Do you know which of your employees is your weakest security link? It doesn’t take much to break into an employee’s email, and from there, the rest of your infrastructure. All a scammer has to do is convince the right employee to click on a link, download an infected attachment, or hand over their password. Can you honestly say that your team has the knowledge to combat such a profound threat?
The reasons outlined above are why we recommend you conduct simulated phishing attacks to test your team’s cybersecurity knowledge. Here are three reasons you should be running these tests and the benefits they provide.
It Identifies High-Risk Employees Before a Hacker Does
Every office has one employee who just clicks every link, opens every attachment, and never checks to see who the message comes from.
If you’re not running simulations, this individual is going to sink any and all security measures you’ve invested in. A simulated test gives you a “click-rate” report so you can see who within your business is vulnerable to these types of threats. You’re not doing this to shame them; you’re doing this to figure out who needs additional training and to educate them on why their actions could be putting the greater business at risk.
Take some time to run tests and figure out who needs training before they take an action that isn’t so simple to correct.
It Turns Security Awareness Into a Reflex
Security isn’t something you want employees to think hard about. It should be muscle memory, a reflex, something they do instinctively.
These tests—especially when performed regularly (like monthly)—will reinforce in the mind of your team that they are always under attack. They’ll find themselves automatically scanning messages for potential signs of attacks. You’ll see your failure rate drop over time as a result, which means that your team is solidifying these core tenets of security in the backs of their brains.
You’ll ultimately benefit from this shift in mindset, even if you don’t physically “see” the benefits. This is because a well-trained staff will not expose your business to threats, so a lack of incidents becomes a symptom of success.
It Creates Teachable Moments
Training someone after they’ve made a mistake is more effective than training someone before they’ve even seen the problem.
When an employee clicks a link in a simulated phishing attack, they’ll be redirected to a page that tells them it was a test. This moment, the one where they’re fired up over making a mistake, is key to educating them. They’ll be curious how they were caught and how they were tricked. Take this time to show them the red flags they might have missed.
Trust us, this kind of training is much more effective than a mandatory PowerPoint presentation on a Friday afternoon (and if you’re doing that, please stop, for everyone’s sake).
Ultimately, the goal of any simulated phishing attack is to make a hacker’s job significantly harder without making your employees’ jobs harder in the process. Hackers will look for the easiest way to break in, and if that’s your employees, armed with security knowledge, they’ll have a seriously difficult time robbing you.
Learn more about how to build a phishing-proof workforce by calling us at (574) 453-3323.
