Course Overview: CSSME-001

Cyber Security Essentials for Scottish SMEs: Protect Your Business in 4 Weeks

Brief Description

This intensive 4-week vocational course equips Scottish small and medium enterprise owners, managers, and key staff with essential cybersecurity knowledge and practical skills to protect their businesses from digital threats. Designed specifically for SMEs with 5-50 employees, the course combines expert-led live sessions with hands-on activities, real-world case studies, and immediately applicable security measures.

What You'll Learn

Participants will develop critical cybersecurity competencies including conducting business risk assessments, implementing essential security controls, creating incident response procedures, and building a security-aware workplace culture. The course addresses the unique challenges faced by Scottish SMEs, incorporating local regulatory requirements, recent threat examples, and sector-specific vulnerabilities.

Learning Approach

Through interactive live sessions, collaborative whiteboard exercises, practical assignments, and peer discussions, learners engage with cybersecurity concepts in a supportive, business-focused environment. Each week builds systematically from understanding threats to implementing comprehensive protection strategies, ensuring participants can immediately apply their learning to strengthen their business security posture.

Certification Pathway

Successfully completing this course prepares participants for Cyber Essentials certification, a government-backed standard that demonstrates commitment to cybersecurity best practices. The college-partnered certification enhances professional credentials while meeting increasingly common insurance and procurement requirements for Scottish businesses.

Target Outcomes

By course completion, participants will have created a customized cybersecurity action plan for their business, implemented key protective measures, and developed the confidence to maintain ongoing security awareness. This practical foundation enables SMEs to protect against common cyber threats while building resilience for future digital challenges.