Commonwealth Bank has teamed up with Telstra to support an initiative to help protect small businesses from cyber threats and scams.

CBA and Telstra are the founding sponsors of the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia’s Cyber Wardens pilot program, which is designed to be a cyber safety workplace certification program.

COSBOA chief executive Alexi Boyd said in a statement that the program will give small business owners and employees the tools they need to stay safe online, via an e-learning platform.

COSBOA cited figures provided by the Australian Cyber Security Centre that cyber crime costs small businesses an average of A$9000 a year.

The Cyber Warden resources will be free and COSBOA promises the program will be accessible, with “no IT degree, excel expertise or cloud wizardry required”.

CBA said in a statement that the pilot will be offered in coming months.