What Makes an IT Team Cyber-Aware?
The biggest threats to your business don’t always come from outside. They come from routine mistakes. A click on a convincing email. A rushed password reset. A decision made on autopilot.
More often than not, the gap isn’t a missing firewall or software upgrade – it’s a moment of human error. That’s why building cyber-awareness into your IT team matters. Not as an afterthought, or as a compliance exercise, but as part of how people work every day.
A cyber-aware team doesn’t need to be made up of security specialists. But it does need to know what to look for, when to pause, and how to act when something feels off. From helpdesk staff to infrastructure leads, your frontline people have more influence over your security posture than any product on your tech stack.
This blog is about how to build that kind of team – from the ground up.
The Cost of a Click
Our free guide to why your people are your biggest cybersecurity vulnerability.
Learn the true cost of human error in cybersecurity – and what you can do to reduce your risk.
DOWNLOAD YOUR GUIDEThe Capability Gap: Why Many Teams Aren’t Ready for Cyberattacks
Most IT teams are built to keep things running. They’re good at solving problems, managing systems, and helping users get back to work. But in a growing number of cases, that’s not enough.
Cyberattacks are increasingly designed to look like routine requests, whether this is a locked-out colleague, an urgent call, or a familiar login screen. Attackers don’t need to break through your defences, they just need someone on your team to let them in.
It’s a pattern we’ve seen again and again. The M&S and Co-op breaches weren’t caused by poor infrastructure. They started with a conversation. Someone being helpful. Someone being tricked.
At the same time, nearly half of UK businesses say they don’t have the skills in-house to handle even basic security tasks. In stretched teams, the person resetting an account or installing updates might have never been trained to question what they’re seeing – or to see it as a potential risk at all.
That’s not a reflection of effort. It’s a gap in development. And it leaves good people exposed to difficult decisions they’re not equipped to make.
What it Looks Like When Security is Baked into an IT Team
You don’t need a dedicated security team to improve your defences. You need people who know how to handle routine tasks in a secure way, and who recognise when something doesn’t feel right.
In a cyber-aware IT team, that might look like:
- Verifying a user’s identity properly before resetting their password – even if they’re in a rush.
- Knowing how phishing attempts can appear across email, Teams, or SMS, and raising the alarm instead of brushing it off.
- Following escalation processes when an MFA reset request seems out of place.
- Keeping software updated and configurations secure, not just functional.
- Documenting changes, tracking assets, and maintaining patching routines that reduce risk before it becomes a headline.
These aren’t advanced technical skills. They’re everyday habits, backed by the right training and expectations.
When those habits are in place, security becomes part of the culture, not just a checklist after the fact.
How to Build Cybersecurity Capability Internally
Many IT teams are set up to solve problems quickly, not to think about security. But that can be changed. With the right structure, it’s possible to develop secure habits alongside technical skill, whether you’re bringing in new talent or training the people already on your team.
That might mean recruiting through an apprenticeship programme where security is built into every module. Or using apprenticeships to upskill existing staff – the ones who already understand your systems, your users, and your day-to-day pressures.
Either way, the aim is the same: giving your team the tools and confidence to make good decisions under pressure.
Baltic’s IT apprenticeships are designed with this in mind. Our Level 3 IT Support Technician programme trains people to spot phishing, question unusual requests, and support secure network access as part of their core role. Our Level 4 Network Engineer programme goes further – helping staff plan, build, and protect critical infrastructure with a security-first mindset.
It’s a structured, cost-effective way to close your skills gap before it becomes a breach. And it helps create a culture where secure working is standard, not a specialist task.
Cyber-first IT Apprenticeships
Our IT training courses are designed to train cyber-conscious Technicians and Engineers who understand that every user interaction, system access request, and technical decision carries security implications. Cybersecurity awareness is built into every module of every programme, producing skilled IT specialists with ingrained cyber capabilities.
IT Support Technician
The Level 3 IT Support Technician apprenticeship embeds secure working practices into every aspect of technical support. Apprentices learn to identify threats early, maintain secure configurations, support cloud and remote systems safely, and troubleshoot with data protection front of mind.
LEARN MORENetwork Engineer
The Level 4 Network Engineer apprenticeship equips organisations to build secure-by-design infrastructure from within. Apprentices gain industry standard CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certifications, layered defence expertise, and the skills to manage risk across complex IT networks.
LEARN MOREWhat Businesses Are Getting Right About Cybersecurity
Across sectors, some organisations are already shifting the way they think about IT capability. They’re not waiting for incidents to drive change – they’re building stronger habits into their teams now.
In some cases, that means reviewing internal processes and tightening up support protocols. In others, it means investing in long-term development – helping staff build the skills to spot threats early, respond properly, and prevent small mistakes from becoming major problems.
One example is Bondgate IT, a managed service provider working with Baltic apprentices across both support and infrastructure roles. They’ve focused on embedding secure practices early, with helpdesk and network apprentices developing capability that’s directly aligned with their risk environment.
Other businesses are taking lessons from recent incidents. The Co-op, for example, was targeted by the same group that breached M&S, but a fast response from its internal IT team helped limit the damage. While it wasn’t a perfect outcome, it shows how the right capability in the right place can make a difference – even under pressure.
These organisations aren’t relying on luck. They’re making conscious decisions to build security into their teams, and giving people the tools to act with confidence.
What to Review in Your Own IT Team
You don’t need to overhaul your whole IT function to improve security. But it’s worth stepping back to look at where risks might be sitting in plain sight.
Here are a few questions to start with:
- Are your IT staff trained to challenge suspicious access requests, even if they seem routine?
- Do your helpdesk processes include clear steps for verifying identity before making changes?
- Are secure habits part of how new staff are trained – or something picked up informally over time?
- Is anyone responsible for reviewing how everyday tasks like patching, resets, and device setup are being handled?
- Do your development plans include training in cybersecurity, or just technical systems?
Most security incidents don’t begin with a complex technical breach. They begin with a routine task handled without the right checks in place. Small changes in training and structure can reduce those risks without slowing the team down.
Book a Cyber-Readiness Consultation
If you’re looking to build a stronger, more cyber-aware IT team, a good place to start is understanding where the gaps are now.
We offer a free Cyber-Readiness Consultation with Michael Carrick, our in-house cybersecurity coach. It’s a practical session – no pressure, no obligations. Just an honest look at how your IT function handles risk day to day.
We’ll explore how your support processes work, how your team responds to access requests, and where secure habits could be reinforced. Whether you’re onboarding new staff, developing your helpdesk, or looking to upskill your existing team, the session is designed to give you a clearer view of what’s working and what could be improved.
To book a consultation, just get in touch and let us know a time that works for you.