The Top 10 Phishing Awareness Training Solutions
Discover the best phishing awareness training solutions to protect your employees' inboxes. Explore features such as multi-media content libraries, gamification and phishing simulations.
Written by Caitlin Harris
Technical Review by Craig MacAlpine
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
Phishing is the leading cause of data breaches that organizations around the world are currently facing. And because phishing attacks exploit human communication behaviors, the first step in defending your business against phishing is human risk management. This is done by making sure that your employees know that such attacks exist. Education is one of our best defenses against phishing, and the number of powerful phishing awareness training solutions out there is largely to thank for the decrease in click rates and increase in reporting rates in the last year.
Phishing awareness training solutions, sometimes also called “anti-phishing training”, teaches users how to identify and respond to sophisticated phishing attacks. They’re usually made up of two parts: content-based learning, and phishing simulators. First, they use engaging, interactive training methods—often involving bite-sized learning modules, gamification, and quizzes—to teach users how to spot phishing attempts. They then test the users’ knowledge by enabling admins to send them simulated phishing emails. This enables users to apply what they’ve learned, whilst allowing admins to monitor which users are most at risk of falling for a phishing attack, and assign further training as required. this streamlined approach uses fewer resources, provides actionable insights, and can noticably change behavior for the better.
In this shortlist, we’ll explore the top phishing awareness training solutions and phishing simulators designed to transform employees into an additional layer of defense against social engineering attacks. These solutions offer a range of engaging, learner-focused training materials, which teach your employees how to identify and report suspicious activity; admin reporting, which allows you to see who has completed the training; and realistic simulations to drill your employees on what they’ve learned. We’ll give you some background information on the provider and the key features of each solution, as well as the type of customer that they are most suitable for.
Phished
Phished is a security awareness training platform designed to enhance users’ ability to identify and report email-based threats. It combines awareness training, phishing/SMishing simulations, active reporting, and threat intelligence to create a “human firewall” against social engineering attacks.
Why We Picked Phished: We like Phished’s engaging micro-learning modules, which use gamification to make training effective and enjoyable. Its personalized phishing simulations test and educate users on real-time threats.
Phished Best Features: Key features include awareness training with checkpoints, phishing/SMishing simulations, active threat reporting, and threat intelligence. Integrations support Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, with user onboarding options via manual entry, .csv file, or Active Directory.
What’s great:
- Gamified training modules enhance user engagement
- Personalized phishing simulations provide practical threat education
- Immediate feedback on reported emails improves threat response
- Behavioral Risk Score helps identify vulnerabilities quickly
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit Phished directly.
Who it’s for: Phished is well-suited for SMBs and enterprises seeking an effective, user-friendly solution to train employees against phishing threats and improve overall email security.
Phished
Hoxhunt
Hoxhunt is a security awareness training platform that specializes in phishing and spear phishing simulations. It trains end users to identify and respond to sophisticated phishing attacks while enabling security teams to monitor human risk levels across the organization.
Why We Picked Hoxhunt: We like Hoxhunt’s AI-driven personalized learning paths and its ability to deliver custom phishing simulations tailored to each user’s skill level, department, and location.
Hoxhunt Best Features: Key features include AI-generated personalized learning paths, custom phishing simulations based on user profiles, real-time feedback on reported suspicious emails, a peer leaderboard for engagement, and native integrations with email clients and other security providers. The platform supports over 30 languages.
What’s great:
- Personalized training paths improve user engagement and effectiveness
- Real-time feedback on reported emails reduces SOC workload
- Supports multiple languages for global enterprises
- Peer leaderboard fosters a competitive learning environment
- Easy deployment with native integrations
Pricing: For pricing details, visit Hoxhunt directly.
Who it’s for: Hoxhunt is best suited for larger organizations in industries at high risk of phishing attacks, such as financial services, legal, manufacturing, technology, and critical infrastructure.
Hoxhunt
ESET’s Cybersecurity Awareness Training is a comprehensive solution designed to enhance organizational security through interactive and gamified training modules, phishing simulations, and detailed reporting. This platform empowers organizations to combat phishing and other cyber threats effectively.
