What is Human Risk Management? Definition, Importance, and Best Practices for 2025
Human Risk Management (HRM) is the proactive discipline of identifying, quantifying, and reducing cybersecurity risks caused by employee behavior and decisions. In this guide, you’ll discover why HRM matters in 2025 and learn how to build a resilient, human-centric security culture with frameworks, tools, and best practices.
Human Risk Management (HRM) is the practice of identifying, evaluating, and reducing risks that originate from human behavior inside an organization. Unlike traditional risk management, which focuses mainly on technical issues such as system outages or software vulnerabilities, human risk management zeroes in on the choices, mistakes, and habits of employees. These “human risks” can quietly open the door to cyber threats, compliance failures, and costly incidents that technology alone cannot stop.
The need for human risk management solutions is growing rapidly. According to the 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, more than 60% of security incidents were linked to human error. This staggering number confirms what many businesses already suspect: people—not just machines—are the weakest link. Forrester also highlighted that by 2024, human factors would play a role in 90% of data breaches, as attackers rely on advanced social engineering techniques to manipulate employees.
These insights underline why every modern organization should invest in a human risk management framework. While firewalls, endpoint detection, and identity management systems are essential, they cannot prevent a careless click on a phishing email or an accidental data leak. Human risk examples like misconfigured settings, weak password practices, or oversharing sensitive information on social media show why businesses must elevate security awareness to the same level as technical defenses.
In this article, we’ll unpack what human risk management really means, why it is critical for business resilience in 2025, and the best practices that leading organizations use to build a proactive human risk management platform. From defining the concept clearly to exploring industries benefiting from these approaches, you’ll gain a practical understanding of how to manage human risks and reduce the chance of becoming the next headline data breach story.
What is Human Risk Management Exactly?
Human Risk Management is the discipline of identifying and addressing risks that arise from human behavior within an organization. These risks can come from simple mistakes, careless habits, or even intentional insider threats that put data and systems at risk. Unlike traditional IT risk management, which focuses on technology and processes, human risk management is all about people—their decisions, awareness, and daily actions.
At its core, HRM builds resilience by strengthening employee responsibility. This means reducing human risks through security awareness training, clear policies, and leadership that encourages safe practices. By using a structured human risk management framework, businesses can turn their workforce from being the weakest link into their strongest defense.
Modern human risk management platforms, like Keepnet, go beyond basic training. They provide tools to measure human risk, deliver tailored awareness programs, and monitor how employees respond to phishing, vishing, or other social engineering attacks using Agentic AI capability. These solutions make managing human risk measurable and actionable instead of relying only on guesswork.
Human Risk Definition and Meaning
Human risk refers to the vulnerabilities that arise from people’s actions, decisions, or behaviors within an organization. Unlike system failures or purely technical risks, human risk in business is shaped by everyday choices—such as clicking on a phishing email, misconfiguring software, or accidentally sending sensitive files to the wrong recipient. These mistakes might seem small, but they can open the door to data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. That’s why having a clear human risk definition is essential for building a modern cybersecurity strategy.
In practice, defining human risk goes beyond labeling employees as the “weakest link.” It means recognizing that people play a central role in security and that risks must be managed proactively. When organizations define human risk as measurable and actionable, they can apply frameworks, policies, and human risk management solutions to reduce exposure. This people-first approach ensures that human error, negligence, or even malicious insider actions are addressed systematically, rather than treated as isolated problems.
Examples of Human Risk in Business
Understanding human risk examples is critical to showing why organizations must take this area seriously. One common example is the accidental insider threat—an employee unintentionally sharing sensitive information due to a misdirected email or weak password. Other frequent cases include falling victim to spear phishing, mishandling customer data, or ignoring security policies. Each example of human risk highlights how human behavior can bypass even the strongest technical defenses, turning small oversights into large-scale cybersecurity incidents.
