In the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, organisations face an increasing challenge: how to protect their assets and data from sophisticated attacks. One of the most effective tools in this battle is Security Awareness Training. With over 13 years of experience and data from tens of thousands of organisations, the results are clear—SAT works. It significantly reduces the risk of cyber security breaches, by educating employees on how to spot and avoid common threats such as phishing attacks.

The Power of Training

When organisations first implement Security Awareness Training, the statistics can be alarming. On average, about 33% of employees are likely to click on a phishing email. However, with consistent training and Simulated Phishing Tests, this rate plummets to around 5% within a year. This drastic reduction is not limited to organisations that strictly follow best practices; it’s an average across all customers. Some organisations even achieve click rates as low as 2%.

Debunking the Effectiveness of Security Awareness Training

Critics often argue that because Cyber Security Awareness Training isn’t 100% effective, it’s not worth the investment. However, this standard isn’t applied to other cyber security measures. For instance, patching and antivirus programs are rarely 100% effective, yet they are essential components of any security strategy.

The goal of cyber security isn’t to eliminate all the risks — such a goal is unattainable, but to reduce them as much as possible. Cyber Security Awareness Training is incredibly effective at reducing the risk posed by social engineering attacks, bringing the likelihood of a successful phishing attack down by a substantial margin.

The Limits of Technical Defences

While technical defences like content filtering and antivirus software are crucial, they are not foolproof. No technology has yet been developed that can detect and block 100% of phishing attacks. Additionally, phishing isn’t limited to emails—attackers use SMS, social media, voice calls, QR codes, and messaging apps to reach their targets. As end-to-end encryption becomes more widespread, these methods become even harder to detect through purely technical means.

The Role of Human Vigilance

There are numerous forms of social engineering that technical defences simply cannot catch, such as call-back phishing, romance scams, and long-term spear phishing attacks. In these cases, the best line of defence is an informed and vigilant employee. A little and regular education can go a long way in preventing these types of attacks. By training employees to recognise the signs of phishing and other social engineering tactics, organisations can significantly bolster their cyber security posture.

AI, Deepfakes, and the Future of Phishing

As AI and deepfake technology advance, phishing attacks will undoubtedly become more sophisticated. However, every phishing attack, no matter how realistic, has telltale signs that can be detected with proper training. This makes Security Awareness Training more important than ever. Users need to be equipped to spot, mitigate, and report suspicious activities, and this requires continuous education and training.

The Data Doesn’t Lie

The effectiveness of Security Awareness Training isn’t just theoretical; it’s backed by hard data. At PhishFrenzy, we use a well-established industry partner KnowBe4, with over 65,000 customers and hundreds of millions of simulated phishing tests, the results consistently show that frequent and comprehensive training makes employees better at identifying and avoiding phishing attacks.

An average new customer often starts with about a third of their workforce proven to click on any phishing email. After training and simulated phishing tests, that rate drops to around 5% in a year or less (as summarised below).

So, Why Does Education Matter?

Education has always been a key part of solving any problem, and cyber security is no exception. By investing in Security Awareness Training, organisations can significantly reduce their cyber security risks, making it one of the most effective strategies available.

Security awareness training is a critical part of any comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. It’s not just about checking a box—it’s about significantly reducing the risk of cyberattacks through education and vigilance. As cyber threats continue to evolve, so must the training that prepares your employees to defend against them. This is a proven, data-backed method to protect your organisation, and it’s more important now than ever.