Cyber Safety Basics: Protect Yourself, Clients & Devices
Simple steps to keep your business, your data and your customers safe online.
Outline:
Practical, no-jargon steps to protect your business, your data and your customers.
Cyber security can feel like a specialist subject, but the basics that stop most attacks are straightforward and achievable in an afternoon. This session gives you a clear checklist and the confidence to act on it.
We'll cover
• Common SME risks: phishing, scams, device theft
• Cyber hygiene checklist: passwords, multi-factor authentication, backups, updates
• Protecting client data: GDPR essentials in plain English
• Using cloud tools securely
• Spotting suspicious emails and calls
• Affordable security tools: password vaults, antivirus, VPNs
• Scenario exercise: what would you do if X happened?
• Business continuity and the impact of an outage
• Documented process and procedure in the event of a breach
• Supply chain risks
• Cyber Essentials and other certifications
• Cyber insurance
Who is this for?
SMEs, sole traders, professional service firms and small charities.
What will you learn
How to keep yourself, your staff and your clients safe online; managing digital risk without complexity; protecting your most valuable asset - customer data.
Quick win
Complete a cyber safety checklist and implement one improvement immediately.
Date: 10th December 2026
Time: 10am - 12.30pm
About the trainer
Vishal Bal is a Cyber Security and AI expert with six years of experience helping people and organisations from all sectors stay safe online.
She specialises in particular the human side of cyber: why we click on dodgy links, why we re-use passwords we know we shouldn't, and what actually works to change those habits.
She's run phishing simulations to test how real organisations respond to attacks, advising in resilience strategies, and advised on how personal data gets collected and misused.
She is also studying how AI is being used to create deepfakes and spread misinformation that's becoming harder to spot by the day. She's designed games, simulations, and training programmes that make this stuff click for people who never thought cyber security was for them.
Venue and transport arrangements
Lewes Railway Land Project is a short walk from Lewes Mainline Train station.
There are numerous car parks in the vicinity.
FAQs
Are small businesses really targeted by cyber criminals?
Yes - a significant proportion of UK small businesses experience an attack each year, most commonly phishing. Being small doesn't make you a less attractive target; it often makes you an easier one.
What is Cyber Essentials and do I need it?
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification confirming five basic protections are in place. It's not compulsory for every business, but it's increasingly expected by clients and insurers - we'll cover whether it's right for you.
What's the single most effective step I can take to protect my business online?
Turning on multi-factor authentication (MFA) across your key accounts is usually the highest-impact, lowest-effort step - we'll show you how.
How do GDPR rules apply to a small business?
GDPR applies regardless of size if you hold any customer or staff data. The session translates the essentials into plain English and practical habits, not legal jargon.