Real-world human risk examples in business are easy to find. From financial firms facing compliance fines after misconfigurations to healthcare providers experiencing accidental HIPAA violations, these cases underline the tangible costs of unmanaged human risk. By studying these scenarios, organizations gain insight into how risks emerge and why they must be mitigated. More importantly, they see how adopting a structured human risk management framework helps prevent the same mistakes from happening again, turning lessons learned into stronger defenses.
To see how this works in practice, watch the YouTube video below. It explains what human risk management is, why it matters in today’s threat landscape, and how Keepnet helps organizations reduce human-related cybersecurity threats.
Why Human Risk Management Matters
Cybersecurity has advanced dramatically, but the most persistent weakness is still human behavior. The Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report showed that over 60% of incidents were triggered by human risk, not technical flaws. Forrester predicts that nine out of ten breaches in 2024–2025 will still involve the “human factor.” This is why organizations now look beyond firewalls and adopt human risk management solutions that quantify behavior, reduce mistakes, and improve decision-making.
One way businesses are approaching this shift is through human risk quantification tools. Instead of guessing, they use data-driven approaches such as the “elevate security human risk score formula.” This framework translates employee actions into measurable risk scores, providing leaders with 300x more visibility into human risk than traditional awareness programs. With such metrics, CISOs can finally answer the board’s toughest questions: Where is our greatest human risk exposure? Which departments need immediate attention? Are our training investments reducing actual risk?
The cost of ignoring cyber security human risk is painfully clear. In 2025, Lloyds Banking Group suffered an accidental insider threat when staff mistakenly sent a 300-page document with sensitive investment data to the wrong customer. (Source) Regulators, compensation, and reputational damage followed—all from a single error. Similar cases show that data breach compensation case studies almost always trace back to preventable human actions. These are not isolated incidents; they represent a systemic risk that organizations must manage with structured frameworks.
This is why leading companies are adopting the best human risk management software and building AI-powered human risk management programs. These modern platforms combine 365 phishing simulations, advanced delivery phishing simulation tools, behavioral risk management insights, and continuous adaptive risk and trust assessment to reduce the chance of human error. In short, 2025 is the year when true security depends not just on technology, but on how effectively organizations can measure, monitor, and improve human behavior. HRM provides the blueprint: define the risk, quantify it, intervene with tailored training, and prove results with data. Ignore it, and your business may become the next headline breach.
Why Managing Human Risk in Cybersecurity Matters
Managing human risk in cybersecurity is just as critical as deploying firewalls, intrusion detection systems, or encryption. While technology is essential, the majority of breaches still involve cyber security human risk—mistakes, negligence, or intentional actions taken by employees. A misdirected email, a weak password, or a click on a malicious link can expose an entire network. Recognizing people as both a strength and a vulnerability is the first step toward building a security strategy that addresses reality, not just technology.
Cybercriminals know that employees are the easiest entry point. Instead of breaking into complex systems, they target human psychology with phishing emails, vishing calls, and social engineering tactics. This is why human-centric risk management strategies have become vital. By focusing on awareness, behavior, and decision-making, businesses can reduce the chance that employees will fall for sophisticated scams designed to bypass technical defenses.
Managing human risk in cybersecurity also has compliance implications. Modern regulations such as ISO/IEC 42001 and frameworks like DORA require organizations to demonstrate they are addressing human vulnerabilities, not just ticking boxes with annual training. Boards and regulators increasingly expect outcome-driven metrics, such as lower phishing click rates or improved human risk scores, to prove that organizations are taking cyber security human risk seriously.
The financial impact of ignoring human risk is undeniable. Studies and real-world incidents show that human risk examples—like accidental insider threats or data leaks—can cost millions in fines, compensation, and reputational damage. Proactively managing these risks through structured frameworks, human risk management platforms, and quantification tools helps reduce exposure and delivers measurable return on investment.