Why We Picked ESET’s Cybersecurity Awareness Training: We appreciate the platform’s flexibility, allowing organizations to customize content and run targeted phishing simulations. The integration with Office 365 enhances user engagement by enabling direct reporting of suspicious emails.
ESET’s Cybersecurity Awareness Training Best Features: Key features include on-demand, interactive training modules with real-life scenarios, gamification, quizzes, and role-playing. Users can customize content with their branding, and admins can manage simulated phishing campaigns with pre-built or custom templates. The platform supports user grouping for targeted testing, and offers a plugin for Office 365 to report suspicious emails. Robust management and real-time reporting capabilities are available through a centralized dashboard.
What’s great:
- Engaging, gamified training modules
- Customizable phishing simulations
- Integration with Office 365
- User-friendly dashboard for admins
- Quick implementation and training completion
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit ESET’s official website.
Who it’s for: ESET’s Cybersecurity Awareness Training is ideal for US-based organizations across various industries, particularly those in banking, finance, and healthcare, seeking engaging security awareness content and robust phishing simulations.
TitanHQ Security Awareness Training is a platform designed to deliver effective cybersecurity, IT policy, and compliance training to users. It is suitable for larger enterprises and MSPs looking to mitigate cyber risks for their SMB clients through engaging content and customizable training.
Why We Picked TitanHQ Security Awareness Training: We like the platform’s real-time intervention training, which uses alert data to automatically send tailored training content to users engaging in risky behaviors. Its customizable phishing simulations also allow organizations to train users effectively against real-world threats.
TitanHQ Security Awareness Training Best Features: The platform offers engaging video and quiz content, customizable phishing simulations, just-in-time training, and SCORM integration for uploading custom materials. Admins can manage and monitor training via a single portal, create simulated phishing campaigns, and view user behavior changes over time. Integrations include Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and various single sign-on solutions.
What’s great:
- Real-time intervention training based on user behavior
- Customizable phishing simulations for targeted training
- Easy setup and management through a single portal
- Measures the effectiveness of training on user behavior
- Maximizes ROI by targeting training where it’s needed most
Pricing: For pricing details, contact TitanHQ directly.
Who it’s for: TitanHQ Security Awareness Training is best suited for larger enterprises and MSPs serving SMBs, looking to deliver effective, measurable cybersecurity training to mitigate risks.
IRONSCALES
IRONSCALES is a rapidly expanding email security solution that utilizes AI and machine learning to combat phishing attacks. It offers a comprehensive approach with integrated phishing simulation and security awareness training to enhance organizational security posture.
Why We Picked IRONSCALES: We appreciate IRONSCALES’ integration of phishing simulations with security awareness training, providing a holistic solution to combat email-based threats. The platform’s ability to deliver targeted training campaigns and track engagement is particularly noteworthy.
IRONSCALES Best Features: Key features include AI-driven phishing detection, phishing simulation, and security awareness training through bite-sized videos. The platform supports training on compliance topics like GDPR, HIPAA, PCI, and PII, and offers detailed engagement reporting. The video library covers various cybersecurity categories in nine languages, with options to upload and score custom content.
What’s great:
- Seamless integration of phishing simulation and training
- Engaging, targeted training campaigns
- Comprehensive compliance training options
- Detailed engagement reporting for measurable outcomes
- Multilingual support for global organizations
Pricing: Contact IRONSCALES directly for pricing details.
Who it’s for: IRONSCALES is ideal for organizations seeking a unified solution to educate employees on cybersecurity threats and enhance their ability to recognize suspicious emails in their typical email environment. It suits businesses of all sizes looking to improve their security posture through targeted training and phishing simulation.
IRONSCALES
Proofpoint Security Awareness Training is a comprehensive platform designed to enhance user awareness and response to phishing, smishing, and USB-based threats. It integrates seamlessly with Proofpoint’s technical security solutions, offering a holistic approach to email security.
Why We Picked Proofpoint Security Awareness Training: We appreciate its user-friendly interface and the diverse range of engaging training materials, including videos, posters, and infographics, tailored to different learning styles.
Proofpoint Security Awareness Training Best Features: Key features include phishing, smishing, and USB testing simulations, knowledge tests, and a library of training modules. The platform supports on-demand access with each module taking about 15 minutes to complete. It also features simulated phishing attacks and a PhishAlarm tool for reporting suspicious emails. Integrations include compatibility with Proofpoint’s technical security solutions like heuristic scanning for advanced threat protection.
