Nudges in Security Awareness for Sales and Marketing Teams

70% of companies are vulnerable to vishing attacks, according to Keepnet’s 2024 Vishing Response Report. Sales and marketing teams, who frequently interact with external clients and prospects, are particularly at risk. Cybercriminals exploit their high email, phone, and social media activity, using tactics like phishing, vishing, and quishing to steal credentials, manipulate transactions, or spread malware.

Keepnet’s vishing simulations revealed that 7% of employees fell for a scam call, while 40% ignored the call—raising concerns about their ability to detect and report threats.

Sales professionals, under constant pressure to respond quickly and close deals, often fall victim to social engineering tricks that exploit urgency and trust.

One effective approach? Behavioral nudges—small, timely prompts that encourage secure behaviors without disrupting productivity. In this blog, we’ll explore how nudges can reinforce cybersecurity awareness, helping sales and marketing teams reduce risk and stay ahead of evolving threats.

Why Focus on Sales and Marketing Teams?

Sales and marketing teams regularly engage with external contacts, making them prime targets for social engineering attacks. Their reliance on digital tools, urgency-driven workflows, and frequent data sharing increase the risk of phishing, vishing, and credential theft. Without strong security awareness, these teams can unknowingly expose sensitive company information.

Key Risks:

1. Phishing and Spoofing Attacks: Fake emails or messages impersonating clients or partners often target sales and marketing teams.
2. Data Mishandling: Sharing sensitive customer or campaign data through unsecured channels can lead to data breaches.
3. Public Wi-Fi Risks: Traveling team members often connect to unsecured networks, increasing exposure to cyber threats.
4. Credential Theft: Frequent use of third-party platforms can lead to compromised accounts if security hygiene is lax.

The Opportunity: Customizing nudges for sales and marketing teams ensures that cybersecurity becomes a natural part of their daily activities. These nudges can help them recognize risks, adopt secure practices, and protect the organization from potential threats.

Key Nudges for Sales and Marketing Teams

To effectively reduce cyber risks, security nudges should be seamlessly integrated into the daily workflows of sales and marketing teams. These subtle reminders help reinforce secure behaviors without disrupting productivity. Below are key nudges designed to mitigate common threats, starting with phishing awareness prompts—a critical defense against one of the most prevalent attack vectors.

1. Phishing Awareness Prompts

What It Is: Real-time notifications highlighting suspicious emails or links.

Example Nudge: “This email contains an attachment from an unknown sender. Verify its authenticity before opening.”

Why It Matters: Sales teams often receive unsolicited emails from unknown prospects, increasing their vulnerability to phishing.

Implementation Tip: Integrate nudges into email clients with AI-based phishing detection tools.

2. Public Wi-Fi Usage Alerts

To effectively reduce cyber risks, security nudges should be seamlessly integrated into the daily workflows of sales and marketing teams. These subtle reminders help reinforce secure behaviors without disrupting productivity. Below are key nudges designed to mitigate common threats, starting with phishing awareness prompts—a critical defense against one of the most prevalent attack vectors.

What It Is: Reminders to use secure connections while working remotely or traveling.

Example Nudge: “You’re connected to an unsecured Wi-Fi network. Activate your VPN for a secure connection.”

Why It Matters: Traveling sales and marketing professionals frequently connect to public networks, exposing company data to potential interception.

Implementation Tip: Trigger nudges via mobile devices or laptops when users connect to untrusted networks.

3. Secure File Sharing Reminders

Sales and marketing teams frequently exchange customer data, proposals, and marketing materials through cloud-based platforms. However, accidental sharing of sensitive or proprietary information can lead to compliance violations and data breaches. To prevent mishandling, secure file sharing reminders prompt users to double-check files before sending them.

What It Is: Alerts to ensure customer data or marketing collateral is shared securely.

Example Nudge: “Before sending this file, confirm it contains no sensitive customer information or proprietary data.”

Why It Matters: Mishandling sensitive files can lead to compliance violations and reputational damage.

Implementation Tip: Embed nudges in file-sharing platforms like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox.

4. Credential Sharing Warnings

Sales and marketing teams often use multiple business platforms, CRM tools, and marketing automation systems. To save time, employees may share passwords or use personal accounts, increasing the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. Credential sharing warnings help reinforce secure login practices and prevent account compromise.

