Managing Repeat Clickers in Cybersecurity

Repeatedly falling for phishing attempts can make certain employees, or “repeat clickers,” a persistent security risk. For CISOs and IT leaders, managing these high-risk individuals is essential for reducing vulnerabilities, improving security posture, and maximizing the return on cybersecurity investments.

In this blog post, we’ll explore strategies to effectively manage repeat clickers and strengthen your organization’s defenses.

The Importance of Managing Repeat Clickers

Repeat clickers—employees who consistently fall for phishing attempts or simulations—pose an ongoing security risk. While they may not be fully aware of the implications of their actions, repeat clickers significantly contribute to potential breaches, making it essential to focus security awareness efforts on them. By transforming these high-risk individuals into security-aware team members, your organization can reinforce its defenses and build a stronger security culture.

What is a Repeat Clicker?

A repeat clicker is an employee who frequently interacts with phishing emails or fails multiple phishing simulations within a given timeframe. Typically, an individual is identified as a repeat clicker if they fail two or more phishing simulations per quarter. Recognizing these employees allows for targeted interventions to address the potential risks they bring to the organization.

Why Do Employees Keep Clicking?

Phishing attacks often exploit human psychology by triggering emotional responses, making employees more likely to click before considering the risks. Here are some common triggers:

• Fear: Threatening language creates urgency and panic.
• Respect: Impersonations of authority figures demand compliance.
• Greed: Promises of rewards play on employees’ desires for gain.
• Helpfulness: Appeals to assist trigger altruistic responses.

These triggers can make even well-trained employees vulnerable, particularly in a busy or distracting workplace. By equipping employees with skills to recognize and resist these emotional tactics, organizations can reduce the likelihood of repeat clicks and build resilience.

How to Help and Manage Repeat Clickers

Effectively managing repeat clickers involves regular training, targeted simulations, and positive reinforcement. Let’s dive into a comprehensive approach to improve resilience among high-risk employees.

1. Reinforce Awareness Through Varied Communication

Security awareness should be an ongoing effort that employees encounter regularly. Varied communication methods—such as newsletters, posters, and microlearning videos—help keep cybersecurity top-of-mind. These reminders ensure security awareness becomes an integral part of employees’ routines, building an organization-wide culture of vigilance.

2. Tailor Security Awareness Training to High-Risk Employees

Standard training may not be enough for repeat clickers. Tailoring security awareness training to their specific needs is essential. Interactive modules that incorporate gamification and real-world scenarios make learning more engaging and memorable. When repeat clickers face realistic phishing scenarios in a safe environment, they can practice and reinforce their decision-making skills without the risk of real consequences.

3. Use Phishing Simulators to Identify and Support Repeat Clickers

Phishing simulators are crucial tools for both measuring the effectiveness of training and identifying employees who continue to click on phishing emails. By simulating real-world phishing threats, these tools provide a controlled environment for employees to learn and practice phishing detection. The Keepnet Phishing Simulator, for example, helps track and evaluate employees’ responses, allowing organizations to target their security training more effectively.

4. Encourage Gamification and Offer Incentives for Improvement

Rewarding progress is a powerful motivator for change. Gamification in training, along with incentives for improvement, can help employees stay engaged while reducing the stigma around cybersecurity training. Recognizing and celebrating employees who demonstrate progress fosters a positive learning environment, encouraging others to follow suit.

5. Communicate the Consequences of Repeat Clicking

Employees need to understand the impact of their actions, both personally and on the organization as a whole. By sharing real-world examples and simulating the potential consequences of phishing attacks, you can help employees see the gravity of these actions. This approach fosters a sense of responsibility while emphasizing the importance of security awareness.

Remedial Approaches for Repeat Clickers

Repeat clickers may require additional, structured interventions. By designing a remedial training plan tailored to their learning needs, you can help these employees develop better cybersecurity habits over time. Here’s a sample escalation plan to consider:

• First failure: Provide immediate feedback and remedial training.
• Second failure: Offer additional training sessions and involve the employee’s direct manager for added support.
• Third failure: Escalate to HR for formal intervention, potentially including restricted access or mandatory instructor-led training.

This approach frames corrective actions as growth opportunities rather than punishments, helping to encourage improvement. Involving HR at a later stage can add structure to the process through performance improvement plans or other formal support mechanisms.

Enhancing Organizational Security by Managing Repeat Clickers

Building a cybersecurity-aware culture requires an organization-wide commitment to continuous improvement. Celebrate employee achievements in security awareness as much as you address areas for improvement. This balanced approach fosters a positive environment where employees feel empowered to enhance their cybersecurity skills and contribute to the organization’s defenses.

It’s also essential to analyze feedback from phishing simulations regularly to adjust and enhance your training methods. This adaptive approach ensures that your organization remains resilient against an evolving threat landscape by keeping training relevant to emerging threats.

Reinforce Security with Keepnet Human Risk Management Platform

Leveraging comprehensive tools can significantly improve your organization’s ability to train and manage repeat clickers effectively. The Keepnet Human Risk Management Platform offers an integrated approach to cybersecurity awareness training, including the Keepnet Security Awareness Training and the Keepnet Phishing Simulator. These tools enable organizations to minimize risk, improve employee security skills, and create a culture of security-mindedness across the workforce.

By implementing these strategies and utilizing the right tools, you can significantly reduce the impact of repeat clickers on your organization’s cybersecurity, building a safer, more resilient organization.