for clicking a phishing link, they become afraid to report mistakes. That’s how breaches get worse.

• Treat security mistakes as learning moments, not punishable offences

• Make it clear that IT and security teams are there to help, not judge

• Recognise and reward good security behaviour, like spotting and reporting phishing attempts

People aren’t the weakest link; bad security cultures are.

Make Security Training Ongoing, Not a One-Off

One-off training sessions don’t change behaviour. Security awareness needs to be part of daily work life, not just an annual requirement.

• Keep training short and regular so it actually sticks

• Use real-world examples that feel relevant, not outdated corporate slides

• Reinforce security in team meetings and internal updates, not just formal training sessions

Security isn’t a once-a-year task. It should be an everyday conversation.

Fix Processes That Make Security Harder

People take shortcuts when security gets in the way of their work. If employees are ignoring security steps, the process is the real problem.

• Make multi-factor authentication easy instead of frustrating

• Automate security where possible so employees don’t have to remember every step

• Ensure security measures are accessible for all users, including those with disabilities

Security should be practical, not painful.

Final Thought

A security culture doesn’t come from policies, fear tactics, or box-ticking. It happens when security becomes a natural, effortless part of work.

If security feels like a barrier, people will avoid it.If security fits seamlessly into daily routines, people will follow it.

How does your organisation approach security? Is it a tick-box exercise or a real culture shift?