Ultimately, the future of cybersecurity depends on people. Effective human-centric risk management strategies turn employees from the “weakest link” into the first line of defense. By combining adaptive training, clear accountability, and tools such as the Elevate Security human risk score formula or Keepnet's agentic human risk quantification tools, organizations can measure, monitor, and reduce risk in real time. This human-focused approach ensures resilience in 2025 and beyond, where the difference between a secure business and a breached one often comes down to human decisions.
5 Importance of Human Risk Management
Risk management has always been part of business strategy, but in today’s digital-first world, its importance is magnified. The rise of cyber security human risk, evolving compliance demands, and costly accidental insider threats mean that organizations can no longer treat risk management as a box-ticking exercise. Instead, they need structured frameworks, measurable outcomes, and tools like the Elevate Security human risk score formula to guide decisions. Here are five reasons why risk management is mission-critical in 2025:
1. Protects Against Human Error
Even a single accidental HIPAA violation or employee mistake can expose sensitive data. Risk management ensures safeguards are in place to minimize these errors before they escalate.
2. Ensures Compliance
Frameworks like ISO/IEC 42001 and DORA require measurable controls for cyber security human risk. Strong risk management practices prove that organizations meet regulatory expectations.
3. Reduces Financial Losses
From data breach compensation case studies to regulatory fines, the financial impact of unmanaged human risk is enormous. Proactive management saves both money and brand reputation.
4. Provides Actionable Insights
Using tools such as the Elevate Security human risk score formula, leaders gain 300x more visibility into human risk and can act with data-driven precision.
5. Builds Trust with Stakeholders
Boards and investors demand results, not checklists. The best human risk management solutions deliver measurable improvements, proving that organizations are resilient against modern threats.

By implementing Human Risk Management, organizations can address these risks proactively. It’s not just about avoiding mistakes but also about fostering a culture of security awareness and accountability. This approach helps protect the company’s data, reputation, and bottom line, while also empowering employees to become part of the solution rather than the problem.
"Human Risk Management isn’t just about fixing mistakes; it’s about understanding that your greatest cybersecurity vulnerability and your greatest strength share the same name—humans. Train them well, or brace yourself for some unexpected surprises!"
What are Key Differences Between Human Risk Management and Traditional Risk Management
Human Risk Management Solution and traditional risk management differ in their focus and approach to mitigating risks within organizations. These differences highlight why the Human Risk Management Platform is essential in today’s evolving risk landscape, where human behavior can be just as critical as technology in maintaining security:
Aspect | Human Risk Management (HRM) | Traditional Risk Management | Key Takeaway |
---|---|---|---|
Primary Focus | Behavioral and human-driven risks | Operational risks like system outages or equipment failures | HRM emphasizes the human element, while traditional approaches focus on tangible operational risks. |
Risk Type | Intangible risks caused by human decisions and behaviors | Tangible risks such as technical failures and external attacks | HRM addresses risks that are harder to measure but critical to organizational security. |
Psychological Factors | Considers stress, fatigue, and other psychological triggers | Rarely incorporates psychological aspects into planning | HRM integrates mental health support and employee well-being to reduce errors. |
Cultural Factors | Focuses on fostering a culture of accountability and awareness | Limited emphasis on organizational culture | A strong security culture is integral to HRM’s effectiveness. |
Tools and Strategies | Phishing simulators, security behavior metrics, and awareness programs | Firewalls, backup systems, and business continuity plans | HRM relies on tools that measure and improve human behavior, complementing traditional solutions. |
Outcome | Proactive defense through educated and engaged employees | Reactive measures to mitigate operational failures | HRM prepares employees to act as a frontline defense, bridging the gap between awareness and action. |
Table 1: Human Risk Management vs Traditional Risk Management
Also, check our blog to learn the core differences between Human Risk Management and security awareness training programs.
What is the Five-Step HRM Framework?
