A security champions program is a structured way of recruiting and training volunteers inside business and technical teams to act as the local voice of security. Champions keep their regular jobs, but they get extra training, a direct line to the security team, and a role in encouraging secure habits among their colleagues. Programs are a common tool for building security culture, the shared attitudes and everyday habits that decide how people across an organization actually handle security.
At a glance
- Champions are volunteers or nominated staff who spend part of their time promoting security within their own team.
- The program connects a small security team to many departments, without hiring more security staff.
- In software teams, champions often bring security into design and code review, supporting DevSecOps.
- It complements security awareness training by adding peer influence and local context.
- Results depend on management support, protected time and recognition for champions.
What problem it solves
Most mid-sized organizations have far more employees than security staff. A security team of a few people can’t sit in every department meeting, review every new tool request or catch every risky shortcut. Employees often see security as something IT handles, and a once-a-year course does little to change daily behavior.
Attackers target people through social engineering, so habits matter: whether staff report a suspicious email, verify a payment request, share files carefully or ask before installing software. A security champions program puts someone in each team who understands the work and the security basics, can answer quick questions, spot risky practices early and bring problems to the security team. Over time this helps shift security from a rule imposed from outside to part of how teams work, which is what people usually mean by a positive security culture.
How it works
Recruiting. Programs typically invite volunteers or ask managers to nominate people who are respected by peers and interested in security. Technical skill helps in software teams but is not always required elsewhere.
Training and resources. Champions receive deeper training than general staff, on topics such as current phishing tactics, data handling, secure coding or threat modeling, along with playbooks for common questions.
Regular contact. The security team holds regular meetings or channels with champions to share news, upcoming changes and lessons from incidents, and to hear what is happening in each team.
Local activities. Champions might help run phishing simulations, share security tips, review new tools or vendors with the security team, and in development teams flag security issues in designs and code.
Recognition and measurement. Successful programs recognize champions’ contributions, for example in performance reviews, certifications or visible thanks, and track measures such as reporting rates and earlier involvement of security in projects.
When it matters for buyers
- When the security team can’t scale. Champions extend reach without a large hiring plan.
- When awareness training has plateaued. Peer influence can help where courses and simulations alone stall. See our security awareness training overview for the wider set of options.
- When building or buying software. Champions in development teams help catch issues earlier, when they cost less to fix.
- When adopting a human risk management approach. Champions can act on behavior data in their own teams.
- After a merger or rapid growth. New teams with different habits benefit from a local point of contact.
Questions to ask vendors
- Does your platform include tools or content specifically for security champions?
- Can you provide training paths at different levels, including secure development for engineers?
- What metrics and reports can champions and managers see for their own teams?
- Can champions run or customize phishing simulations for their teams?
- Do you offer playbooks for recruiting, recognizing and retaining champions?
- How do you help us measure changes in behavior, not just training completion?
How it differs from security awareness training
Security awareness training is content delivered to everyone: courses, videos, simulations and reminders that teach staff to recognize and report threats. A security champions program is a people network: a smaller group of employees who get more training and responsibility and use it to influence their colleagues. Training gives everyone the baseline knowledge; champions help turn it into daily habits and give the security team a feedback channel from each team. Many organizations use both, and some training platforms include features that support champions.