office manager training new staff member

New cyber security tools and training for PTEs to tackle scammers coming soon

New cyber security tools and training for PTEs to tackle scammers coming soon

Last updated 13 December 2023
Last updated 13 December 2023

New tools and training that Private Training Establishments can use to educate their staff about how to prevent phishing attacks will soon be available for free through the Cyber Security for the Tertiary Sector (CSTS) initiative.

The goal of CSTS, a cross-agency project led by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), with support from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and Ministry of Education (MoE), is to raise awareness and understanding of the critical importance of cyber security and increase cyber security maturity across the tertiary sector.

Cyber-attacks are increasing, and attackers continue to develop new techniques to target organisations, putting people and organisations at risk. Phishing scams are one of the most common scams organisations can fall victim to (95% of reported cyber security breaches start with a phish) so the CSTS is prioritising best practice support for PTEs.

CSTS is offering Phriendly Phishing for free for PTEs including customised support for onboarding and managing the tools. Phriendly Phishing is the trusted provider of phishing simulation and cyber security awareness training for hundreds of organisations across Australia and New Zealand.

CSTS is inviting early expressions of interest from PTEs via the project mailbox at CyberSecurityTertiarySector@tec.govt.nz. CSTS expects to oversee sign-ups over the Christmas period and into February before the tools and training are rolled out in March 2024.

The phishing tools and training are a valuable addition to the existing suite of best practice education, support and tools already available to the sector through the CSTS initiative:

  • Cyber security controls – with input and support from CERT NZ and other valuable sources, CSTS developed a set of best-practice ‘cyber security controls’ containing people, process and technology related actions that organisations of all sizes can take to immediately improve their cyber security and help to prevent attacks.
  • Online workshops – CSTS have organised cyber security experts to share their knowledge and tips on a range of topics from how to stay safe online to getting the most out of security software.
  • Cyber security assessments ­– TEOs can access cyber security assessments provided by an independent supplier for free. Organisations receive a comprehensive assessment of their cyber security maturity with clear recommendations and a roadmap to help them become safer.