Security Awareness
The goal is simple: employees recognize common attacks (phishing, social engineering), know how to react, and report incidents correctly. Awareness does not replace technical controls, but it measurably reduces human risk.
Quick overview
| What you get | Who it fits | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Structured awareness plan with training formats | Organizations with frequent customer contact, remote work, or regulated environments | 4-12 weeks setup, then ongoing |
3 decision anchors
- Measurable outcomes: baseline, completion rate, reporting and click rate.
- Practical relevance: scenarios based on your environment, not generic examples.
- Legal and privacy: clear opt-in/communication and data-minimal evaluation.
Fit / Not a fit
Fit if …
- You see recurring phishing risk or need audit readiness.
- You want consistent behaviors and clear reporting paths.
- You need measurable improvements over 6-12 months.
Not a fit if …
- You only need a one-off mandatory training with no follow-up.
- You cannot dedicate time for communication and measurement.
- Core technical controls are missing (MFA, mail filtering, reporting channel).
Security awareness vs. phishing simulation (quick compare)
| Topic | Awareness program | Pure simulation |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Behavior change | Test/diagnosis |
| Benefit | long term | short term |
| Effort | medium | low |
| Risk (internal trust) | low with good communication | higher |
Process and methodology (3 steps)
- Scope and preparation Target groups, learning goals, communication plan, privacy framework, baseline measurement.
- Delivery Micro-learning, relevant scenarios, optional simulations, supporting comms.
- Review and improvement Reporting, lessons learned, adjust content and cadence.
Deliverables
- Awareness concept with goals, target groups, and KPIs
- Training plan with content, cadence, and formats
- Reporting template (click/reporting rate, completion)
- Recommendations for follow-up actions
Provider selection criteria
Expertise and method
- Industry-relevant scenarios
- Clear language without scare tactics
- Experience with privacy-compliant evaluation
Operational
- Structured reporting and KPIs
- Integration into existing reporting channels
- Supported rollout (comms, reminders, follow-ups)
Limits and trade-offs
- Awareness reduces risk but does not eliminate it.
- Without technical basics, attack surfaces remain.
- Overly aggressive simulations can erode trust.
Next steps
- Define target groups and goals (e.g. phishing click rate < X%).
- Align communication plan (HR/privacy/IT).
- Pick a start date and pilot group.
- Submit a request and share requirements.