What are the Metrics for Evaluating Security Awareness Efforts

According to Gartner, 84% of organizations aim to measurably change employee behavior through their security awareness programs, while 89% actively track how these initiatives lead to improvements in employee behavior. These statistics highlight a significant shift in how businesses approach security awareness, focusing on behavioral outcomes rather than just compliance.

Despite these efforts, many organizations still struggle to implement metrics that effectively measure meaningful progress. Traditional indicators like training completion rates or generic surveys often fail to capture whether employees are truly equipped to recognize and respond to threats like phishing attacks.

In this blog, we’ll explore how advanced security awareness training metrics provide actionable insights into employee behavior and organizational risk. You’ll learn about:

• Why phishing metrics are critical to understanding vulnerabilities.
• The framework for defining and tracking effective security awareness goals.
• Key metrics that measure behavior change and how to improve them.

By adopting a data-driven approach to security awareness, organizations can foster a culture of vigilance and build stronger defenses against evolving cyber threats.

Understanding Security Awareness Training Metrics

Security awareness training metrics are measurable indicators used to evaluate the effectiveness of programs designed to educate employees on recognizing and responding to cybersecurity threats. These metrics go beyond basic training completion rates to assess behavioral changes and risk reduction.

Common metrics include phishing simulation click rates, which measure susceptibility to phishing attempts; reporting rates, indicating proactive identification of threats; and repeat clicker rates, highlighting individuals who repeatedly fall for phishing simulations.

Organizations can identify vulnerabilities, measure progress, and enhance their overall cybersecurity posture by analyzing these metrics.

Why Security Awareness Metrics Are Critical

Phishing remains one of the most prevalent attack vectors, responsible for billions in losses annually. It targets the human element of cybersecurity—employees who might unknowingly click on malicious links or fail to report suspicious emails.

Organizations need to measure how employees respond to phishing threats. By analyzing awareness metrics, businesses can:

• Identify vulnerable employees or teams.
• Benchmark progress over time.

The Key Question

How can we measure and track meaningful progress in employee behavior?

The Framework for Effective Security Awareness Metrics

The Framework for Effective Security Awareness Metrics aligns training outcomes with measurable employee behavior and organizational resilience improvements. This involves tracking metrics that reflect real-world impact, such as reduced phishing click rates and increased suspicious activity reporting.

Using Protection Level Agreements (PLAs), organizations can set clear, outcome-driven goals beyond compliance. The framework emphasizes actionable insights, ensuring metrics measure behavioral change rather than just training completion, enabling a more proactive approach to mitigating cybersecurity risks.

Key Components of Successful Awareness Metrics

Creating effective security awareness metrics requires a comprehensive approach that identifies root causes, evaluates departmental vulnerabilities, and considers employee behavior. These key components ensure a focused and actionable strategy for reducing cybersecurity risks:

Baseline Causes

Begin by identifying the root causes of security incidents, such as phishing, system misconfigurations, or credential compromises. For example, phishing accounts for 16% of incidents, while system misconfigurations contribute 23%. Understanding these causes allows organizations to prioritize areas with the highest risk and design targeted interventions.

Business Unit Analysis

Analyze the contributions of different business units to cybersecurity incidents. For instance, 35% of incidents may come from sales teams, while IT departments account for 25%. This analysis helps identify which departments require more focused training or adjustments in security policies.

Authority Levels

Evaluate how different management tiers contribute to incidents. Nonmanagement employees may account for 50% of incidents, while executive teams contribute 18%. Tailoring training efforts based on authority levels ensures that interventions are both effective and relevant.

Behavioral Indicators

Track behavioral patterns such as policy violations, unsafe web browsing, or unauthorized software usage. Metrics like the percentage of employees triggering CASB alerts for unsanctioned cloud uploads provide actionable insights into risky behaviors that need addressing.

By addressing these components, organizations can create a robust framework for security awareness metrics, enabling a clearer understanding of vulnerabilities and a more effective response to employee-driven risks.

