An Introduction to Gamified Phishing Assessments
In today’s digital landscape, the threat of phishing attacks is ever-present. Traditional methods of phishing training, like live phishing simulations, have their merits but also come with significant drawbacks. Enter gamified phishing assessments—an innovative and engaging way to train staff. These assessments not only make learning about phishing enjoyable but also provide more reliable data on employee proficiency and vulnerability. Let’s explore what gamified phishing assessments are and how they work, along with their benefits over traditional methods.
What is a Gamified Phishing Assessment?
While many are familiar with live phishing assessments or mock phishing campaigns, a gamified phishing assessment offers a fresh approach. This method measures human vulnerability to phishing risks without many of the disadvantages associated with sending live simulated phishing messages. Instead of targeting employees with potentially stress-inducing fake phishing emails, gamified assessments present a series of simulated messages in a controlled, game-like environment.
How Does a Gamified Phishing Assessment Work?
In a gamified phishing assessment, team members test their skills at distinguishing between suspicious and safe messages in an interactive and entertaining format. Participants are presented with various simulated messages and tasked with sorting them as either safe or suspicious. Feedback can be given immediately after each decision or at the end of the exercise, depending on the chosen format. This approach not only enhances engagement but also reinforces learning in a positive manner.
Key Drawbacks of Relying on Live Phishing Simulations
Live phishing simulations, though easy to deploy, have several significant drawbacks:
1. Employee Resistance: Increasingly, employees are pushing back against being targeted by live phishing simulations, which can damage corporate culture and morale.
2. Inconsistent Data: Different message topics in each campaign make it challenging to perform an “apples to apples” comparison and achieve reliable trend analysis.
3. Unreliable Metrics: The click-through rate, often considered a key metric, can be influenced by many variables, rendering it an unreliable measure of vulnerability.
Gamified phishing assessments address these issues by offering a consistent and enjoyable way for employees to improve their skills and for organisations to gather meaningful data.
Assurance for Risk Management
Gamified phishing assessments utilise a consistent set of simulated phishing messages, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of employees’ analytical skills. This approach provides a richer dataset to determine whether employees are careless, overly cautious, or well-informed about phishing threats. By creating a positive learning environment and providing actionable insights, gamified assessments offer greater assurance for managing phishing risks effectively.
In conclusion, gamified phishing assessments represent a significant advancement in cybersecurity training. They provide an engaging and effective alternative to traditional methods, helping organisations enhance their defenses against phishing attacks while fostering a positive corporate culture.
Interested in gamified phishing assessments for your employees? Reach out to us at Realbytes today to find out how we can help.