The Five-Step Human Risk Management (HRM) framework is a practitioner-grade blueprint designed to help organizations identify, measure, and reduce cyber security human risk. Unlike traditional risk management, which focuses only on systems or technical flaws, this model looks closely at employee behaviors that can trigger incidents—whether through accidental insider threats, misconfigurations, or falling for phishing attempts. By using structured steps, security teams gain 300x more visibility into human risk, turning vague assumptions into actionable data.
What makes this framework powerful is its iterative design. Each stage builds on the last—assessing the environment, applying the best human risk management solutions, and refining with AI-powered human risk management platforms that include 365 phishing simulations and behavior-based analytics. Automation is key, but the human context must never be lost. In 2025, the organizations that succeed will be those that combine technology with a clear HRM framework, proving compliance, reducing financial risk, and building trust with boards and regulators.
1. Baseline & Quantify
Before you can fix risk, you must see it. Start with a phishing baseline and a 30-day behaviour sweep: pull login-failure logs, email-report-rates and policy-violation tickets into a single human-risk dashboard. Weight every signal for likelihood and impact so the output is a true risk score, not a vanity metric. Frameworks such as CyBehave’s 2025 good-practice guide recommend pairing hard indicators (click-through, MFA fatigue responses) with culture signals (psychological-safety scores) for a 360° view (Source).
2. Prioritise & Segment
Raw scores mean nothing until you translate them into personas. Use clustering to group users by role, threat exposure and score volatility—e.g., “High-Privilege Frequent Travellers” or “First-Line Support with Legacy Access.” This segmentation lets you triage limited resources: apply zero-trust controls to top-risk cohorts while offering lighter-touch reinforcement to low-risk teams. Our research shows teams that segment see up to a 38% phishing risk reduction.
3. Intervene
Now deliver precision nudges instead of carpet-bomb training. Examples:
- Just-in-time prompts that pop when a user hovers over an unknown QR code.
- Micro-learning bursts (≤ 3 min) auto-assigned after a risky click.
- Positive reinforcement badges when employees report suspected phish within 60 seconds.
Because the content is tied to each persona’s risk triggers, engagement rates soar and behaviour change sticks longer than annual slideshow training.
4. Automate & Orchestrate
Wire the HRM platform into your SOAR / SIEM stack so incidents loop back into the human-risk scorecard. Example flow: reported email → SOAR triage → confirmed threat → platform auto-enrols that user’s cohort in a follow-up drill, while IAM enforces an adaptive control (step-up MFA, session revocation). This closed loop trims mean incident-response time by 80% according to oR case studies. Check details on our customer success story how they were able to increase phishing reporting up to 94%.
5. Measure & Report
Finally, trade “completion rates” for outcome-driven metrics:
Metric | Why it matters |
---|---|
Risk-Score Delta | Shows whether interventions reduce real exposure, not just clicks. |
Time-to-Contain | Links HRM to IR efficiency—key for board ROI discussions. |
Cultural Shift Index | Combines survey sentiment with observed behaviour for a leading indicator. |
Table 2: Measure and Report
Roll these into a monthly governance deck and a live exec dashboard so leadership sees trend lines, not snapshots. Boards—and Google’s algorithms—reward pages that surface actionable, data-rich insights over generic advice.
Pro tip: Treat the framework as a spiral, not a ladder. Every new threat campaign feeds fresh telemetry into Step 1, and the cycle accelerates. Teams that repeat the loop quarterly typically halve their aggregate human-risk score within the first 12 months.
Why Security Awareness Evolved to Human-Risk Management
Traditional security awareness programs have often centered around compliance-driven training, emphasizing checklists and regulations rather than fostering genuine behavioral change. However, as sophisticated threats like phishing, ransomware, and social engineering continue to evolve, organizations are shifting towards human-centric approaches that prioritize the human element of cybersecurity.
Employees are no longer passive recipients of training—they are frontline defenders, playing an active role in an organization’s security posture. By focusing on building awareness and embedding positive security behaviors into daily workflows, organizations can turn employees into a resilient line of defense against ever-changing cyber threats. This approach often involves working with an employer of record in Eastern Europe and other locations to ensure that remote employees follow cybersecurity guidelines accordingly.
