Phishing Simulation Benchmarks: How Does Your Organization Compare?

AI-powered phishing campaigns have become increasingly sophisticated, leading to a 70% increase in email scams year-over-year. (Source) As phishing techniques evolve, organizations need to ensure their employees are prepared to recognize and respond to these threats.

Phishing simulations help test your organization’s ability to detect and respond to such attacks. However, without benchmarks, it can be difficult to measure their effectiveness. Phishing simulation benchmarks allow you to compare your organization’s performance against industry standards, making it easier to spot areas that need improvement.

By analyzing metrics like the Phish-Prone Percentage, Net Reporter Score (NRS), and Click-to-Form Completion Ratio (CFCR), you gain insights into your employees’ awareness levels and identify potential security gaps.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how to use these benchmarks effectively and how the Keepnet Phishing Simulator can help strengthen your security posture.

Understanding Phishing Simulation Benchmarks

Phishing simulation benchmarks help organizations measure how well their employees recognize and respond to phishing attempts. By comparing your results with industry standards, you can understand the effectiveness of your phishing awareness training and identify areas that need improvement.

Key metrics include:

• Phish-Prone Percentage: The rate of employees who fall for phishing attempts.
• Net Reporter Score (NRS): The difference between users who report phishing and those who get tricked.
• Click-to-Form Completion Ratio (CFCR): The percentage of users who click a phishing link and proceed to enter their credentials.

Using these benchmarks allows you to track progress, make data-driven decisions, and continuously strengthen your organization’s security posture.

Industry Benchmarks: Where Does Your Organization Stand?

Phishing simulation benchmarks give you a way to see how your organization’s phishing awareness stacks up against others in your industry. Different sectors face unique challenges when it comes to phishing. For example:

• Finance: Often reports lower click rates due to strict compliance regulations and regular awareness training.
• Healthcare: Can show higher vulnerability due to a diverse workforce and varying levels of digital literacy.
• Education: Typically records higher click rates as staff and students may not receive consistent training.
• IT and Tech: Sometimes show mixed results—while tech-savvy employees are often more aware, the highly targeted nature of attacks can lead to higher failure rates.

Knowing where your organization stands compared to industry benchmarks helps you pinpoint weaknesses and tailor your phishing awareness training more effectively. It also gives you a clear baseline to measure progress after implementing new training initiatives.

For more insights on tailoring simulations to different departments, check out the Keepnet article: Customizing Phishing Simulations for Different Departments: A CISO’s Guide.

How to Benchmark Your Organization’s Phishing Simulation Results

Benchmarking your phishing simulation results helps you evaluate how well your organization is performing compared to industry standards. Follow these steps to gain accurate insights and identify areas for improvement.

Step 1: Gather Your Simulation Data

Before comparing your performance, you need reliable data from your phishing simulations. Collect metrics such as:

• Click Rates: Percentage of employees who clicked on a phishing link.
• Reporting Rates: Number of users who reported the phishing attempt.
• Failure Rates: How many employees fell for the phishing email by clicking a link or entering credentials.
• Response Times: How long it took employees to report or react to the phishing simulation.

Make sure to include data from different campaigns to get a comprehensive view.

To better understand which metrics truly matter, explore the Keepnet article: Phishing Simulation Metrics That Actually Matter: Moving Beyond Click Rates.

Step 2: Identify Industry Benchmarks

To accurately evaluate your phishing simulation results, start by finding benchmarks relevant to your industry. Look for credible sources, such as industry reports, cybersecurity vendors, and research publications. These benchmarks will help you compare your organization’s performance with similar companies, giving you valuable insights into your phishing awareness efforts.

By using relevant and trustworthy data, you can better understand where your organization stands and identify areas that may need improvement.

Step 3: Compare Your Data with Industry Averages

After gathering your simulation results, compare them with industry benchmarks. Focus on key metrics like click rates, reporting rates, and failure rates. Identify where your performance is higher or lower than average.

If your click rate is above the industry norm, it may indicate a higher risk of falling for phishing attacks. A low reporting rate suggests that employees may not be effectively trained to recognize and report suspicious emails. Use these insights to identify areas needing more targeted training.

Step 4: Break Down Your Data by Groups

To get more accurate insights, segment your simulation data by key groups. Analyze results based on department, job role, location, and training level. This helps identify which groups are more susceptible to phishing and allows you to target your security awareness initiatives more effectively.

By understanding which teams or roles are most at risk, you can customize training to address specific weaknesses and improve overall security awareness.

Step 5: Track Progress Over Time

To measure the effectiveness of your phishing awareness efforts, regularly compare your latest simulation results with past data. Track changes in key metrics like click rates and reporting rates to see if your training initiatives are making an impact.

Create a timeline to visualize trends and highlight improvements or recurring issues. If you notice consistent progress, it indicates that your training is effective. On the other hand, if certain metrics remain stagnant or worsen, adjust your security training programs to address these gaps.

By following these steps, you can benchmark your organization’s phishing simulation results effectively and make informed decisions to strengthen your security posture.

Factors Affecting Phishing Simulation Benchmark

Phishing simulation benchmarks are influenced by various factors that can impact how well your organization performs. Knowing what affects these benchmarks helps you better understand your results and fine-tune your security awareness training to address specific challenges.

Table 1: Key Factors Influencing Phishing Simulation Benchmark

By recognizing these factors, you can better analyze your phishing simulation results and tailor your security awareness training accordingly.

Strategies to Improve Your Phishing Simulation Benchmarks

Improving your phishing simulation benchmarks starts with addressing the specific gaps revealed in your results. Focus on targeted training, realistic scenarios, and building a strong reporting culture. Here are some practical strategies:

• Implement Targeted Training: Identify high-risk groups and deliver focused training to address specific weaknesses, like spotting advanced phishing tactics.
• Use Realistic Simulations: Create phishing scenarios that reflect real-world threats, helping employees practice detecting current attack methods.
• Reinforce a Reporting Culture: Make reporting easy and reward employees who actively report phishing attempts to encourage vigilance.
• Track and Monitor Progress: Regularly compare new results with past data to spot trends and update training as needed.

By following these strategies, you can boost your phishing simulation benchmarks and build a more resilient security culture within your organization.

Boost Your Cyber Resilience with Keepnet Phishing Simulation

The Keepnet Phishing Simulator helps organizations build resilience against phishing by creating realistic, adaptive simulations. Here’s how it works:

• AI-Powered Customization: Create realistic phishing campaigns that mirror the latest social engineering techniques. Customize emails and landing pages with 80+ merge tags for targeted simulations.
• Extensive Template Library: Access over 6,000+ pre-built phishing templates to conduct diverse and engaging training campaigns.
• Efficient Campaign Setup: Launch phishing simulations quickly with an intuitive interface—90% of users can start a campaign in under a minute.
• Seamless Template Creation: Upload .eml or .msg files to automatically generate phishing templates, saving time and maintaining authenticity.
• Data-Driven Reporting: Track key metrics like click rates and risky behaviors. Compare your results with industry benchmarks to measure progress.

By leveraging Keepnet’s AI-powered phishing simulation features, you can enhance employee awareness and build a more phishing-resistant organization.