The Top 11 Phishing Simulation and Awareness Training Solutions

Proofpoint’s engaging materials make their solution extremely popular amongst users. The content itself is designed to promote security best practice and teach users how to detect and report phishing attacks. Each module is available on demand and takes around fifteen minutes to complete, so it’s easy to fit the training in around busy work schedules. Alongside their training library content, Proofpoint’s solution offers phishing simulation to test how effectively users are reacting to phishing threats, and allow administrators to target training in areas where it’s needed. This includes a Phish Alarm feature, which allows users to report phishing attacks to their security team.

Proofpoint also offer a multi-layered package of technical solutions that complement their phishing awareness training. Their heuristic scanning technology helps protect systems against new, unknown threats, as well as known viruses and malware.

Proofpoint’s easy-to-manage training package is an ideal solution for any organizations looking for ongoing security awareness training. It’s also available as a part of Proofpoint’s Essentials package solution, which offers industry-leading technical protection against email security threats.

PhishLine exposes users to the latest attack techniques and teaches them how to recognize key indicators to help stop email fraud, data loss and brand damage. PhishLine’s simulation content is fully customizable so that organizations can tailor the training to the specific attacks they’re facing. A built-in workflow engine allows you to deliver training as soon as it’s needed, so that you can send training invitations to employees based on how they reacted to simulated phishing campaigns.

PhishLine also includes a built-in “Phish Reporting” button that employees can use to instantly flag suspicious emails with their IT department. This feature works seamlessly with the training itself to tie in reporting, so that organizations can target training towards those who need it.

Barracuda PhishLine’s multi-lingual training content is updated daily to equip organizations with the resources they need to tackle evolving phishing attacks. It can be used either alone or in tandem with Barracuda’s technical email security solutions, and is an ideal program for smaller organizations and MSPs looking for effective phishing protection.

Cofense’s PhishMe provides extensive security awareness training that conditions users to identify and react to phishing attacks though scenario-based simulations, videos and infographics. Each simulation is fully customizable so that organizations can target their employees’ training towards specific threats that they’re facing. Cofense combines awareness training with ‘Cofense Reporter’, an add-on button that users can click to report suspicious emails to the help desk from directly within their email client. This encourages users to click on the “Report phish” button and flag the threat, rather than fall for it. This button is compatible with Outlook, Gmail and IBM Notes. The Reporter allows administrators to monitor program performance and track resilience to phishing.

To help manage these user reports, Cofense Triage combines human and artificial intelligence to distinguish between genuine threats and false alarms reported via the “Report phish” button. It then isolates any threats. Security teams can then use the Cofense Vision tool to quickly search for and quarantine malicious emails from all user inboxes. Cofense provide effective protection for any organization wanting to combat phishing by training their employees to report attacks directly.

GLS’s phishing awareness training uses interactive, scenario-based content to teach users about how attacks work and how to handle them. Gamification and reward elements ensure that the training experience is engaging for users, which leads to higher levels of retention and understanding. There are four parts to GLS’s training solution. The Essentials course trains and tests users on how to spot phishing attacks. The Best Practice modules present users with real-life phishing scenarios, so that they can apply what they’ve learned in a safe environment. The anti-phishing videos use powerful graphics to present users with bitesize information on phishing and ransomware, and how to react to threats. Finally, GLS’s SecurePhish simulation tool tests users’ responses to targeted phishing tests and presents them with relevant follow-up training. Admins can also use the tool to track user performance and generate reports based on test results.

GLS’s content can be accessed on smartphones and tablets as well as traditional desktops, which is ideal for digital organizations and those with a high number of remote workers. Because all of their content is scalable and customizable, GLS’s solution is suitable for organizations of any size who are looking for a long-term training roadmap with ongoing reinforcement.

With IQ PhishSim, security teams can build customized phishing campaigns from an expansive template library to teach employees how to tackle the most dangerous threats they’re facing. New templates are added to the library weekly to keep organizations on top of new and adapting threats. If an employee clicks on a simulated phishing link, they’re automatically directed to a brief training module that highlights where they went wrong, so that training is delivered immediately after the mistake is made. IQ PhishSim also includes PhishNotify, an email reporting plugin that allows users to flag suspicious emails on any device. The plugin records reported simulations for learner-level reporting, and quarantines real threats. These quarantined emails are then prioritized automatically to reduce analysis time and organize responses according to threat level.

Infosec’s phishing awareness training and simulation solution is constantly growing and diversifying to offer tailored variations across all individual learning topics. Their solutions were originally intended for larger enterprise companies, but have evolved to meet the needs of any sized organization so that smaller businesses can also access their range of training, scaled to fit their need.

PhishProof allows organizations to test, train, measure and improve their phishing awareness and preparedness in one all-encompassing experience. The program starts with a Baseline Phishing Campaign, which provides users with a Phishing Preparedness Score at the beginning of their training. As users complete more training and are subjected to more simulations, their Preparedness Score is re-evaluated so that their can easily measure their progress. Admins can schedule simulation campaigns to run with randomized templates, or customize them to target their organization’s particular needs. Each campaign can be tailored in terms of the kind of phish sent (URL, attachment, form submissions) and the level of difficulty (easy, medium, hard). If a user is successfully phished, PhishProof automatically enrols them on the relevant training module.

