Technology
CyberForge ShieldSim: The Innovation Brisbane Firms Need This Month
A new simulation platform from the Fortitude Valley startup is pushing practical cybersecurity training into local homes and offices.
How we reported this
CyberForge released ShieldSim on 8 July, a subscription tool that runs live phishing drills and scenario walkthroughs tailored for Australian households and small teams.
The platform arrives as Queensland businesses report more frequent credential theft attempts, with state agencies noting that many incidents begin with staff clicking links sent to personal email accounts rather than corporate systems.
Brisbane rollout details
ShieldSim is already in pilot use at two South Bank co-working spaces and has been adopted by the Brisbane City Council’s small-business support program for a three-month trial across 120 participating firms in the CBD and Fortitude Valley. Council staff have distributed access codes through the existing Digital Brisbane hub on Adelaide Street.
Users receive weekly exercises that mimic real local threats, such as fake invoices from Queensland suppliers or bogus council rate notices.
Usage numbers and costs
Internal figures shared by CyberForge show ShieldSim has logged 4,800 completed sessions since launch, with an average error rate drop from 37 percent to 19 percent among repeat participants after four weeks. The service costs $12 per user per month for teams under 50 people, or $9 when bundled with the company’s existing endpoint monitoring package.
Next month CyberForge will open a free public session at the Brisbane Convention Centre on 19 August, limited to 300 spots, aimed at residents who want to test the household version before committing.