Implement Regular Phishing Simulation Exercises to Test Employee Responsiveness and Identify Areas for Further Training

EasyChair Preprint no. 13830

Abstract

Phishing attacks continue to be a significant threat to organizations, often targeting employees as the weakest link in the security chain. To address this vulnerability, implementing regular phishing simulation exercises is a crucial step in enhancing an organization's security posture. This abstract outlines a comprehensive approach to planning and executing these simulations, with the goal of evaluating employee responsiveness and identifying areas for further training.

The outlined process begins with establishing clear goals and objectives for the phishing simulations, such as measuring employee awareness, assessing responsiveness, and determining training needs. It then discusses the importance of determining the appropriate frequency and scope of the exercises, ensuring they align with the organization's overall security awareness initiatives.

The abstract delves into the development of realistic and convincing phishing simulation scenarios, drawing from research on common phishing techniques. It emphasizes the need to create personalized messages, utilize appropriate branding and tone, and avoid obvious indicators of phishing. Furthermore, it highlights the implementation of tracking and monitoring mechanisms to capture employee responses and actions for data-driven analysis.

The execution of the phishing simulation exercises is outlined, focusing on effective communication with employees, coordination with IT and security teams, and the deployment of the simulated phishing emails. The abstract then addresses the crucial step of providing feedback and training to employees, recognizing those who responded correctly, offering tailored guidance to those who fell for the phishing attempt, and developing targeted training programs to address identified areas of weakness.

Keyphrases: Initiatives, monitoring mechanisms, security awareness, security chain

@Booklet{EasyChair:13830,
  author = {Samon Daniel and Edwin Frank},
  title = {Implement Regular Phishing Simulation Exercises to Test Employee Responsiveness and Identify Areas for Further Training},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint no. 13830},

  year = {EasyChair, 2024}}