Gartner has recognized this shift by introducing the Security Behavior and Culture (SBC) Program, which emphasizes the need to measure and influence employee behavior as a core part of security. Programs like these rely on Security Behavior and Culture Metrics to not only elevate awareness but also translate it into actionable behavior changes. For more details on these metrics and how they drive a stronger security culture, visit our blog: Security Behavior and Culture Metrics.
Understanding the distinction between Human Risk Management and traditional Security Awareness Programs is another critical step in adopting a human-centric approach. Human Risk Management Platform focuses on quantifying and mitigating employee-related risks, while security awareness builds foundational knowledge. To learn more about how these two approaches complement each other, explore our blog: Differences Between Human Risk Management & Security Awareness.
By combining these strategies, organizations can create a proactive defense that integrates employees as active participants in mitigating risk.
Why Outcome-Driven Metrics is Significant for HRM?
Outcome-driven metrics are essential for measuring the effectiveness of Human Risk Management (HRM) strategies. They go beyond compliance, focusing on real-world outcomes such as behavioral changes, cultural shifts, and strategic alignment with organizational goals. These metrics enable organizations to track progress, identify vulnerabilities, and demonstrate the impact of their security initiatives.
Metric Category | Description |
---|---|
Behavior Impact Metrics | Evaluate the effectiveness of security education programs in influencing employee behaviors. |
Cultural Impact Metrics | Assess changes in organizational attitudes, beliefs, and norms toward cybersecurity. |
Strategic Alignment Metrics | Measure how well security education aligns with and supports the organization’s key objectives and mission, particularly for leadership interests. |
Compliance Metrics | Track the scope and engagement of the awareness program, such as participant numbers and training completion, valuable for compliance and audits. |
Ambassador Program Metrics | Monitor the performance and influence of security ambassador programs within the organization. |
Table 3: Outcome-Driven Metrics
By integrating outcome-driven metrics, organizations can create a compelling narrative of progress and align security initiatives with business objectives. For a deeper dive into these metrics and how they elevate security behavior and culture, visit our blog on Security Behavior and Culture Metrics.
Check out our blog to get further information on outcome-driven metrics.
How HRM Unifies Fragmented Solutions
Fragmented security solutions often lead to unnecessary complexity, leaving gaps in protection and slowing response times.
Instead of juggling multiple tools for phishing simulations, security awareness training, and incident response, organizations can benefit greatly from a platform like Keepnet’s Human Risk Management solution.
By integrating diverse tools into one seamless system, Keepnet simplifies the process of managing security threats, reducing reliance on disconnected products.
This centralized approach not only eliminates redundancies but also allows for real-time analysis and reporting, ensuring your security team can identify and address vulnerabilities quickly.
With automation and built-in integrations, the platform can save up to 95% of the time spent on repetitive tasks, giving teams more capacity to focus on strategic initiatives.
An xHRM platform doesn’t just enhance operational efficiency—it also fosters smarter decision-making by providing a comprehensive view of human behavior and security behaviors.
For example, Keepnet’s Human Risk Management Platform consolidates data from phishing simulations like quishing and smishing alongside awareness training outcomes, creating an actionable human risk score for each employee. This score enables security teams to prioritize their efforts and reduce the risks of human error in real-world scenarios.
By unifying these capabilities under one system, organizations can streamline their approach to risk management, strengthen collaboration across departments, and ensure that their defenses are always one step ahead of cybercriminals.
"Cybersecurity gets messy when you’re juggling 10 different tools that don’t talk to each other. A unified Human Risk Management platform is like the Swiss Army knife of security—it simplifies everything, saves you time, and makes sure no one clicks on that ‘free vacation’ phishing email. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about tools; it’s about making your team the MVPs of cyber defense."
