What Is the Phishing Simulation Fail Rate?

When you hear about phishing simulation fail rates, it might sound like just another security metric. But behind that percentage lies a crucial measure of your organization’s frontline defense: your employees. Phishing simulation fail rates show how many people fall for a simulated phishing email, giving you a clear view of your team’s readiness—or lack thereof—to recognize and avoid phishing attacks.

Failing a phishing simulation isn’t just about clicking a link or downloading an attachment; it’s a real-world measure of how well employees respond to deception tactics used by attackers.

This blog post explores why phishing simulation fail rates are so important, the factors that can affect them, and how to effectively reduce your organization’s fail rate for a stronger security stance.

What Does "Phishing Simulation Fail Rate" Really Mean?

The phishing simulation fail rate measures how many employees fall for a simulated phishing attack. Think of it as a phishing “practice test”—employees receive emails designed to mimic real phishing attempts, and the goal is to see who spots the warning signs versus who falls for the trap.

Actions like clicking a link, downloading an attachment, or entering credentials all contribute to the fail rate and provide valuable insights into employee awareness and training effectiveness.

• High fail rate: Indicates a high risk, showing that many employees might fall for a real phishing attempt.
• Low fail rate: Suggests that employees are well-trained and better equipped to recognize and avoid phishing scams.

Why Tracking Phishing Simulation Fail Rates Is Essential

It’s one thing to teach employees about phishing; it’s another to understand how prepared they actually are. Tracking phishing simulation fail rates helps organizations in several ways:

• Assess Real-World Readiness: See clearly how prepared employees are to recognize and avoid phishing emails.
• Spot Weaknesses: Identify departments or individuals who may be more at risk of falling for phishing attacks.
• Track Training Effectiveness: Check how well security awareness training is working and find areas that need improvement.
• Build Stronger Defenses: Ensure employees have the practical skills to recognize phishing tactics, helping strengthen the organization’s protection against attacks.

In short, fail rates give you a clear picture of your organization’s security readiness, revealing both the successes and the gaps in your employee training programs.

Key Factors Influencing Phishing Simulation Fail Rates

Phishing simulation fail rates vary based on several factors. By recognizing these elements, you can design security awareness training that resonates more effectively.

1. Frequency of Simulations

Regular simulations help employees stay alert to phishing risks. For instance, companies that run monthly simulations tend to see better results over time than those running them annually. Consistency helps build a habit of scrutiny, where employees are more likely to pause and assess emails before interacting.

2. Complexity of Phishing Attempts

Fail rates often depend on how realistic the phishing emails appear. Basic, easy-to-spot attempts usually lead to lower fail rates, while sophisticated simulations that mimic real-world phishing attempts often have higher fail rates. Testing against advanced phishing styles like spear phishing or quishing (QR code phishing) can help ensure your employees are prepared for the full spectrum of phishing threats.

Check out our article on 10 essential tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks to learn more about the tactics that make these phishing emails so convincing.

3. Training Quality and Content

The quality of cybersecurity awareness training is essential in reducing phishing simulation fail rates. Well-rounded programs, such as Keepnet’s Security Awareness Training, equip employees with both the knowledge and practical skills needed to recognize phishing attempts. Effective training goes beyond basics, helping employees spot common tactics and stay aware of emerging threats.

4. Engagement and Follow-up

Guidance and feedback after phishing simulations are crucial for effective learning. Reviewing each employee’s actions—why they clicked on a phishing email or avoided it—creates a real-time learning opportunity that reinforces key lessons. Without this follow-up, employees may be unclear on what they missed, leading to repeated mistakes in the future.

5. Departmental and Role-Specific Risks

Employees in certain roles—particularly those handling sensitive or financial data—are often targeted by tailored phishing attempts. Identifying which departments or roles show higher fail rates can help in delivering targeted training, ensuring those employees are better equipped to handle risks they’re more likely to encounter.

For further insights, check out our article on spear phishing prevention.

Practical Strategies to Lower Phishing Simulation Fail Rates

Reducing phishing simulation fail rates requires consistent, multi-layered efforts. Here are some practical strategies:

• Run Regular Phishing Simulations: Frequent simulations keep employees alert and aware of phishing tactics. Use a mix of phishing types, such as vishing (voice phishing) and smishing (SMS phishing), to ensure employees practice spotting diverse threats. Keepnet’s Phishing Simulator offers customized tests that help reinforce vigilance and assess readiness.
• Provide Training on Emerging Threats: Update training to reflect the latest phishing methods, like QR code phishing (or “quishing”), which has become more common as attackers adapt to mobile-first habits. This keeps employees prepared for modern phishing tactics.
• Emphasize Immediate Feedback: Offering feedback immediately after a failed simulation helps employees understand what they missed, turning each error into a learning moment. Keepnet’s Human Risk Management Platform provides real-time feedback and tracks employee progress to deliver targeted support where it’s needed most.
• Target Training by Department: Focused training for departments like finance, HR, and executive roles—often targeted with more sophisticated phishing attempts—helps ensure employees in high-risk roles are well-prepared.
• Leverage Data-Driven Insights: Regularly analyze simulation results to refine your training program. Keepnet’s tools allow you to monitor phishing fail rates and tailor training, ensuring it remains relevant to specific risks and real-world threats your organization faces.

What’s a Good Target for Phishing Simulation Fail Rates?

There’s no single “ideal” phishing simulation fail rate, but many organizations aim to lower this rate steadily over time. A strong benchmark is getting the fail rate down to below 5%, with zero as the ultimate goal.

Reducing fail rates often takes time. Initial rates may be high, especially if phishing simulations are new to your organization. However, with regular training and frequent simulations, these rates will gradually decrease as employees become more skilled at recognizing phishing attempts.

Why Choose Keepnet to Lower Phishing Simulation Fail Rates?

Bringing down phishing simulation fail rates requires more than just training—it demands a strategic approach. Keepnet offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help organizations manage and reduce phishing risks effectively.

From the Phishing Simulator to the Awareness Educator, Keepnet provides everything you need to build cybersecurity awareness across your team. With resources to tackle a wide variety of phishing types, including vishing, smishing, and quishing, Keepnet empowers employees to recognize and respond to phishing attempts with confidence.

Through continuous learning, targeted training, and data-driven insights, you can significantly reduce your organization’s phishing simulation fail rate and strengthen your team’s resilience against attacks. Book a demo today to see how Keepnet can support your organization’s security goals.