Security Awareness Training Software

What is Security Awareness Training?

Security awareness training protects enterprises against cyber threats that exploit human nature, or simple inattention. These threats include primarily phishing, as well as ransomware or other behavior-based vulnerabilities. Cyber security awareness training services can include instructional materials, live teaching, and realistic phishing simulations. To keep up with evolving attack methods, security awareness training vendors provide continuous training and updates.

There is a range of security awareness training methods. One popular security awareness training approach is prescheduled classroom training. However, the consensus among cyber experts is that prescheduled classroom training is ineffective on its own. As a result, cyber awareness testing is central to enterprise security awareness training and services. E-learning libraries are often included in many online security awareness training offerings, but simulations delivered without employee knowledge provide the most authentic proof of workforce resilience in the face of real cyber attacks. Various kinds of simulated attacks may include:

• spear phishing (e.g. pretending to be a trusted sender)

• BEC (business email compromise)

• Social engineering attacks

• HTTPS spoofing

• Drive-by cyber attacks.

After simulations, employees who responded inappropriately can then be trained according to their mistakes via classes and lessons, delivered in context. Security awareness training is ideally delivered as microlearning courses: sections that take only 10 minutes or less to complete. After the security awareness testing cycle, service providers offer detailed reports about what simulated attacks were successful, or what policies were violated.

Providers of security awareness training may also provide privacy or compliance training, or behavior monitoring and remediation.

Features of Security Awareness Training

Security awareness training offerings may consist of the following:

• Pre-assessments, or baseline testing to assess vulnerability

• Phishing simulation imitating known attack patterns

• Random, asynchronous attack delivery

• Phishing reply notification & alerting, reply tracking

• Non-email based testing (e.g. Smishing/SMS, or Vishing/voice, found USB drive)

• Testing analytics and user attribution (e.g. role, day/time of response, demographics)

• Industry benchmarking for security awareness performance

• Prebuilt library of Interactive training modules

• E-learning delivery with live or self-paced modules

• Security awareness materials for distribution

• Custom-test building tools for company-specific tests

• Reinforcement training, gamification, knowledge retention testing

• Auto-assign security awareness training for new or vulnerable employees

• Company-wide simulation response analytics and reporting

• Certification training for security personnel

• Industry-specific certifications (e.g. federal security, banking)

Security Awareness Training Software Comparison

When comparing security awareness training vendors, consider these factors:

1. Product scope: Do buyers’ organization’s security needs focus on employee risks, or do they require broader cybersecurity offerings? Some security awareness training providers focus on solely testing and training employees against various behavior-based threats, such as phishing. Others providers will offer a broader range of security features around email security, web browsing security, or even all-in-one cyber security suites. Consider whether the organization needs comprehensive security, or if the specific concern at hand is around employee security awareness training. Setting that scope will help narrow the list of options.

2. Security testing options: Testing is a crucial part of any security awareness training platform. However, products will vary in the range of tests they can conduct. Buyers should consider the frequency and customizability of the tests they wish to conduct, as well as the kinds of reporting on those tests the business will require after the fact.

3. Security-specific training vs. full eLearning suite: Many e-Learning products will offer security awareness training as part of their library of resources. They are also likely to have other resources, such as HR and compliance trainings, for businesses that are primarily concerned with maintaining regulatory compliance. However, these products are less likely to offer the same level of testing and reporting as standalone security awareness training tools.

Pricing Information

Security awareness training is available on per seat basis. Larger companies with greater pools of employees pay less per seat. Additionally, security awareness training offer tiers of service. Lower tiers of service provide core services like phish testing, and online training. Higher levels of service may include more elaborate testing (e.g. found USB device testing, BEC simulation), and more testing modules, as well as knowledge certifications. Security awareness service providers may also provide cybersecurity suites of software, or security appliances. These vendors offer the option to bundle security awareness training with email security services, threat intelligence, and related services.