Introduction

Phishing attacks are one of the most common and devastating types of cyber threats facing organizations today. According to a recent report, phishing attacks account for over 90% of all data breaches (1). These attacks are often successful because they exploit the weakest link in an organization’s security chain: its employees. Phishing awareness training is essential in equipping employees with the knowledge and skills to identify and resist phishing attempts. However, simply providing initial training is not enough. Organizations must also upgrade and migrate their phishing awareness training programs to stay ahead of emerging threats.

The Evolution of Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and targeted. Modern phishing attacks often involve advanced social engineering tactics, such as spear phishing and business email compromise (BEC) scams. These attacks are designed to evade traditional security measures and trick even the most vigilant employees. In fact, a recent study found that 1 in 5 employees (22%) are still likely to click on a phishing email, even after receiving security training (2).

To stay ahead of these emerging threats, organizations must upgrade their phishing awareness training programs to include more advanced and realistic scenarios. This includes training on the latest phishing tactics, such as:

  • Spear phishing: using personalized information to trick employees into divulging sensitive information
  • BEC scams: using fake executive emails to request sensitive information or financial transactions
  • Whaling: using high-level executives as targets for phishing attacks

Migration to a Culture of Security Awareness

Phishing awareness training is not just about educating employees on phishing threats; it’s also about creating a culture of security awareness within the organization. This means migrating from a reactive approach to security, where employees are only trained on security threats after a breach has occurred, to a proactive approach, where employees are empowered to identify and report potential security threats before they become incidents.

An effective phishing awareness training program should be designed to:

  • Educate employees on the latest phishing threats and tactics
  • Provide employees with the skills and knowledge to identify and resist phishing attempts
  • Encourage employees to report suspicious emails and activity
  • Continuously test and assess employee awareness and vulnerability to phishing attacks

Using Statistics to Make the Case for Phishing Awareness Training

The statistics on phishing attacks and their impact on organizations are compelling. According to a recent study:

  • 76% of organizations were targeted by phishing attacks in 2020 (3)
  • Phishing attacks cost organizations an average of $1.6 million per incident (4)
  • 60% of employees report that they have been targeted by phishing attacks (5)

By investing in phishing awareness training, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of a phishing attack and its associated costs. In fact, a recent study found that organizations that provided regular phishing awareness training reduced their vulnerability to phishing attacks by 80% (6).

Conclusion

Phishing awareness training is a critical component of any organization’s cybersecurity strategy. However, simply providing initial training is not enough. Organizations must also upgrade and migrate their phishing awareness training programs to stay ahead of emerging threats. By investing in advanced and realistic training scenarios, creating a culture of security awareness, and using statistics to make the case for phishing awareness training, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of a phishing attack and its associated costs.

We want to hear from you! What steps is your organization taking to upgrade and migrate its phishing awareness training program? Leave a comment below to share your experiences and insights.

References:

(1) Verizon. (2020). Data Breach Investigations Report.

(2) Wombat Security. (2020). 2020 State of SecurityAwareness Report.

(3) Mimecast. (2020). 2020 Global Cyber Resilience Report.

(4) IBM. (2020). 2020 Cost of a Data Breach Report.

(5) Proofpoint. (2020). 2020 User Risk Report.

(6) KnowBe4. (2020). 2020 Phishing and IT Security Report.