What Are Protection Level Agreements (PLAs)?

Protection Level Agreements are clear, outcome-driven metrics that align cybersecurity objectives with organizational goals. Unlike basic compliance measures, PLAs evaluate the impact of security awareness training efforts on reducing actual risk.

Examples include:

• Improved reporting rates for phishing attempts
• Behavior change.

Metrics should reflect whether employees adapt their behavior to recognize threats better, not just ticking off training requirements.

Analyzing Phishing Susceptibility Metrics

Phishing susceptibility metrics provide organizations with actionable insights into how well employees can recognize and respond to phishing threats.

These metrics focus on employee behavior and measure improvements in awareness, reporting, and long-term risk reduction. Below are three essential phishing metrics every organization should track:

Average Phishing Simulation Click Rate

• Goal: Reduce click rates from 25% to 5%.
• Why It Matters: This metric measures how effectively employees identify phishing emails. A lower click rate demonstrates improved awareness and reduces the chances of employees falling for phishing attacks, helping to minimize overall risk.

Average Phishing Simulation Reporting Rate

• Goal: Increase reporting rates from 10% to 40%.
• Why It Matters: Reporting rates highlight the proactive behavior of employees in identifying and escalating phishing attempts. A higher reporting rate improves the organization’s ability to detect threats early and respond effectively, reducing potential damage.

Repeat Offenders Rate

• Goal: Reduce the percentage of repeat offenders from 24% to 5%.
• Why It Matters: Employees who repeatedly click on phishing simulations represent a critical risk. Reducing the repeat clicker rate shows progress in targeted training efforts and the effectiveness of security awareness programs in changing risky behavior over time.

By tracking and improving these metrics, organizations can enhance their phishing resilience and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness. These metrics directly align with reducing phishing risks and strengthening the overall security posture.

By monitoring these metrics, organizations can address specific vulnerabilities and improve their overall cybersecurity posture.

Analyzing Behavior Change Metrics

Behavior change metrics are essential for assessing the effectiveness of security awareness programs. Rather than focusing on compliance alone, these metrics evaluate whether employees are actively reducing risk and adapting their behavior to mitigate threats. Here are three critical metrics that demonstrate meaningful improvements.

The Security Behavior & Culture Dashboard below highlights these key metrics, showcasing trends in employee behavior and security culture. Use this visual to identify areas for improvement and track progress over time.

Increased Training Participation

Boosting participation in nonmandatory security training leads to significant knowledge gains. For example, organizations that achieve a 400% improvement in advanced security awareness participation see employees better equipped to identify and respond to evolving threats.

Higher Phishing Email Reporting Rates

Proactive reporting of phishing emails is a key behavior change metric. Increasing reporting rates reduces the likelihood of phishing attacks escalating into major disruptions or breaches. A target reporting rate of 20%—up from 5%—helps create a security-aware workforce that actively collaborates in reducing threats.

Reduced Security Incidents

Organizations that reduce incidents tied to risky behaviors experience measurable benefits. A decrease in such incidents by 85% reflects improved employee behavior and enhanced organizational resilience, showcasing the direct impact of targeted training and awareness initiatives.

By focusing on these behavior change metrics, organizations can shift from reactive security practices to proactive risk management. Tools like Protection Level Agreements (PLAs) help define and track these measurable goals, aligning security awareness efforts with broader organizational objectives. Also, read our article to learn how to set security awareness training metrics for your organization.

How Awareness Metrics Must Be

Effective security awareness metrics must focus on demonstrating measurable changes in employee security behavior while reducing employee-driven cybersecurity risks.

The chart illustrates a behavior change story by tracking key metrics such as phishing simulation click rates, reporting rates, and repeat offenders percentages over time.

For example, during periods of high-complexity simulations, click rates initially increase, emphasizing the need for adaptive training.

