Education


CYBER SMARTS START HERE


The channel sits at the frontline of customer trust. By championing practical cybersecurity education and everyday enablement, partners can turn awareness into action and position themselves as indispensable guides in an increasingly risky digital landscape. Javvad Malik, lead CISO advisor at KnowBe4, explains.


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ducation has become one of the most commercially significant conversations in cybersecurity. For retailers, resellers and


MSPs, it now sits alongside hardware refreshes, AI deployments and managed services as a core differentiator. Customers are investing heavily in new technology,


from cloud collaboration platforms to AI assistants embedded in daily workflows. Yet many are still relying on outdated approaches to security training. Annual modules and generic awareness sessions are struggling to keep pace with the way people actually work. A useful reference point is the National Cyber Security Centre’s


approach to schools. Its training does not rely on dramatic threat scenarios. Instead, it helps staff understand what to do in the moments where risk appears. Tat could be spotting a suspicious email, handling sensitive data correctly or pausing when something feels wrong. Te emphasis is on practical behaviour. Tis principle translates directly to the channel. Research has shown


that more than 90% of successful cyberattacks start with a phishing message, and, until now, clicking on those messages has been a direct result of human behaviour. And while human behaviour is still at the core, the contributing factors are changing. Now, AI agents are embedded into everyday tasks and interacting with sensitive data alongside employees. Traditional perimeter controls and once-a-year training cycles are structurally insufficient in this environment. For MSPs and resellers, this creates a clear advisory opportunity.


Security conversations need to move beyond awareness and towards ones that focus on total Human Risk Management, shaping behaviour, reducing friction and embedding secure decision-making into daily work. Tat also means designing systems where secure behaviour is the easiest option, not an additional burden. AI intensifies the challenge. Internally, employees may overshare sensitive information in AI tools without understanding how that


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data is stored or governed. Externally, attackers are using AI to scale phishing, impersonation and deepfake-enabled fraud. Meanwhile, shadow AI continues to grow. Employees oſten turn to unsanctioned tools because approved solutions are slow or restrictive. If official access takes months, the free tool in a browser tab becomes the practical choice. Education in this context must include clear AI


usage frameworks and governance that applies to the action being taken, regardless of whether the actor is human or machine. Te same standards should


apply to exporting customer data, sharing information externally or granting system access. Short, scenario-based interventions are far more effective than


overloaded annual sessions. Regular, relevant learning works because it reflects how people actually operate. Active learning, where employees practice decision-making in realistic situations, significantly improves retention. Channel partners can embed this into managed services through real-time nudges, role-specific simulations and behavioural insights. Leadership engagement also shapes outcomes. When senior


teams visibly prioritise secure behaviour and allocate time for learning, security becomes a shared responsibility. Tat cultural alignment is as important as any technical control. For retailers, resellers and MSPs, education is not a soft


add-on. It is a revenue stream and a resilience strategy. Customers adopting AI and expanding their digital estates need partners who can align technology, governance and human behaviour. Those who deliver continuous, data-driven education across both human and AI activity will strengthen customer trust and create longer-term value. Security maturity now depends on how well organisations


support decision-making at the point of action. Te channel has a central role to play in delivering that support.


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