How Australia could secure SMB's at scale and build/retain a pipeline of future talent

Is a collaboration between government, tertiary institutions, students, industry mentors, training provider startups, and small-to-medium sized businesses (SMBs) possible and what impact can that make?

The Problems:

Cyber Security students are increasingly finding it difficult to secure their first job without any prior experience. Tertiary institutions are often far-removed from industry and often don’t teach how to secure SMB’s. SMB’s (especially regional small businesses) find it overwhelming to know where to start when it comes to securing their business and cannot afford expensive consultants to assist. Training provider startups find it challenging to get SMBs to utilise their products/services due to time and resources. Cyber Security Professionals join the force to help people but often leave when this sense of purpose is not fulfilled.

The Solutions:

The Victorian Summer of Cyber Pilot Program (VSOC) sought to uplift capability and address critical gaps in the cyber security workforce, by providing on-the-job experience for women and gender-diverse individuals who were either current or recently graduated students in tertiary institutions across Victoria. VSOC also aimed to tackle the cost and knowledge barrier faced by small-to-medium sized businesses and startups (SMBs) in understanding and enhancing their security posture.

Sponsored by the Victorian Government the Australian Women in Security Network (AWSN) oversaw the delivery of this pilot, along with Australian program partner organisations Cynch Security, COSBOA (CyberWardens), CyberCert and Dynamic Standards International (SMB1001). Participants were also provided with volunteer support from AWSN industry mentors and tertiary supervisors.

The pilot program consisted of a cohort of 44 students which were placed in 22 SMBs across regional and remote Victoria. The program sought businesses from a range of sectors—such as retail, healthcare, hospitality, and professional services—to ensure a cross-section of the SMB landscape to better understand the unique cyber security challenges faced by different industries. The pilot aimed to bridge the gap between tertiary studies and job readiness by pairing pilot participants with SMBs through one of two project types, both designed to maximise on-the-job learning for students and establish a sustainable cyber security culture for the SMB. Additionally, to provide participants with an enduring community and resources to support them post pilot, they were provided complimentary AWSN membership. This includes access to the AWSN Mentoring app, AWSN events and further training programs to ensure they continue to receive industry support well beyond the pilot program.

The impacts:

VSOC has demonstrated a scalable and sustainable model that can be applied nationwide. It enhances participants’ confidence and practical skills while fostering a more diverse and inclusive cyber security workforce. By providing students with real-world applications of their studies, paid work experience that sets them apart from other candidates, and direct connections to potential employers, VSOC helps build long-term career pathways. At the same time, it supports the growth and security of SMBs across Australia.

This presentation aims to share the learnings and successes from the pilot program and how it could be expanded to make an even greater impact.