Cybersecurity Essentials for Small Business: protect your business in plain English
Most cyber attacks on small businesses start with a stolen password or a convincing email. This short course shows you how to protect your accounts, customer data and reputation, without an IT degree or a big budget.
- £19 per month
- 4 topics
- 16 lessons
- 5 CPD-aligned hours
- First 2 topics free
First 2 topics free. No card required. Cancel anytime.
Cybersecurity Essentials at a glance
Cybersecurity Essentials for Small Business is a self-paced online CPD course from Digital Ascendancy that teaches UK small business owners how to protect their accounts, customer data and business from cyber attacks, in plain English. It has 4 topics and 16 lessons, carries 5 CPD-aligned hours, includes an overview of the NCSC Cyber Essentials scheme and costs £19 a month, with the first two topics free and the option to cancel anytime.
Last updated:
The UK Government's Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2022 estimated the average cost of cyber attacks for UK businesses at £4,200 over a 12-month period.
Watch: a quick course introduction
Who is this course for?
A great fit if you are
- Small business owners without an IT department who want to know what really matters
- Office managers and administrators who look after accounts, devices and passwords
- Sole traders and freelancers who handle customer data and payments
- Chambers, trade associations and networks looking to train members, with flat-rate licences available
No prior technical knowledge needed.
Probably not the right fit if you are
- IT professionals looking for technical security certifications
- Businesses that need a Cyber Essentials certification assessment (this course helps you prepare, but it does not certify you)
- Anyone dealing with a live cyber incident right now, who should seek immediate professional help
Not sure? Ask us and we will give you an honest answer.
What will you walk away with?
- A personalised cyber risk checklist for your business
- Password and access security fixed this week
- The skills to spot phishing before it hits
- A one-page incident response plan, ready to use
- A certificate for 5 CPD-aligned hours
What the course covers
Four topics, sixteen short lessons. Every topic ends with a practical task that improves your own business's security straight away.
Topic 1: Understanding cyber risk
- Why small businesses are a common target
- The threat landscape: phishing, ransomware and social engineering
- An overview of the NCSC Cyber Essentials scheme
- Practical: your business cyber risk checklist
Topic 2: Passwords, access and accounts
- Strong passwords and passphrases
- Two-factor authentication, step by step
- Managing who has access to what
- Practical: access audit worksheet
Topic 3: Phishing and safe online behaviour
- How phishing works by email, text and phone
- Business email compromise and invoice fraud
- Recognising AI-generated phishing
- Practical: spot the phishing email exercise
Topic 4: GDPR and incident response
- GDPR essentials for small businesses
- What to do when something goes wrong
- Reporting personal data breaches to the ICO within 72 hours
- Practical: one-page incident response plan
How it works
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Start free
Enrol and work through the first two topics without entering card details.
-
Continue for £19 a month
With 5 hours of learning, you can complete the whole course within one month.
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Finish protected and certified
Complete the course to receive your certificate and an incident response plan for your business.
Who's behind this course?
This course was designed by Anura Tennekoon, Director and AI Educator at Digital Ascendancy, drawing on more than 17 years in education and training, including digital marketing apprenticeships and skills bootcamps, and over 15 years of digital marketing experience. Like the businesses we train, we use AI tools to help produce our materials, and every lesson is planned and reviewed by an experienced trainer.
Price and enrolment
£19 per month
Self-paced online learning on the Digital Ascendancy learning portal, with a certificate for 5 CPD-aligned hours when you complete the course. Cancel anytime.
- A personalised cyber risk checklist for your business
- Password and access security fixed this week
- The skills to spot phishing before it hits
- A one-page incident response plan, ready to use
- A certificate for 5 CPD-aligned hours
Training staff or members? Flat-rate licences are available for chambers and trade associations, and we offer tailored training for organisations. Contact us for pricing.
Ready to start?
Enrol on the learning portal and begin your first lesson today.
Enrol today →First 2 topics free. No card required. Cancel anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cybersecurity Essentials for Small Business?
Cybersecurity Essentials for Small Business is a self-paced online course that teaches UK small business owners how to protect their accounts, customer data and business from cyber attacks. It covers cyber risk, passwords and access, phishing, GDPR and incident response in plain English, across 4 topics and 16 lessons.
How much does the course cost?
The course costs £19 a month and you can cancel anytime. The first two topics are free with no card required. With 5 hours of learning, most people can finish within one month, for a total of £19.
Do I need technical or IT knowledge?
No. The course is written for business owners, not IT professionals. Every topic is explained in plain English and ends with a practical task you can complete for your own business.
Will this course get my business Cyber Essentials certified?
No. Cyber Essentials is a government-backed certification that requires a separate assessment. This course explains the scheme and helps you understand and improve your security, which is useful preparation, but it does not certify your business.
Does the course cover GDPR?
Yes. Topic 4 covers GDPR essentials for small businesses, including what counts as a personal data breach and when it must be reported to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), normally within 72 hours of becoming aware of it.
How long does the course take?
The course contains 5 hours of learning across 16 lessons. It is self-paced, so you can complete it in a few sittings or spread it over a few weeks.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes. You can cancel anytime, as set out in our terms and conditions. There is no minimum term.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. When you complete the course you receive a certificate of completion for 5 CPD-aligned hours, which you can record in your professional development log or add to your LinkedIn profile. CPD-aligned means the course is structured to support professional development requirements. The hours are self-certified by Digital Ascendancy rather than independently accredited.
Can I train my staff or members?
Yes. Flat-rate licences are available for chambers of commerce, trade associations and other member organisations, and we offer tailored training for teams. Contact us for group pricing.
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