What’s great:
- Engaging content suitable for all learning styles
- On-demand access fits easily into busy schedules
- Simulated phishing attacks to assess user readiness
- PhishAlarm feature for quick reporting of threats
- Complements Proofpoint’s technical security solutions
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact Proofpoint directly.
Who it’s for: Proofpoint Security Awareness Training is ideal for organizations seeking ongoing, user-friendly security awareness training that integrates well with advanced technical security measures.
Barracuda PhishLine is a robust training solution designed to educate users on recognizing and defending against phishing, smishing, vishing, and found physical media attacks. It is part of Barracuda’s Complete Email Protection, which also includes Sentinel, an AI-based tool that protects against spear phishing, regular phishing, account takeover, and Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks.
Why We Picked Barracuda PhishLine: We appreciate PhishLine’s fully customizable simulation content and its ability to deliver training based on user responses to simulated phishing campaigns. This ensures timely and relevant training for all employees.
Barracuda PhishLine Best Features: Key features include customizable phishing simulations, immediate training delivery through a built-in workflow engine, a “PhishReporting” button for instant suspicious email reporting, and daily updated multi-lingual training content. PhishLine integrates seamlessly with Barracuda’s technical email security solutions like Sentinel.
What’s great:
- Customizable simulations tailored to specific threats
- Immediate training delivery based on user behavior
- Multi-lingual content updated daily
- Seamless integration with Barracuda’s email security solutions
- Easy reporting of suspicious emails with the PhishReporting button
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit Barracuda’s website.
Who it’s for: Barracuda PhishLine is ideal for smaller organizations and MSPs seeking an effective, customizable phishing defense training program. It is particularly beneficial for those already using or considering Barracuda’s technical email security solutions.
Cofense offers a comprehensive solution to combat phishing attacks through a combination of employee training and technical security measures. Their approach integrates human detection with automated response systems to detect and block threats swiftly.
Why We Picked Cofense: We appreciate Cofense’s innovative blend of phishing awareness training with real-time threat detection and response. Their system empowers employees to actively participate in the security process.
Cofense Best Features: Key features include customizable phishing simulations, scenario-based training, and integration with ‘Cofense Reporter’ for easy threat reporting. The solution also features ‘Cofense Triage’ for threat analysis and ‘Cofense Vision’ for quick threat quarantine across user inboxes. Integrations include compatibility with Outlook, Gmail, and IBM Notes.
What’s great:
- Customizable training targets specific threats
- Encourages user reporting of phishing attempts
- Combines human and AI for threat analysis
- Quick threat isolation and quarantine
- Enhances overall employee security awareness
Pricing: For detailed pricing, visit Cofense directly.
Who it’s for: Cofense is ideal for organizations seeking to bolster their phishing defense strategy through both employee training and technical solutions. It suits businesses of all sizes looking to enhance their security posture with active employee participation.
Infosec IQ
Infosec IQ is a rapidly growing security awareness training solution that equips employees with essential skills to combat phishing attacks through a comprehensive 12-month program.
Why We Picked Infosec IQ: We appreciate Infosec IQ’s adaptive phishing simulations and immediate training feedback, which effectively transform employees into a robust defense against cyber threats.
Infosec IQ Best Features: Key features include anti-phishing simulations, security awareness CBT, role-based training, and customizable phishing campaigns via IQPhishSim. The solution also offers PhishNotify, an email reporting plugin that flags suspicious emails and quarantines real threats, prioritizing them for efficient analysis.
What’s great:
- Adaptive phishing simulations with weekly updated templates
- Immediate training post-simulation mistake
- Scalable to organizations of any size
- Efficient threat prioritization and response
- Comprehensive 12-month program
Pricing: For pricing details, contact Infosec directly.
Who it’s for: Infosec IQ is ideal for businesses of all sizes seeking to enhance their employees’ security awareness and phishing defense capabilities through a tailored, comprehensive training program.
Infosec IQ
KnowBe4
KnowBe4 is a market leader in phishing awareness training and simulations, focusing on user engagement to enhance security awareness. Their solution includes a vast library of training materials and free tools to help organizations combat phishing threats effectively.