However, targeted initiatives like Cybersecurity Awareness Month help drive significant improvements, such as achieving a 40% Protection Level Agreement (PLA) for reporting rates and reducing repeat clicker rates to 10%. This approach ensures a continuous focus on measurable outcomes that enhance organizational security resilience.

How to Drive Improvements in Phishing Metrics

Improving phishing metrics requires a strategic approach that focuses on realistic goals, engaging training, and proactive employee involvement. To begin, organizations should set clear goals by using baseline data to define realistic targets for reducing click rates and increasing reporting rates. These targets provide a roadmap for measuring progress and ensuring continuous improvement.

Next, design realistic phishing simulations that mimic real-world threats to help employees build confidence in identifying phishing attempts. Simulations should be both engaging and conducted frequently to ensure the lessons remain top-of-mind.

For employees who demonstrate higher susceptibility, such as repeat clickers, it’s critical to provide targeted training that addresses their specific challenges. Tools like the Phishing Simulator from Keepnet offer tailored modules designed to improve awareness and reduce risky behavior effectively.

Finally, fostering a culture of vigilance involves rewarding proactive reporting. Recognizing and rewarding employees who report phishing emails not only boosts morale but also encourages others to actively participate in strengthening the organization’s security. Together, these strategies create a robust framework for improving phishing metrics and reducing overall cybersecurity risks.

Benefits of Using Advanced Security Awareness Metrics

Adopting advanced security awareness metrics offers significant advantages in fostering a culture of cybersecurity and reducing risks. First, these metrics drive behavioral change by encouraging a security-first mindset among employees. As they learn to identify and respond effectively to phishing threats, employees become active participants in safeguarding the organization.

Second, advanced metrics contribute to risk reduction by lowering phishing simulation click rates and increasing reporting rates. These improvements lead to fewer successful phishing attacks, mitigating financial losses and protecting the organization's reputation from damage caused by breaches.

Finally, these metrics enhance organizational resilience by improving employee awareness and response times. A workforce that can quickly identify and address phishing threats becomes a critical component of a robust defense strategy, ensuring the organization is better prepared for evolving cyberattacks. By focusing on these benefits, organizations can significantly strengthen their overall cybersecurity posture.

Turning Metrics Into Action

Effective security awareness programs require metrics that go beyond compliance and focus on behavioral change. Metrics like click rates, reporting rates, and repeat offender tracking provide actionable insights to enhance employee resilience and reduce organizational risk.

By implementing Protection Level Agreements (PLAs) and adopting tools like Keepnet Phishing Simulator, organizations can measure success more effectively and drive continuous improvement in their security posture.

How Keepnet Can Help You Measure and Improve Security Awareness Metrics

Measuring the success of your security awareness program requires the right tools and a clear focus on actionable metrics. At Keepnet, we provide a comprehensive platform that enables organizations to track, analyze, and improve key metrics like phishing susceptibility, reporting rates, and behavioral change. Here’s how we can support your metrics-driven approach:

• Advanced Phishing Simulations: Our Phishing Simulator helps you measure metrics such as click rates and reporting rates by creating realistic phishing scenarios that reveal vulnerabilities and track employee responses.
• Behavior-Focused Analytics: Gain insights into repeat clicker rates, training participation, and reporting behavior, allowing you to evaluate measurable changes in employee security awareness over time.
• Protection Level Agreements (PLAs): Align your security goals with business objectives by using our platform to define and track specific targets, such as a 50% reduction in phishing incidents or improved reporting rates.
• Customized Security Awareness Training: Use the data from our metrics to identify high-risk groups and provide tailored training to address specific vulnerabilities. Our Security Awareness Training solutions ensure long-term behavioral improvements and reduced risks.
• Comprehensive Reporting and Dashboards: Monitor your progress in real time with dashboards that make it easy to visualize improvements in your awareness metrics and communicate results to stakeholders.

By partnering with Keepnet, your organization can move beyond traditional compliance-focused training and adopt a metrics-driven approach to foster real behavioral change.