What are the Core Principles of Human Risk Management?
An effective human risk management framework is more than training or compliance checklists—it’s about strategically addressing the cybersecurity human risks that stem from employee actions and decisions. From human risk examples such as phishing clicks and misconfigurations to insider threats and miscommunication, the goal is to proactively identify vulnerabilities, reduce exposure, and build resilience. Below are seven essential principles that organizations must adopt to strengthen defenses and unlock the value of the best human risk management solutions.
1. Deep Understanding of Human Behavior
Managing human risk starts with understanding why employees make mistakes. This means examining cognitive biases (like overconfidence or optimism bias), stress, fatigue, and even groupthink. By applying human risk quantification tools and behavioral analytics, organizations can predict potential vulnerabilities and use the security human risk score formula to measure where interventions are most needed.
2. Cultivate a Proactive Risk-Aware Culture
A human-centric risk management strategy depends on culture. Employees should feel safe to report threats, errors, or suspicious activity without fear of punishment. When teams openly discuss risks, they build accountability and vigilance. In 2025, the organizations winning at managing human risk in cybersecurity are those embedding awareness into daily operations, not just annual training.
3. Ensure Transparent and Effective Communication
Miscommunication is one of the most overlooked human risk examples in business. Clear, transparent communication channels ensure everyone understands policies, responsibilities, and expectations. Regular updates, accessible resources, and real-time feedback loops reduce errors, strengthen trust, and keep behavior aligned with organizational security goals.
4. Clearly Defined Roles, Accountability, and Responsibility
Without clarity, accountability weakens. A modern human risk management platform defines roles at every level—from executives to frontline staff—so employees know exactly what is expected in terms of cybersecurity practices, incident response, and reporting. Dashboards such as Keepnet security human risk scoring dashboards help visualize accountability across departments.
5. Continuous, Adaptive Learning and Training
Static training doesn’t work against dynamic threats. Modern HRM requires continuous, adaptive training, including phishing simulations, micro-learning, and interactive workshops. The top features of human risk management platforms include adaptive learning powered by AI, gamification programs, and 365 phishing simulation campaigns that reflect real-world attack vectors like vishing, spear phishing, and smishing.
6. Ethical Leadership and Role Modeling
The success of any human risk management solution depends on leadership. Ethical leaders model secure behaviors, communicate transparently, and embody organizational values. When leaders set the tone, employees are more likely to engage, take ownership, and actively reduce human risk in business.
7. Strategic Balance Between Technology and Human Insight
Technology—such as AI-powered human risk management, automated monitoring, and analytics—is essential for visibility, but it cannot replace human judgment. Effective HRM requires a balance: let automation scale monitoring, but ensure experts interpret data in context. This strategic balance ensures that the human risk management framework remains accurate, adaptive, and grounded in real-world decision-making.
By adopting these seven principles, organizations can transform their workforce from potential vulnerabilities into frontline defenders. With the right mix of culture, leadership, and the best human risk management tools in cybersecurity 2025, businesses can lower their cyber risk score, meet compliance demands, and build a resilient, human-centered defense.

What are the Benefits of Human Risk Management?
Deploying a Human Risk Management (HRM) program is no longer a “nice-to-have” add-on to technical controls—it is the multiplier that lets every other layer of the stack deliver full value. Here’s what companies gain when they treat humans as a measurable, improvable security control rather than an unpredictable variable.