Why We Picked KnowBe4: We like the extensive variety of training materials, including videos, games, and quizzes, which cater to different learning styles. Additionally, the PhishAlert button allows users to report suspicious emails directly from their inboxes, enhancing real-time phishing detection.
KnowBe4 Best Features: Features include a comprehensive training library with videos, games, and quizzes, specialized training for management and system administrators, free simulated phishing attacks, the PhishAlert button for reporting suspicious emails, and a full Phishing console for tracking user responses and providing detailed training reports. Integrations include compatibility with Outlook, Exchange, Microsoft 365, and G Suite.
What’s great:
- Extensive and varied training materials
- Free tools for baseline phishing awareness testing
- Real-time reporting of suspicious emails with PhishAlert
- Comprehensive training reporting through the Phishing console
- Specialized training for management and system administrators
Pricing: For detailed pricing, contact KnowBe4 directly.
Who it’s for: KnowBe4 is best suited for small to mid-sized organizations looking to enhance their phishing defense through extensive employee training and engagement.
KnowBe4
Phishing Awareness Training Solutions: Everything You Need To Know (FAQs)
What Is Phishing?
Traditionally, phishing emails targeted hundreds or even thousands of recipients at a time. They were designed to trick users into clicking on a URL that would lead to a webpage where they’d be asked to enter personal information. While these types of phishing attack still exist, cybercriminals have adapted their attacks, making malicious phishing messages harder for machines and humans to identify. These more targeted attacks are called “spear phishing”.
Here the attacker impersonates a trustworthy sender and aims to trick their victim into handing over sensitive information (such as account credentials or financial data). Alternatively, the user may be encouraged to click on a malicious link or file that will install malware on their device.
Both spear and regular phishing attacks have key indicators that users can look out for to determine whether an email is genuine or fraudulent.
While spear and regular phishing attacks sent via email are the most common type, there are a few other variants to look out for:
- Vishing (Voice phishing) uses voice calls to trick users; these can be very convincing as the attackers can put pressure on their users in real-time to create a sense of urgency
- SMiShing is the same as phishing, except that the attacker sends their target an SMS text instead of an email
- Whaling targets high ranking, often C-level, members of an organization; these attacks take more effort on the attacker’s part, but the payoff can be much greater
What Is Phishing Awareness Training?
Phishing awareness training teaches users how to spot and react to different types of phishing attacks. As phishing attacks are constantly evolving and phishing risk increases, giving your users a list of phishing emails to avoid won’t be enough to block online attacks. Instead, you need to train them to be vigilant and naturally suspicious of emails that encourage them to act or share details. Phishing awareness training can help you create a culture of security that will encourage this cautious behavior.
Phishing awareness training solutions use content-based training (such as bite-sized videos, infographics, and quizzes) to explain common indicators of compromise (IOCs) and train users on what to look for. This means that when a user encounters a new attack type, they already have the skillset to identify a dangerous message and act accordingly.
Anti-phishing training also teaches users how much damage a successful phishing attack can cause. Without this, it can be hard to understand the significance of something as simple as clicking on a link. When users know what’s at risk, they are more likely to act cautiously.
The best phishing email training solutions also enable you to test your users’ response to a phishing attack by sending them simulations if they experience a failure in a test.
What Is A Phishing Simulator And What Do Phishing Simulations Involve?
Phishing simulators, or simulations, are fake phishing emails that security teams send to their employees to test how they would react to a real-life phishing attack. They’re usually included in a wider phishing awareness training program that also teaches users (via content-based training) how to identify a threat.
Accurate simulations enable users to apply the knowledge that they’ve gained whilst completing their anti-phishing training course. They also enable admins to identify any users that may be particularly susceptible to phishing attacks and assign those users further training.
Phishing simulation training usually focuses on email phishing and enables IT teams to either choose from a library of out-of-the-box templates or create their own emails that can be tailored to their users and use-case. Some simulators also enable IT teams to carry out SMiShing attacks, but this often comes at an extra cost.
Do You Need Phishing Training For Employees?
