Many businesses use security software, such as antivirus, anti-malware, firewalls, and email filters. But these services do not address the biggest cybersecurity vulnerability: your end users. They are much easier to hack than machines and software.
Many end users cannot distinguish between fake and legitimate emails. These people tend to trust familiar people and vendors. Also, they typically click on email content without reviewing it. Hackers know this and trick people into sending confidential data, such as passwords and account numbers. They use this information to steal money, identities, and data.
Consider running simulated phishing campaigns on your employees. These tests supercharge your existing security stack by addressing the human error cause of security breaches. According to the Ponemon Institute, real-time phishing simulations have been shown to double employee awareness retention rates and deliver a near-40 % ROI compared with more traditional cybersecurity training tactics.
SMS Datacenter can help your business phish your employees. We provide template emails for common phishing themes, including package tracking, fake promotions, and password resets. Each email will include a spoofed sender name, misspelled email addresses, and a request to click a link or open an attachment. These emails link to landing pages that can include pretend warning pages, short videos, and training courses. SMS and your decision-makers can analyze the phishing campaign results, such as the number of email opens, clicks, replies, and spam reports. Then, we can make recommendations, such as sending additional phishing emails, creating more targeted department campaigns, and providing more in-depth training for repeat offenders.
By using simulated phishing campaigns on your employees, your company can:
- Prevent the theft of money and data
- Assess employee security knowledge, sentiment, and behavior
- Identify risky individuals and departments
- Improve employee awareness of phishing emails
- Adopt the latest cybercriminal attack techniques
- Turn employees into proactive defenders
- Test the strength of other security controls. For example, firewalls, anti-virus, and email filters.
- Reinforce industry compliance efforts
Tips for launching a phishing simulation email campaign:
- Let your employees know your company will start doing these tests
- Provide training on how to spot phishing emails before sending campaigns. For example, they should be careful of clicking on links and downloading attachments.
- Ensure they report any phishing emails they receive.
- Explain the impact phishing emails have on the organization.
- Provide positive reinforcement for users who do not fall for phishing emails. For example, you can gamify the effort and provide rewards, such as free lunches and gift cards.
- For users who interact with the email, focus more on training than on punishing.
- Show users how they could have identified the phishing attack.
- Keep the training modules for phished employees short. It should be under five minutes and focus on the topic they need to know. This will ensure people will pay attention to the content.
- After each phishing email, send a follow-up email and explain why your business sent that specific email.
- Consider expanding training to include additional phishing methods (phone calls, text messages, USB drives).
For more information about our simulated phishing campaigns as part of our IT Security program, please contact us at 949-223-9240 or email [email protected].