We have been asking our members from across the industries the reasons why they became a CPD provider. This CPD Member case study was provided by Sandor Lachazi, Founder of SmartSec Academy. For more information, please visit their CPD Member Directory page.
Please provide us with a brief overview of your organisation. What do you do?
SmartSec Academy is an independent cybersecurity awareness training provider. We focus on human decision-making in organisations.
Our training is designed for SMEs and professional teams. It covers the everyday situations where cyber risk often appears: rushed emails, impersonation, urgent requests, supplier changes, and decisions made under pressure. The aim is not to turn employees into technical specialists. It is to help non-technical staff recognise risky moments, pause when needed, and make better decisions during normal working situations.
Why did you become a CPD provider?
We became a CPD provider because we wanted our training to sit within a professional development framework. Cybersecurity awareness is often treated as a yearly compliance exercise. We wanted SmartSec Academy to feel more practical and structured than that. CPD helped us focus on learning outcomes, not just content. It also gives organisations a trusted reference point when deciding whether to introduce the training to their teams.
How did you implement CPD accreditation in your organisation?
I implemented CPD accreditation by reviewing the programme structure, lesson flow, learning outcomes, and certificate process.
The course was already built around practical workplace situations, but the accreditation process made me look at each lesson more carefully. I asked what someone should be able to recognise or do differently after completing it.
The final programme has 10 lessons plus a final wrap-up, around 45 minutes of total runtime. It remains self-paced and concise by design. Learners receive a certificate on completion, which can be independently verified.
How has using CPD helped your organisation achieve its learning objectives?
CPD helped sharpen the learning objective. The aim is not to make employees more anxious about cyber risk. It is to help them recognise the moments where judgement matters: pressure, urgency, authority, routine, and normal-looking requests that may need a second check.
It has also helped us explain the programme more clearly to businesses. CPD gives both learners and organisations more confidence that the training is structured, practical, and focused on useful learning outcomes.
We hope this brief CPD Member Case Study was both interesting and helpful. Please go to the SmartSec Academy CPD Member profile page for more on their available CPD. Alternatively, please visit the CPD Industry Hubs to find courses, events and articles relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
CPD accreditation for training and events
Established in 1996, The CPD Certification Service has over 30 years’ experience providing CPD accreditation. With members in over 100 countries, our CPD providers benefit from the ability to promote themselves as part of an international community.
If you are interested in offering training courses, seminars, workshops, eLearning, or educational events suitable for Continuing Professional Development, please visit the Become a CPD Provider page or contact our team to discuss in more detail.
