What is Phishing Awareness Training and Why It’s Significant

Did you know that 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent daily, and over 36% of data breaches involve phishing? In 2024 alone, phishing attacks cost businesses a staggering $2.4 billion in damages, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). High-profile incidents like the breach of Twilio in 2022—where attackers stole employee credentials using sophisticated phishing tactics—serve as stark reminders of the growing threat.

Phishing awareness training is an educational program designed to combat these risks by teaching employees how to recognize and respond to phishing attempts. Cybercriminals often use fraudulent emails, messages, or even voice calls to manipulate individuals into revealing sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, or corporate data. Without proper training, a single mistake can lead to massive financial, operational, and reputational damage.

In this blog, we’ll dive into:

• How phishing awareness training works and why it’s essential.
• Types of phishing attacks employees should learn to identify.
• Best practices for implementing an effective phishing awareness training program.
• How to get free phishing awareness training.

Definition of Phishing Awareness Training

Phishing awareness training is all about teaching employees how to spot and handle phishing attacks before they can cause harm. Phishing is when cybercriminals send fake emails, messages, or links designed to trick people into sharing sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, or company data.

• This training helps employees: Recognize Suspicious Emails: Learn to spot red flags like urgent requests, unfamiliar senders, or sketchy links.
• Understand Different Types of Attacks: Get familiar with tactics like spear phishing (targeted scams), smishing (text scams), vishing (phone scams), and even QR code phishing.
• Take Action: Know exactly what to do if something looks off—like reporting phishing emails to IT or verifying requests through secure channels.

Phishing awareness training gives your team the tools they need to outsmart scammers and keep your organization safe. It’s a simple, proactive step to avoid the headaches of a data breach or cyberattack.

The Alarming Growth of Phishing

Phishing attacks continue to dominate as one of the most dangerous cyber threats, with cybercriminals constantly refining their tactics to outsmart defenses. Recent studies reveal that 90% of data breaches involve some form of phishing, and the average cost of a phishing incident has surged to $4.91 million per attack, according to IBM’s 2023 Data Breach Report.

High-profile incidents, such as a UK healthcare provider falling victim to phishing emails, resulting in the exposure of thousands of sensitive patient records, highlight how phishing doesn’t just cause financial loss but also tarnishes trust and reputation.

With phishing attacks becoming more targeted and sophisticated—leveraging techniques like deepfake technology and AI-generated emails—it’s clear that every organization, regardless of size, is a potential target. Investing in robust phishing awareness training is critical to staying ahead of these evolving threats.

Why Phishing Awareness Training is Important

Given the evolving sophistication of phishing attempts—ranging from generic scams to highly targeted spear phishing—technology alone is insufficient for protection. Employees often serve as the last line of defense, and phishing awareness training is vital to empower them.

How Phishing Awareness Training Works

Phishing awareness training typically involves interactive learning tools, simulated phishing exercises, and ongoing assessments to help employees identify and report phishing attempts.

Key Components of a Phishing Awareness Program

• Education on Phishing Tactics: Employees are taught about the different types of phishing, including email phishing, spear phishing, vishing (voice phishing), smishing (SMS phishing), and QR code phishing.

• Simulated Phishing Attacks: Organizations conduct fake phishing campaigns to test employees’ awareness. For example, a mock email requesting login credentials can reveal how many employees fall for the scam.

• Reporting Mechanisms: Employees are trained to report suspicious emails using tools integrated with email systems, enabling swift response and mitigation.

• Feedback and Reinforcement: When employees interact with a simulated phishing email, they receive instant feedback explaining what went wrong and how to spot similar attacks in the future.

Types of Phishing to Address

Phishing attacks come in many forms, and awareness training should address the following:

Mass Phishing

Generic emails targeting a broad audience, often with poor grammar and a sense of urgency.

Spear Phishing

Personalized attacks targeting specific individuals, such as finance or HR employees, using details like job roles or recent activities.

Whaling

High-profile attacks aimed at senior executives to access critical company data.

Smishing and Vishing

Fraudulent text messages or voice calls requesting sensitive information.

Quishing (QR Code Phishing)

Fake QR codes leading users to malicious websites or downloads.

Call Back Phishing (TOAD)

Scammers trick you into calling a fake support or customer service number, where they try to steal sensitive information or install malware.