What It Is: Prompts discouraging the use of personal accounts or sharing credentials for business platforms.

Example Nudge: “Avoid sharing your password for [Platform X]. Use the approved team account instead.”

Why It Matters: Credential sharing increases the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

Implementation Tip: Integrate nudges into Single Sign-On (SSO) platforms or password managers.

5. Social Media Security Tips

Marketing teams manage public-facing company accounts, making them prime targets for account takeovers, phishing attempts, and brand impersonation. Weak security settings or shared login credentials can expose corporate accounts to cyber threats. Social media security nudges help reinforce best practices and protect brand integrity.

What It Is: Nudges encouraging secure practices while managing company social media accounts.

Example Nudge: “Ensure two-factor authentication is enabled on all corporate social media accounts.”

Why It Matters: Marketing teams managing public-facing accounts are often targeted for account takeovers or misuse.

Implementation Tip: Provide nudges through social media management tools like Hootsuite or Buffer.

6. Customer Data Protection Prompts

Sales and marketing teams handle large volumes of client data, making data protection a critical priority. Whether sharing customer information, discussing contracts, or managing CRM records, secure handling of sensitive data is essential to avoid compliance violations and reputational damage. Customer data protection prompts ensure employees follow security best practices during client interactions.

What It Is: Notifications reminding teams to follow data protection policies during client interactions.

Example Nudge: “When discussing sensitive client data, ensure you’re using an encrypted communication channel.”

Why It Matters: Mishandling customer data can result in compliance breaches and loss of trust.

Implementation Tip: Link nudges to CRM platforms like Salesforce or HubSpot.

7. Compliance Training Reminders

Understanding data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA is essential for sales and marketing teams, as they frequently deal with customer information and marketing databases. However, completing security training is often deprioritized due to workload. Compliance training reminders help ensure employees stay informed about regulatory requirements and security best practices.

What It Is: Prompts encouraging timely completion of security training tailored to their roles.

Example Nudge: “Complete the 10-minute security awareness training to stay updated on data protection policies.”

Why It Matters: Sales and marketing teams need to understand specific compliance requirements, such as GDPR or CCPA, when handling customer data.

Implementation Tip: Schedule recurring nudges through email or team collaboration tools like Slack or Teams.

8. Incident Reporting Encouragement

Timely incident reporting is key to minimizing the impact of cyber threats, yet many employees hesitate to report suspicious activity. Whether it's a phishing attempt, credential compromise, or unauthorized access, quick action can prevent a small issue from escalating into a major security breach. Incident reporting nudges remind employees to alert IT teams immediately when they notice potential threats.

What It Is: Nudges to report any suspicious activity or potential breaches immediately.

Example Nudge: “If you suspect phishing or account compromise, report it to the IT team without delay.”

Why It Matters: Prompt reporting minimizes the impact of security incidents and enables faster response.

Implementation Tip: Simplify the reporting process with one-click options integrated into email clients or CRM tools.

For further insights, check our article on Top Nudge Examples in Security Awareness.

Integrating Nudges into Sales and Marketing Workflows

To ensure these nudges are effective, they should:

1. Be Relevant: Align nudges with specific tasks, such as email communication or campaign management.
2. Fit Into Tools: Integrate nudges into platforms commonly used by these teams, such as CRMs, email clients, and social media tools.
3. Be Actionable: Keep nudges concise and provide clear steps to follow.

Building a Security-First Sales and Marketing Team

Sales and marketing teams are at the frontline of customer engagement, handling sensitive client data, financial information, and proprietary business strategies. Their reliance on emails, CRM tools, and external communications makes them prime targets for phishing attacks, business email compromise (BEC), and social engineering tactics.

To build a security-first sales and marketing team, organizations must integrate security awareness training directly into their daily workflows. By using tools like a phishing simulator and smishing simulator, teams can recognize threats in real-world scenarios. Additionally, implementing incident response automation can help detect and mitigate potential attacks before they escalate.

By embedding security best practices into sales and marketing operations, organizations not only protect their sensitive data but also strengthen overall cyber resilience. Investing in human risk management platforms ensures employees remain vigilant against evolving cyber threats, safeguarding both company reputation and customer trust.

Explore more about building a culture of security awareness with nudges at Keepnet Human Risk Management.