PhishProof also offer inbuilt phishing reporting in the form of PhishHook. This Outlook plugin allows users to flag suspicious messages, rewarding them for detecting simulations but also alerting the security team to suspected attacks from external sources.

IeL’s PhishProof solution is an ideal program for any organization looking for comprehensive training across all four phishing methods. Their app and customizability ensure that their content is accessible for organizations of any size, and their multilingual support offer enables accessibility for diverse employee populations.

IRONSCALES’ phishing awareness training starts with an assessment of each employee’s phishing recognitions skills so that simulated phishing campaigns can target users at an appropriate level. Campaigns test employees with real-world staged phishing attacks that IRONSCALES have seen customers dealing with, to provide a targeted, realistic training experience. Users can report suspicious emails (both simulated and genuine) with a button directly inside their email inbox, on desktop or mobile. If they correctly identify a simulation, they “graduate” to a higher level of proficiency. If they fail to identify a simulation, IRONSCALES assigns the employee a custom micro-learning module to address what went wrong. These modules are made up of engaging, gamified content, including award-winning videos from NINJIO, to ensure that employees enjoy the training and retain the information more effectively.

As well as the training and simulation modules themselves, IRONSCALES Threat Assessment features robust reporting capabilities that allow security teams to track their employees’ progress in real-time from a high-level overview to a granular by-employee breakdown. Threat Assessment is suitable for SMBs looking for an advanced and engaging phishing awareness training program, and particularly those who would like to bolster their employees’ training by pairing it with powerful post-delivery threat protection.

KnowBe4’s solution comprises a selection of free tools and extensive purchasable training materials. Organizations can test their employee’s baseline awareness with a free simulated phishing attack, and report suspicious content through KnowBe4’s Phish Alert button. The button is compatible with Outlook, Exchange, Microsoft 365 and G Suite. If an organization invests in KnowBe4s full Phishing console, the button will also track whether employees report simulated phishing emails. This allows administrators to see which users are falling for phishing attempts. The console includes access to thousands of resources and training materials, as well as comprehensive training reporting to ensure that all users are successfully completing both the training modules and the simulated phishing campaigns.

KnowBe4’s solution is aimed at small- to mid-sized organizations looking to tackle the threat of phishing with extensive employee training. Note that, for a comprehensive user experience, it’s useful for network administrators to have some prior knowledge of their selected awareness topics to be able to effectively build these topics into their curriculum.

LUCY’s security awareness content library contains over 200 interactive, web-based training modules that organizations can use to educate their employees both online and offline. Content is hosted in the LUCY LMS, which means that employees can manage their own learning journeys whilst admins can track their progress in real time. All of LUCY’s content is highly customizable, including their videos and gamified materials. On top of this, organizations can create their own new content, as well as request custom materials from LUCY’s content team.

In addition to their e-learning program, Lucy provide a “safe learning environment” where employees can experience realistic phishing attacks and test their knowledge of how to respond to them. LUCY’s phishing simulations include templates for SMS, corporate, ransomware and spear phishing attacks, among others. Admins can then target the simulations at individuals or groups of employees, and assign further training based on an analysis of their responses.

LUCY Security’s training solution is engaging and relevant. Delivered through their own integrated LMS, it’s available in over 30 languages, which makes it an extremely accessible e-learning program. LUCY’s solution is well-suited to any organization that wants to create a culture of awareness amongst their employees, no matter their size, as well as test their employees through attack simulations.

Each training module comprises video modules that cover a range of cybersecurity topics, including anti-phishing awareness. The videos are a combination of animations, host-led animations and live action shorts. SANS Institute supply end-of-module quizzes to consolidate user’s learning, and there are also a selection of games available to help users really engage with the content. SANS’ phishing simulation campaigns are highly customizable, allowing security teams to target specific groups in the organization with suspicious emails. They offer a library of realistic templates, as well as a reporting tool so that admins can track how well people are performing in the tests.

SANS Institute’s solution offers full voice-overs in 31 languages, making it extremely accessible. Don’t be put off by the fact that SANS are recognized for their technical training; their end-user training is designed to be engaging for all end users, not just those of a technical background. Because of this, SANS’ solution is a good option for those seeking comprehensive video-based awareness training.

Terranova’s training library includes highly interactive, gamified and graphic-rich content that’s been instructionally designed for optimal learner engagement. Organizations can build their own training programs on the Terranova LMS, from course-level all the way down to bitesize micro learning. Terranova’s phishing simulation platform allows security teams to send targeted, simulated emails to test learners understanding of what they’ve covered in the training. Finally, visual reporting tools can identify both high-risk employees based on their simulation results, and which users have completed their training successfully. This allows administrator to identify where more training is needed.

Terranova are well established in Canada and the US, but their materials are all available in 40 languages, including narration, and are fully scalable. This means that their phishing awareness solution is suitable for any organization, no matter their location, looking for a highly tailored and instructionally designed phishing awareness training and simulation solution.