Benefit | What It Delivers | Why It Pays Off |
---|---|---|
Sharp drop in breach probability | Targeted training, phishing baselines and real-time nudges cut click-through and credential-reuse rates across high-risk cohorts. | With 68 % of breaches starting with a non-malicious action and some studies showing 95 % of incidents involve human error, closing this gap slashes the largest single attack vector. |
Lower breach cost & downtime | Faster detection and containment through SOAR feedback loops tied to human-risk scores. | The average breach reached USD 4.88 million in 2024; organisations that automate human-centric response shaved USD 2.2 million off that bill. |
Regulatory & audit readiness | Outcome-driven metrics map directly to ISO/IEC 42001, DORA and PCI-DSS “human-in-the-loop” clauses, creating a defensible audit trail. | Demonstrating quantifiable risk-score deltas beats spreadsheet check-boxes when inspectors or regulators knock. |
Board-level risk transparency | Unified dashboards translate behaviour analytics into dollar-value exposure and “time-to-contain” KPIs. | Clear, financial language helps CISOs secure budget and keeps the C-suite focused on proactive investments rather than post-breach firefighting. |
Stronger security culture | Surveys, ambassador programs and positive-reinforcement gamification move scores on the Cultural Shift Index. | Companies with mature security cultures see up to 52 % fewer repeat offenders and report measurably higher employee satisfaction. |
Optimised tool spend | HRM pinpoints where technical controls are underused or mis-configured by humans, letting teams consolidate redundant tools. | Customers deploying a unified HRM stack typically recoup 15–20 % of annual security-software spend within 12 months through rationalisation and licence right-sizing. |
Competitive & customer trust edge | Publicly verifiable metrics—risk-score trends, certification badges—signal a proactive stance to partners and clients. | In a buying cycle where an adverse security headline can kill a deal overnight, HRM becomes part of your brand promise. |
Table 4: Benefits of Human Risk Management
Bottom line: HRM is the rare initiative that checks every executive box—revenue protection, cost control, regulatory assurance and cultural resilience—while giving security teams the granular telemetry they need to out-maneuver threat actors who are betting on the next human mistake.
What is Importance of Human Psychology and Nudge Theory in HRM?
Effectively managing human risk requires a deep understanding of human psychology and leveraging nudge theory to influence behavior. Both disciplines offer insights into how individuals make security decisions and how organizations can guide them toward safer practices.
Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior in Security
Human psychology is central to addressing the vulnerabilities introduced by human behavior. As highlighted in Keepnet’s blog on behavioral science, cognitive biases significantly influence security decisions:
- Cognitive Biases: People often rely on mental shortcuts when making decisions, which can lead to security lapses. The optimism bias causes individuals to underestimate their vulnerability to cyber-attacks. The availability heuristic leads to a focus on familiar risks, ignoring less visible but equally critical threats.
- Emotional Factors: Stress, fatigue, and pressure can impair judgment, causing individuals to make hasty, risky decisions in high-pressure scenarios.
- Motivation and Incentives: Security behaviors improve when aligned with personal goals and organizational incentives, encouraging employees to follow best practices.
- Risk Perception: Individual risk assessments vary based on experiences, culture, and values, requiring tailored approaches to foster vigilance.
- Social Influence: Peer behaviors and organizational culture play a significant role. Leaders and colleagues who model strong security practices inspire similar actions among team members.
Nudge Theory: Subtle Influences for Safer Decisions
As explained in Keepnet’s guide on nudge theory, nudging involves creating subtle influences that encourage better security decisions without restricting choice. Key strategies include:
- Default Settings: Secure defaults, like mandatory strong passwords, encourage compliance without requiring active decisions.
- Framing: Presenting risks in terms of potential losses—such as the cost of a breach—motivates protective actions more effectively than abstract warnings.
- Social Proof: Highlighting high compliance rates within teams fosters positive peer influence and normalizes secure behaviors.
- Choice Architecture: Designing environments that promote security, such as placing reminders strategically or simplifying procedures, reduces resistance to safer actions.
- Feedback Loops: Immediate feedback, such as alerts for risky behavior or recognition for good practices, reinforces positive habits and corrects mistakes quickly.
Keepnet Extended Human Risk Management Platform
The Keepnet Extended Human Risk Management Platform is a unified solution designed to simplify managing risks associated with human behavior in organizations. By integrating security awareness training, phishing simulations, and advanced incident response tools into a single platform, Keepnet empowers businesses to address social engineering attacks, improve employee awareness, and strengthen overall security defenses.
