NerdWallet Elevates Security Culture with Adaptive Security

Introduction

In financial services, trust is paramount. As AI-powered cyber threats escalate, organizations must protect customer data and stay ahead of adversaries who now wield powerful tools to create phishing, deepfakes, and synthetic impersonations. NerdWallet partnered with Adaptive Security to address these challenges and transform its security awareness program into a future-proof defense strategy.

Customer Background

NerdWallet provides trusted financial guidance to millions of consumers, helping them make confident money decisions. With its reputation and customer data at stake, NerdWallet recognized the need for advanced, adaptive security awareness training.

"In our industry, our reputation is everything. Protecting customer data is our top priority."

Challenge

Over a two-year period, NerdWallet’s security team observed a dramatic shift in the threat landscape:

1. AI-Driven Threats: Attackers could now clone voices from short voicemails, generate realistic phishing campaigns instantly, and even create synthetic video deepfakes of executives.
2. Vendor Limitations: Traditional training platforms lacked the agility to keep pace with new AI-driven attack methods.
3. Scalability and Integration: NerdWallet needed a solution that could seamlessly operate across its complex infrastructure while maintaining proper data boundaries.

"Sophisticated AI tools now let adversaries spin up convincing phishing emails in seconds, clone an employee's voice from a 30-second voicemail, and even generate video deepfakes of our executives."

Solution

NerdWallet selected Adaptive Security’s security awareness and phishing simulation platform, citing its agility, integrations, and AI-driven capabilities:

• Seamless Multi-Instance Sync: Adaptive enabled secure deployment across multiple instances while keeping user data properly scoped.
• Dual Environment Support: Best-in-class email insertion worked across Google Workspace and Microsoft 365—without touching MX records.
• AI Content Creator: Adaptive’s AI-powered training generator allowed NerdWallet to rapidly spin up hyper-relevant modules simulating emerging threats.
• Tailored Scenarios: Training could be continuously updated to reflect new attack vectors, ensuring lasting relevance.

"From a content perspective, the flexibility of the AI content creator is outstanding. We can spin up fresh, hyper-relevant training in minutes."

Results

By moving to Adaptive, NerdWallet realized immediate benefits:

• Agility: Ability to routinely create and update modules as new AI attack tools emerge.
• Seamless Transition: Migration was smooth, with no disruptions to operations.
• Stronger Culture: The cultural impact was immediate—employees became more vigilant and engaged with training.
• Trusted Partnership: Adaptive’s responsive support reinforced NerdWallet’s confidence in the platform.

"In short, we didn't just adopt another training platform, we upgraded our entire security culture with a true partner that's leading the way in AI, deep fake defense, and cybersecurity."

Conclusion

For NerdWallet, Adaptive Security is more than just a vendor—it is a partner in redefining security culture. By combining agile training content, seamless integrations, and unmatched deepfake defense capabilities, Adaptive enables NerdWallet to stay several steps ahead of adversaries while protecting its most valuable asset: customer trust.