Overview
Technology alone cannot stop a well-crafted phishing email or a convincing phone call. People remain the most targeted and most exploitable part of any security program. This training outline provides a complete curriculum for building a security awareness program that actually changes behavior, not one that just checks the compliance box. It covers phishing recognition, social engineering tactics, data handling, password hygiene, physical security, and incident reporting, all delivered in ways that engage rather than bore.
Training Modules
- Phishing and email security: recognizing suspicious messages, reporting procedures
- Social engineering awareness: pretexting, vishing, tailgating, baiting
- Password management and authentication: strong passwords, MFA, password managers
- Data classification and handling: recognizing sensitive data, proper storage and sharing
- Remote work security: home network hygiene, VPN usage, physical environment
- Device security: locking workstations, USB policies, mobile device management
- Incident reporting: what to report, how to report, why it matters
- Regulatory awareness: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS basics relevant to their role
- AI and deepfake threats: recognizing AI-generated content and synthetic voice attacks
Training Delivery Schedule
| Activity | Frequency | Duration | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| New hire onboarding training | Upon hire | 60 minutes | All new employees |
| Annual refresher training | Annually | 45 minutes | All employees |
| Phishing simulation campaigns | Monthly | 5-10 minutes | All employees |
| Role-based technical training | Quarterly | 30-60 minutes | IT, developers, finance |
| Executive security briefings | Quarterly | 20 minutes | C-suite and board |
| Incident-triggered micro-training | As needed | 5 minutes | Targeted employees |
| Security champions workshops | Bi-monthly | 90 minutes | Security champions network |
Phishing Simulation Program
Simulations are the closest thing to real-world testing of your human defenses. Run monthly phishing campaigns that mirror actual attack patterns. Start with moderate difficulty and gradually increase sophistication. Track click rates, report rates, and credential submission rates over time. The goal is not to catch people failing; the goal is to build the muscle memory for recognizing and reporting suspicious messages. When someone falls for a simulation, deliver immediate just-in-time training rather than shaming them. Celebrate departments with high reporting rates rather than punishing those with high click rates.
Measuring Program Effectiveness
Track phishing simulation click rates and trend them over time. Measure the time between receiving a phishing simulation and reporting it. Monitor actual phishing reports from employees to see if voluntary reporting is increasing. Conduct periodic knowledge assessments to test retention. Survey employees on their confidence in recognizing threats. Report these metrics to leadership quarterly. A successful program shows declining click rates, increasing report rates, and growing confidence scores over 12 months.
Building a Security Champions Network
- Identify volunteers from each department who are interested in security and are natural influencers among their peers
- Provide champions with additional training, early access to threat intelligence, and direct communication with the security team
- Empower champions to be the first point of contact for security questions within their team
- Recognize and reward champions through visible executive acknowledgment, not just swag
- Meet with champions bi-monthly to share threat trends, gather feedback on the training program, and crowdsource new ideas
- Security champions extend the reach of a small security team across the entire organization
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we get employees to take security training seriously?
Make it relevant, short, and engaging. Use real-world examples from your industry. Avoid compliance-style lectures. Leadership participation signals that security matters. Gamification elements like leaderboards and rewards also increase engagement.
What is an acceptable phishing click rate?
Industry average for initial campaigns is around 15 to 25 percent. A mature program should bring this below 5 percent over 12 months. More important than the click rate is the report rate: you want employees reporting suspicious emails, not just avoiding clicks.
Should security training be mandatory for all employees?
Yes. Security awareness training should be mandatory for all employees, contractors, and temporary workers. Make completion a condition of network access and tie it to performance reviews to ensure accountability.
How do we handle repeat phishing simulation offenders?
Provide additional one-on-one training rather than disciplinary action. Understanding why someone keeps falling for simulations is more productive than punishing them. If an employee repeatedly fails after multiple interventions, involve their manager to determine if a role adjustment is needed.
What are the biggest human risk trends to train for in 2025?
AI-generated phishing emails that are grammatically perfect, deepfake voice and video calls impersonating executives, QR code phishing (quishing), multi-channel social engineering combining email, SMS, and phone calls, and business email compromise targeting finance and HR teams.
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