Advanced Analytics for Behavioral Impact
Keepnet empowers you with analytics and reporting tools that go beyond engagement metrics. These tools measure behavioral changes and assess their direct impact on reducing organizational risks.
Actionable Data Insights
Keepnet’s metrics provide in-depth analysis of cybersecurity patterns, root causes, and high-risk areas. This ensures that Security Behavior and Culture Program (SBCP) efforts are strategically targeted where they are needed most.
Aligning Goals with Protection Level Agreements (PLAs)
With Keepnet’s support, you can create and monitor PLAs, aligning security objectives with executive expectations. These frameworks enable them to demonstrate how initiatives mitigate employee-driven risks and drive measurable business outcomes.
Data-Driven Storytelling
Keepnet’s integrated platform equips managers with tools to craft compelling, business-focused narratives. By leveraging data, they can illustrate benefits such as reduced operational costs, enhanced productivity, and revenue protection to gain stakeholder buy-in.
Human Risk Score
HRM platforms look at how employees act. They create a human risk score by checking responses to fake attacks. These include phishing tests and other activities that copy real cyber threats. This score provides a clear, actionable benchmark for identifying employees who may need additional training.
For example, the Keepnet Human Risk Management Platform offers advanced features to monitor, test, and enhance employee awareness. This enables the security team to focus on improving the organization’s overall resilience to threats. By taking proactive measures, organizations can turn weaknesses into opportunities for building stronger, more secure teams.

Customized Security Culture Programs
Keepnet enables organizations to design tailored training and interventions, providing employees with personalized support to nurture lasting security-conscious behaviors and strengthen the organization's overall risk posture.

Simplify Human Risk Management
Keepnet’s platform consolidates various tools for combating business email compromise (BEC), spear-phishing, ransomware, and other social engineering threats. This streamlined approach reduces complexity, saving organizations up to 95% of the time compared to using fragmented tools.
Comprehensive Phishing Simulations
The Keepnet Human Risk Management platform offers diverse phishing simulation products to train employees across multiple attack vectors:
- Email Phishing Simulation: Mimics real-world phishing attacks to educate employees on spotting malicious emails.
- Voice Phishing (Vishing) Simulation: Tests employees’ ability to handle fraudulent calls.
- SMS Phishing (Smishing) Simulation: Sends simulated malicious text messages to evaluate employee responses.
- MFA Phishing Simulation: Assesses how employees react to simulated multi-factor authentication phishing attempts.
- QR Code Phishing (Quishing) Simulation: Trains users to recognize and avoid malicious QR codes.
- Callback Voice Phishing Simulation: Tests employee responses to callback phishing scenarios.
Security Awareness Training
Keepnet provides one of the largest security awareness training libraries, with content from over 12 leading vendors. It includes:
- Interactive games, videos, and detailed courses in multiple languages.
- Gamified leaderboards to boost employee engagement.
- Training delivery via SMS for employees without regular email access.
- Auto-pilot training programs customized to an organization’s needs.
Advanced Incident Response and Forensics
Keepnet’s AI-driven incident response tools allow organizations to detect, analyze, and mitigate email threats in minutes. Key features include:
- Phishing Reporter Add-In for employees to flag suspicious emails directly from their inbox.
- Seamless integrations with Office 365, Google Workspace, and third-party tools for automated investigations.
- Access to over 20+ analysis engines like Sandboxes and threat intelligence feeds for deeper insights.
Why Choose Keepnet Human Risk Management?
According to Gartner, 80% of CISOs prefer unified security platforms to streamline operations. With its user-friendly interface, automated workflows, and comprehensive capabilities, Keepnet is the go-to solution for managing human risks effectively.
Ready to strengthen your defenses? Explore the platform today and take your human risk management strategy to the next level!
Editor's Note: This article was updated on Sep 2, 2025.