The traditional approach to corporate cybersecurity training was largely compliance-driven, with static, annual slideshows that presented a barrage of technical information. This model is ineffective, as it’s incompatible with how people learn and lacks meaningful follow-through. By contrast, a modern, best-in-class approach includes:

Effective learning models

SAT programs should draw on the decades of research into adult learning patterns. For example, adults learn better when lessons are self-directed and relevant. If an individual doesn’t feel like information is applicable in their work, they won’t remember it. Realistic phishing simulations tied to current threats make an impact because they reflect the types of attacks employees face every day.

Studies have also shown that shorter, recurring lessons emphasizing reinforcement are much more effective than longer, less frequent sessions. Additionally, crafting these lessons as engaging stories activates the hippocampus, which leads to better retention.

Timeliness

Staff cybersecurity courses that are integrated into a unified security platform can make an even bigger impact as “just-in-time training.” If an incident report ties a breach to a certain employee clicking on a phishing link, that individual can be sent a relevant lesson while the mistake is still fresh in their mind. 

Training programs designed by in-the-trenches security experts can also be continually updated as threats evolve.

Low friction and positive reinforcement in reporting

Many high-performing programs emphasize “report rate” rather than “click rate” as the metric for evaluating the success of employee phishing training. Employees should be encouraged to report suspicious emails with a simple one-click feature in their email client and receive instant positive feedback. It’s crucial that mistakes not be treated punitively. Employees who fear negative consequences may hesitate to report a suspected compromise, causing potentially costly delays in detection. Instead, they should be incentivized to take an active role through gamification and positive reinforcement.

Traditional staff cybersecurity courses don’t move the needle on phishing susceptibility because they’re more focused on teaching facts than shaping behavior. A yearly presentation on the same abstract threats has little perceived relevance to the audience. In fact, research at the University of Chicago found that employees who recently completed annual training were no better at recognizing phishing than those who had not received training in over a year.

Many employees understand that reusing the same password is not good practice, yet the realities of day-to-day work mean many will default to this behavior. Successful human risk reduction training creates a tangible connection to the dangers of credential stuffing—instilled through engaging, hands-on lessons that are reinforced through frequency and context.

Even well-designed programs might not make much impact if the only measurement being assessed is completion rate. This encourages a checkbox mentality. There must be a link between training outcomes and real security incidents. Reporting rate should be the North Star metric, encouraging a shift from a reactive to a proactive culture with employees as an active part of organizational security.

While security awareness programs can significantly reduce susceptibility to phishing, they’re not a bulletproof solution. Industry estimates put the number of phishing emails sent every day in the billions. Whether leveraging fear, panic, fatigue, or distraction, all social engineering requires is a split-second lapse in judgment on the part of well-meaning employees.

Think of security awareness training as the first layer in a stack of security controls. It can substantially lower the number of successful intrusions, freeing up technical controls and security analysts to catch the more manageable number of adversaries that find a way in. How fast they can accomplish this determines the final impact—from a minor incident to a multi-million-dollar breach.

Because credential abuse involves hackers logging in as legitimate users, these attacks often go unnoticed without identity monitoring. Identity threat detection and response (ITDR) watches cloud and on-prem accounts for signs of compromise, such as impossible travel or unusual privilege escalation. It can then automatically revoke sessions or initiate a secondary identity challenge, based on risk. 

The best cybersecurity training solutions integrate with your security tool stack. In the aftermath of an incident, an integrated security platform that includes SAT can send a relevant lesson, turning a mistake into a “teachable moment.”

Huntress Managed Security Awareness Training (SAT) teaches your employees to think like hackers with high-impact lessons created by Emmy®-winning animators and adult-learning experts. Our SAT comes backed by up-to-date threat intelligence and is integrated with our Managed Security Platform for just-in-time training. Hands-on simulations and gamification ensure your team stays engaged and security-aware. Explore Huntress Managed SAT today.