One threat remains stubbornly persistent and incredibly effective despite all the technology used today in cybersecurity: phishing, which is why phishing training remains important today.

Phishing attacks slip through filters, firewalls, and endpoint security solutions all the time. And once an attack reaches an employee, all that stands between your organization and a costly, devastating mistake is a single click (or tap).

Attackers have turned to generative AI to lead their efforts, crafting hyper-realistic lures, such as deepfakes, that adapt in real time to deceive their targets. Gone are the days of a phishing attack being identified by poor grammar or shoddy web design.

Now, generative AI eliminates language barriers, enables dynamic conversations, and automates personalization at scale to pull off successful attacks.

With the rise of AI-powered attacks and their increasing sophistication, it’s clear that phishing training matters more than ever. Employees need to know what to expect and, of course, how to respond. So, while most organizations already have some form of phishing training in place, many IT and security teams are overhauling their programs to address the next generation of threats.

What is Phishing Training?

Phishing training is an educational process designed to equip employees with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize, avoid, and report phishing attacks.

As a critical component of a broader strategy, phishing training sits within security awareness training.

Think of it as building digital ‘street smarts’ for your workforce. Effective phishing training goes further than telling employees to avoid clicking suspicious links, though. Phishing training aims to educate employees on the tactics used, the telltale signs of an attack, and the action to take in response.

In today’s effective security awareness training programs, phishing training involves:

• Educational Content: Teaching the fundamentals of how phishing works, the various forms it takes across channels, and common red flags to watch for (including suspicious contact information, unusual communication or behavior, urgent requests, unexpected attachments, and abnormal or hidden links).
• Phishing Simulations: Regularly deploying safe, simulated phishing attempts to employees that mimic real-world attacks; this provides a practical, risk-free environment to put their knowledge to the test.
• Knowledge Assessments: Using quizzes or brief assessments, along with simulations, to gauge employees’ understanding of phishing concepts.
• Clear Reporting Procedures: Establishing and communicating a simple, easily accessible way for employees to report suspected phishing attacks to the IT or security team.

Organizations that run successful security awareness training programs recognize that phishing training isn’t just a matter of information transfer; it’s about sustained behavior change.

Quality phishing training aims to cultivate a vigilant mindset, transforming employees from potential targets into active participants in the organization’s security posture.

The Unseen Danger: Why Phishing Attacks Remain a Top Threat

Phishing isn’t a new threat, but it’s certainly an evolving threat.

Phishing attacks prey on human emotions and cognitive bias — urgency (“Your account will be closed!”), fear (“Unauthorized login detected”), curiosity (“You have a pending delivery”), authority (“Request from CEO”), and even helpfulness (“Update your HR information”). In every case, these psychological triggers bypass rational thought and prompt immediate actions.

Cybercriminals are innovating, too. ChatGPT and other generative AI-powered chatbots make phishing much more effective, introducing sophisticated personalization and seamless scale across every channel.

In fact, since ChatGPT launched, phishing attacks have increased by 4,151%.

Keep in mind that phishing attacks aren’t just an inconvenience. In reality, they can be catastrophic for a business. From data breaches and financial losses to reputational damage and operational disruption, all it takes is one employee slipping up to produce severe consequences.

And while technical defenses like advanced email filters, firewalls, and endpoint security solutions are vital components of cybersecurity, they’re unable to catch every threat.

Sophisticated, well-crafted phishing often bypasses control mechanisms, and this makes the human element the most critical line of defense against an attack. Relying solely on technology without phishing training for employees leaves a significant and exploitable vulnerability.

7 Benefits of Training Against Phishing Attacks

IT and security teams prioritize phishing training for employees because they recognize what’s at stake. It’s not just a procedure to go through the motions and remain compliant with regulations. Phishing training prepares employees for the threats that technical defenses just can’t stop.

Investing in robust phishing training for employees is a strategic investment with tangible returns, as explained below.

Drastically reduces successful attacks

Consistent phishing training, especially when coupled with simulations, demonstrably lowers the number of employees who click on malicious links or open dangerous attachments. Industry data frequently shows significant reductions in click rates after implementing regular training.

Creates a proactive human firewall

Instead of viewing employees as the weakest link, phishing training empowers active defenders. Employees learn to recognize threats and, above all else, know how to report phishing attacks, providing valuable, real-time threat intelligence to your IT or security team.

