Frequently asked questions

Yes. Client Guard Academy includes practical policy templates for AI usage, suspicious emails, payment and bank detail changes, and client data handling. They are designed to help small accounting firms put clear rules in place quickly.

No. Client Guard Academy does not require access to your client files, tax records, payroll data, accounting software, email inbox, bank details, or practice management system. Users only need a name and email address to complete training.

Yes. The platform is designed to let staff confirm they have read and understood relevant policies, so admins can track training and acknowledgement in one place.

No. Client Guard Academy is designed to complement your IT provider. IT controls help block threats; staff training and policies help your team make better decisions when suspicious emails, AI tools, payment requests, or client data risks appear in everyday work.

No. The core course gives your team a fast baseline, but the subscription also includes quarterly updates as scams, AI tools, and best practices evolve.

The full Cyber & AI Safety course — eight lessons with knowledge check quizzes — takes most staff members between 90 minutes and two hours to complete. Staff can pause and continue at any time, and lessons are accessible on any device.

Yes. The platform is fully responsive and works on any modern device — desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Staff can complete training at their desk or on the go.

There is no penalty for failing. Staff are encouraged to review the lesson material and try again. The quiz must be passed at 70% or above to mark the lesson as complete. Most people pass on their first or second attempt.

Every lesson is written specifically for accounting practices. Examples cover fake HMRC emails, payroll fraud, client data and GDPR, unsafe use of AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude, and other threats that are particularly relevant to firms handling financial data.

Most firms can get set up in under 10 minutes.

Most staff can complete the core training in around 60–90 minutes.

None at all. The platform is designed for busy accountants and practice managers, not IT professionals. If you can send an email, you can use Client Guard Academy.

Pricing is a flat annual subscription per firm — not per seat. Your plan covers a set number of team members, and everyone on your team has full access. See the Pricing page for current plan details.

Yes. You can sign up and add an additional user to explore the platform before your subscription starts. No credit card is required to begin. When you're ready to go live with your team, you'll choose a plan.

Yes. You can invite additional team members at any time within your plan's limit. If you need to increase your plan, get in touch and we'll sort it for you.

Yes. Every team member who completes all lessons and passes all quizzes receives a personalised completion certificate. Certificates include the staff member's name, firm name, course name, and completion date.

Yes. Firm owners and admins can download a full CSV completion report at any time from the Reports section. This shows each team member's progress, quiz results, and completion status — useful for PI insurance renewals or client due diligence requests.

Client Guard Academy is designed to support your staff awareness obligations under UK GDPR and ICAEW / ACCA guidance on data protection and cyber security. However, it is not a substitute for legal advice. We recommend speaking with your compliance adviser about your specific obligations.