Benefits of Phishing Awareness Training

Phishing awareness training helps employees identify and respond to phishing attempts, reducing security risks and fostering a proactive security culture. It enhances compliance, minimizes financial and reputational damage, and tracks improvement through measurable analytics.

1. Reduced Human Error

Human error is the root cause of 88% of data breaches, according to the 2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report. Training helps employees make informed decisions and avoid risky actions.

2. Enhanced Reporting

Trained employees are more likely to report phishing attempts, allowing IT teams to investigate and update security protocols.

3. Regulatory Compliance

Many industries mandate security awareness training for compliance with standards like GDPR, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001.

4. Cost Savings

Preventing even a single phishing-related breach can save millions in downtime, recovery costs, and reputational damage.

Best Practices for Implementing Phishing Awareness Training

Use Realistic Phishing Simulations

Ensure phishing simulations mimic real-world scenarios, such as fake emails from “IT Support” requesting password updates.

Tailor Training to Roles

Customize training materials based on roles, such as providing advanced training for IT staff and focusing on financial scams for accounting teams.

Leverage Gamification

Gamify the training experience with quizzes and leaderboards to make learning engaging and memorable.

Track Metrics

Use data from phishing simulations to identify trends, such as which departments are most at risk, and tailor future training accordingly.

Reinforce Regularly

Conduct ongoing training sessions and phishing simulations to ensure employees stay vigilant.

Get Free Phishing Awareness Training

Looking for an easy way to train your team on phishing threats? You’re in luck! Keepnet offers free phishing awareness training that you can preview or download directly.

With this training, you’ll get:

• Practical Lessons: Teach your employees how to recognize phishing attempts and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals.
• SCORM Format: Download the training in SCORM format and seamlessly upload it to your Learning Management System (LMS).
• Easy Accessibility: The training is designed to fit into your existing security awareness programs, making it simple to deploy and track.

Don’t miss this chance to enhance your organization’s defenses against phishing attacks. Access free phishing awareness training here.

How Keepnet Helps with Phishing Awareness Training

At Keepnet, we make phishing awareness training simple, effective, and tailored to your organization’s needs. Our solutions are designed to educate employees, test their knowledge, and reinforce cybersecurity practices in a practical and engaging way.

Here’s how Keepnet can help:

Comprehensive Security Awareness Training Modules

Keepnet’s phishing awareness training programs include interactive lessons that cover real-world phishing scenarios. From email phishing to advanced tactics like spear phishing and vishing, your employees will learn to identify and respond to threats effectively.

Phishing Simulations

Keepnet provides advanced simulated phishing campaigns to test employees in a safe, controlled environment. These simulations mimic real-world phishing attempts, helping your team identify red flags and improve their response skills without the risks of real-world attacks.

Our phishing simulations cover a wide range of attack methods, including:

• Email Phishing: Simulate deceptive emails to test employees’ ability to spot malicious links and attachments.
• Vishing (Voice Phishing): Evaluate how employees handle fraudulent phone calls designed to extract sensitive information.
• Smishing (SMS Phishing): Test how well your team can detect malicious text messages and links.
• Quishing (QR Code Phishing): Train employees to avoid scanning fake QR codes that lead to malicious websites.
• MFA Phishing: Simulate attacks that attempt to bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) protections.
• Callback Phishing: Test how employees react to fake requests for callbacks, often disguised as support or customer service queries.

SCORM-Compatible Content

All our training content can be downloaded in SCORM format, making it easy to upload to your Learning Management System (LMS). This ensures you can integrate phishing training seamlessly into your current employee development programs.

Tracking and Reporting

Our platform provides detailed analytics to help you measure the effectiveness of your training. Identify high-risk employees, track progress, and refine your awareness campaigns with data-driven insights.

Customizable Content

Every business is different, and so are phishing threats. Keepnet lets you customize training modules and phishing simulations to reflect the specific challenges your employees face.

Ongoing Support

Cyber threats evolve, and so do our training solutions. Keepnet ensures your team stays up-to-date with the latest phishing tactics through continuous updates and support.

Ready to level up your team’s cybersecurity awareness? Learn more about our Phishing Simulator and other powerful tools.

Further Reading

• Learn more about Phishing Simulator tools to test and improve employee awareness.
• Explore strategies in Cybersecurity Awareness Training.
• Discover the Keepnet Human Risk Management Platform to build a secure organizational culture.
• What is Spear Phishing and How to Prevent It
• Understanding Smishing
• 2024 QR Code Phishing Trends