Phishing Simulation
Reduce risks associated with cyber threats by implementing powerful phishing simulations as part of your cyber security training for employees solution.
What is a Phishing Simulation?
Phishing simulations are imitations of real-world phishing emails organizations can send to employees to test online behavior and assess knowledge levels regarding phishing attacks. The emails mirror cyber threats professionals may encounter in their daily activities, both during and outside work hours.
What is the Purpose of a Phishing Simulation?
Phishing simulations ensure your employees can detect and avoid cyber threats like phishing, social engineering, ransomware, and others. These interactive phishing tests can be part of any security awareness training program, facilitating the process of reducing risk, building threat resilience, and creating a security-aware organizational culture.
Why is Phishing Simulation Important?
Phishing simulations enhance any security awareness training program because they teach employees how to detect and avoid phishing attacks in a safe environment. Simulations are most effective when they leverage real-world cyber threats that users may encounter. By integrating the latest phishing threats into your security awareness training program, your entire team will always have the most up-to-date information at their disposal.
How Does a Simulated Phishing Attack Work?
Simulated phishing attacks resembling real-world scams are sent to your organization's employees using a SaaS solution, like the one offered by Terranova Security. Recipients who click on the malicious link or would’ve otherwise compromised sensitive information had the phishing email been real fail the test. Organizations monitor employee behavior during phishing simulations by tracking their actions and evaluating risk levels accordingly.
It is recommended that organizations conduct these exercises between 4 and 10 times per year to achieve an optimal click rate reduction.
Are Phishing Simulations Effective?
According to the 2022 Gone Phishing Tournament, nearly 1 in 10 users click on the phishing email link. Historically, organizations that conduct more phishing simulations yearly have an easier time lowering their click rate below this benchmark. Combined with multifaceted security awareness training, the Terranova Security phishing simulation solution helps boost critical threat-related knowledge while ensuring the experience is seamless from an administrative point of view.
How Can You Make a Phishing Simulation Easy?
Conducting a phishing simulation should not be overwhelming. Phishing simulation tools often don't offer customization, lack data, or do not easily integrate with your organization's security awareness training. The Terranova Security phishing simulation platform answers these challenges, allowing your organization to customize phishing templates, track and monitor user progress, and much more.
Co-sponsored by
Find Out How Your Click Rate Stacks Up!
Get Your Copy of The 2022 Gone Phishing Tournament Report Now
What are the Features of the Best Phishing Simulation Software?
The best phishing simulation software balances a flexible, easy-to-use interface with realistic phishing templates that target specific behaviors and emulate common cyber threats. Terranova Security offers a wide variety of phishing simulation solutions for organizations of all sizes, industries, and regions, providing security leaders with the tools they need to ensure confidential data is kept safe from hackers.
Mirrors real-world cyber threats
From fraudulent shipping confirmation messages to suspicious gift card and refund offers, Terranova Security phishing templates replicate real-life attacks that can occur at any time.
Easy-to-use interface
The Terranova Security Awareness Platform makes creating, deploying, and monitoring simulated threat scenarios simple from start to finish.
Customizable phishing scenarios
Administrators can customize any aspect of selected Terranova Security phishing scenarios, from the phishing email message to the CSS styling of the fake landing page.
Seamless training program integration
No matter what kind of security awareness program you have or are looking to implement, you’ll find templates that align with your existing training topics and cyber security goals.
Data-driven performance measurement
Make informed, data-driven decisions regarding your phishing awareness strategy with in-depth analytics and reporting capabilities.
What are 4 types of phishing?
Of the hundreds of the known phishing scams that exist, here are the four most common types:
In an email phishing attack, a sense of urgency is predominant. Scammers send out legitimate-looking emails to multiple recipients, encouraging them to modify their passwords or update personal information and account details.
Smishing
This phishing tactic closely resembles phishing emails. Hackers try to steal confidential information from individuals by sending text messages insisting they respond or take further action. If the individual refuses to do so, the criminals sometimes go as far as threatening them.
Spear Phishing
This tactic requires the use of emails to conduct an attack against a particular individual or business. The criminal acquires personal information about their target and uses it to send them a personalized and trustworthy email.
CEO Fraud
Cyber criminals send emails pretending to be a C-level executive or simply a colleague, usually requesting a fund transfer or tax information.
How can phishing be prevented?
Education on common cyber threats is the best way to prevent a phishing-related data breach. Implementing security awareness initiatives combined with phishing simulation training is the ideal recipe for strengthening data protection. Keeping the conversation going outside scheduled training periods will also help keep your employees alert and aware of all phishing-related scams they may encounter.
For more insight on ways to strengthen your phishing prevention strategy, visit the dedicated Terranova Security cyberpedia page: What is phishing
FAQs
What are some examples of phishing?
Most phishing attacks are carried out via email, often using a malicious link to trick victims into divulging data or infecting their device. However, there are different subcategories of phishing attacks, such as spear phishing, smishing (using SMS messages) and vishing (using voice messages), CEO fraud, Business Email Compromise, and many more.
For more information on different examples of phishing, visit the Cyber Security Hub and download your free content kit today!
What is a phishing email example?
One of the prominent examples of phishing emails relates to compromised credit cards. Aware of the victim's recent purchase history, the scammer sends out an email posing as the company from which the purchase was made. The email asks the victim to validate their credit card information to protect their account.
To learn all about the top examples of phishing emails and visual examples, visit our blog on the most common phishing emails
Who is at risk of being phished?
Anyone can be the target of a phishing attack. Cyber criminals use savvy phishing tactics in emails, websites, and text messages to trick people into divulging confidential information. It takes only one moment of inattention to open the door for a cyber criminal to conduct malicious activity. A resulting data breach or infection of a device, server, or network can cause your organization severe financial and reputational harm.
What is phishing email simulation?
Phishing email simulations allow employees to experience a potential phishing attack first-hand, without the consequences of potentially compromising sensitive information. Phishing email simulations are an effective way to verify all employees can detect and report similar threats.
What is a simulated phishing test?
A simulated phishing test is when an organization sends fraudulent, malicious-like emails to their employees and assesses their response behavior. It helps evaluate the likelihood of each organization member falling for a phishing attack.
Why is the phishing simulation fail rate useful to security teams?
Fail rates helps security teams assess their organization’s ability to safeguard against phishing attacks. The rate allows the teams to identify how many employees require further or more frequent security awareness training, which end users or roles are high-risk, and what actions can be taken to reduce risk.
How do phishing simulations contribute to enterprise security?
By sending phishing attacks to members of your organization, scammers intend to steal confidential personal and corporate information, infect computers, and infiltrate various networks and systems. Phishing simulations provide your employees with tools to avoid falling victims to phishing or other social engineering threats, keeping your organization's information secure in the process.
How often should you run phishing campaigns?
Terranova Security recommends running phishing campaigns for each employee 6 to 10 times per year with an interval of 40 to 60 days. This frequency prevents overwhelming users with training while keeping security awareness a priority throughout the year. However, your organization must assess its unique security awareness needs and adjust the frequency if necessary.