Safeguards sensitive data

By preventing initial compromise through phishing, you protect your organization’s most valuable assets — customer data, financial records, trade secrets, intellectual property, and strategic plans — from exposure or threat.

Cost avoidance (and high ROI)

The cost of comprehensive phishing training pales in comparison to the potential costs of a single successful phishing attack, which can easily spiral into hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars considering remediation, legal fees, regulatory fines, and lost business.

Strengthens compliance

Industry regulations and data protection laws (like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS) mandate security awareness training.

Implementing and documenting robust phishing training for employees helps satisfy these requirements and demonstrates due diligence.

Enhances cybersecurity culture

Regular training focused on a specific, relatable threat like phishing helps foster a broader culture of security awareness. Employees become more conscious of other best practices and contribute to the organization’s security posture.

Improves employee confidence

Knowing how to spot and respond to potential threats reduces employee anxiety about cybersecurity, and feeling equipped and empowered positively impacts morale.

What Makes Phishing Training Effective?

Not all phishing training is created equal. Simply running an annual or bi-monthly program with modules filled with outdated, boring content won’t cut it.

Here are the principles and components of effective phishing training for employees:

• Behavioral Science Foundation: Good programs incorporate principles like space repetition (regular, ongoing training is better than one large drop), immediate feedback (instant learning moments after interacting with a module or simulation), and positive reinforcement (acknowledging correct reporting).
• Realistic Simulations: Practice makes perfect, right? Phishing simulations mimic the actual tactics and channels attackers use, so exposing employees to these in a safe environment builds critical recognition skills and ‘muscle memory’ for identifying red flags without putting the organization at risk.
• Consistency: The threat landscape takes new shape every day, and knowledge fades. Effective phishing training is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Keep awareness high with regular, frequent touchpoints.
• Relevant & Customization: Generic training feels irrelevant because it is irrelevant. Tailoring simulations and content to your organization’s industry, specific job roles, and real-world threats makes training more engaging and memorable.
• Simplified Reporting: Awareness is useless without action, so an easily accessible and clearly communicated process for reporting suspected phishing attacks is a must.
• Actionable Metrics: What isn’t measured can’t be improved. Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like simulation click rates, reporting rates, and knowledge assessment scores over time. This data indicates return on investment (ROI), highlights progress, and pinpoints areas, departments, or team members needing additional focus.

Incorporating these characteristics is what elevates phishing training for employees from a simple compliance task to an effective security measure.

Implementing a Phishing Training Program

Moving from recognizing the need for phishing training to putting a program into action involves careful planning and execution across stages. Organizations can make the mistake of misunderstanding their risk profile or choosing a legacy solution, emphasizing the need for next-generation training and simulations.

Launching an effective phishing training program involves several key steps, including:

1. Assess Needs: Understand your organization’s unique risk profile. What types of phishing attacks are most likely? What is the current level of employee awareness? Baseline testing via an initial simulation is insightful.
2. Choose Approach: When choosing a vendor, consider factors like content quality, the realism of simulations, reporting capabilities, ease of use, integrations, and analytics. A next-generation platform like Adaptive Security offers a comprehensive approach that combines engaging, fully customizable training modules with sophisticated phishing simulations, while also simplifying deployment and management.
3. Develop Rollout Plan: Communicate clearly with employees about the purpose and importance of the training, and schedule training and simulations thoughtfully to minimize disruption to their regular work responsibilities.
4. Train, Simulate, Measure, and Refine: Implement the training modules and start phishing simulations, then track the results diligently. Use this data to refine your approach, perhaps providing targeted training to specific groups or adjusting simulation difficulty. Remember, phishing training is a continuous improvement cycle.

This structured implementation of phishing training ensures your program is positioned for continuous improvement and lasting impact long after launch.

Take Action: Secure Your Organization with Phishing Training

Phishing remains one of the most significant (and persistent) threats to organizations of all sizes. While technological defenses play a role, the human element is undeniably pivotal.

Ignoring the need for phishing training leaves your organization wide open to exposure. By investing in consistent, engaging, and measurable phishing training as part of a broader security awareness training program, you empower employees and transform them from potential victims into a vigilant human firewall.

Taking a proactive approach to security awareness not only reduces your risk of costly breaches, though. It also strengthens compliance, protects your organization’s reputation, and fosters a security-conscious culture. And to build that crucial human firewall shielding your organization, you need a modern approach powered by a next-generation platform.

Explore the Adaptive platform to see how tailored, engaging, and measurable training transforms your employees into your organization’s strongest defense.