A good phishing awareness program and relevant training is critical for any organization, no matter how big or small you are or what sector you’re operating within. There are four key reasons why we recommend that you train your users on how to behave in response to phishing attacks:
- Reduce your risk of being breached. Social engineering attacks such as phishing are the most likely type of threatto cause a data breach. If you train your users to identify threats, they’ll be less likely to engage with them.
- Identify areas for improvement. Some individuals might require more training than others—either because they find it more difficult to identify phishing attacks, or because they’re working in an area of the business that handles particularly sensitive information, which means they’re more likely to be targeted. With a phishing awareness training solution, you can monitor how users are reacting to simulations and tailor training programs to suit each individual’s needs.
- Ensure compliance with data protection standards. Security awareness training, including phishing awareness training, is a mandatory requirement of many industry and federal compliance standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.
- Create a culture of security. Investing in the right phishing awareness training program can show your users you want to help and support them, rather than punish them when they make mistakes. This can help you build a stronger relationship with them, so they’re more likely to come and tell you if they do receive or click on a phishing email, rather than panic and try to cover it up.
Why Does Phishing Awareness Training Work?
Phishing awareness training cultivates a security-first mindset that prioritizes data protection and network security, effewctively supporting human risk management. It does this by providing employees with the knowledge and tools they need to combat phishing attacks. Carefully designed programs teach users how to detect and react to threats so that they can help protect sensitive data, rather than being considered an easy way into an organization’s network.
It’s thanks to powerful training and simulation solutions that recent years have seen a decrease in phishing click rates and an increase in reporting rates, despite the volume of phishing attacks increasing year on year.
What Features Should You Look For In a Phishing Awareness Training Platform?
There are a number of different phishing awareness training solutions out there, and it can be difficult to know which one is best suited to your needs. The most effective solutions include the following features, so keeping an eye out for these is a good place to start:
- A multi-media content library that’s regularly updated. Note the emphasis on “multi-media”! Your employees will all have individual learning styles, so a variety of materials will make sure that the material is engaging for everyone. And when the library is regularly updated, you can be sure that it will contain information on the newest threats that organizations are facing.
- Customization. It’s important that you can build learning paths or tailor modules to target specific threats that your organization is facing. It’s also important that simulated phishing emails designed to test employees can be customized to mimic the types of emails your employees typically receive.
- Interactivity. Quizzes, tests and gamification are sure-fire ways to increase user engagement which, in turn, increases information retention. This means that your employees will remember what they’ve learned and be much more likely to put it into practice.
- Simulations. You need to be able to test what your employees have learned, and the best way to do this is through simulated phishing emails. Users should report these emails, either through the solution’s inbuilt reporting button (see below) or by contacting their IT desk, but if they don’t, they’ll be directed to a landing page that explains their mistake.
- A “Report Phishing” button. These inbox plugins allow users to report not only simulated phishing emails, but also genuine threats, to their IT department. They’re a quick and easy way to flag suspicious content. The best simulations go a step further, with automated analysis based on reported phishing attempts, and triaging of reported emails. Agari’s 2020 Phishing Incident Response Survey found that 67% of all reported incidents were false positives, i.e. not real threats at all. Automated analysis saves security teams valuable time by separating false positives from genuine threats, then prioritizing these threats.
- Admin reporting tools. The best simulation solutions include admin reporting so that you can see who is falling for simulated threats. This means that you can direct those employees towards specific training materials, and re-test them in future simulations.
Written By
Caitlin Harris is Deputy Head of Content at Expert Insights. Caitlin is an experienced writer and journalist, with years of experience producing award-winning technical training materials and journalistic content. Caitlin holds a First Class BA in English Literature and German, and provides our content team with strategic editorial guidance as well as carrying out detailed research to create articles that are accurate, engaging and relevant. Caitlin co-hosts the Expert Insights Podcast, where she interviews world-leading B2B tech experts.
Technical Review
Craig MacAlpine is CEO and founder of Expert Insights. Before founding Expert Insights in August 2018, Craig spent 10 years as CEO of EPA cloud, an email security provider acquired by Ziff Davies, formerly J2Global (NASQAQ: ZD) in 2013, which has now been rebranded as VIPRE Email Security. Craig has extensive experience in the email security industry, with 20+ years of experience helping organizations to stay secure with innovative information security and cyber security solutions.