Phishing, particularly through email, has become one of the most successful and destructive cyber threats that organizations contend with today. According to a new report from IBM Security, the average global cost of a data breach skyrocketed to $4.45 million in 2024. This sobering number highlights the critical importance of bolstering cybersecurity. The report analyzed data from over 550 nonprofits across 16 countries. As the report notes, the growing consequences of cyber threats are immense, and there is a clear call for companies to implement proactive strategies.
Organizations are increasingly realizing the value of cybersecurity awareness training. A number of regulatory frameworks, including GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001, underscore its importance. Phishing test programs have become one of the cornerstones of our cybersecurity training efforts. They focus on building awareness and driving freer security habits through their employee base. This proactive approach goes a long way toward prevention of the risks. It turns agency employees from a potential security liability into a powerful first line of defense against cyber threats.
The Impact of Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks remain the number one threat to organizations. They employ social engineering tactics to manipulate employees into disclosing sensitive data or activating harmful links. The growing scale and complexity of cyber attacks make a resounding call for defense from above. According to the newly released IBM Security report, these breaches are costing an eye-popping amount. Local businesses suffer financial losses that can be devastating and even catastrophic to their business.
Phishing test programs have been shown to be a powerful deterrent against this increasing threat. By recreating phishing attacks as they occur in the wild, organizations can identify which employees are most likely to fall for a phishing lure and put them at risk. These programs do more than shine a spotlight on weaknesses within the workforce—they offer extremely valuable guidance on what to improve and where.
Additionally, the impact of not proactively tackling phishing risks can be deadly. Beyond monetary damages, data breaches impact public perception and erode customer confidence. Carrying out phishing test programs is more than just a defensible move. It’s not just a nice-to-have — it’s a central component of a strong cybersecurity strategy.
Training for a Secure Future
Proper and continual training of employees is absolutely essential for all organizations. Employees need to cultivate the ability to identify and prevent phishing attempts as part of a larger effort to improve workplace cybersecurity. Cybersecurity awareness training is the first line of defense to prevent data breaches and deal with cyber threats and emergencies. Employees who participate in phishing test programs improve their vigilance and understanding. Alternatively, through education and awareness, they are able to better prepare themselves against threats and thereby remove their target status.
Phishing simulations have become one of the most distinct trends under these test programs. By incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, organizations can deliver far more real-world and impactful phishing simulations. These technologies allow simulations to be dynamic and iterative, simulating the most up-to-date and relevant phishing techniques that cybercriminals are using.
As employees work with these simulations, they create an instinctual perception of what they should look for in fashioning future threats. Soon, this knowledge turns into muscle memory, instilling good security practices into their daily workflows.
The Importance of Continuous Improvement
Cyber threats are not slowing down and neither should organizations as they need to be constantly aware and ahead of the threat in their cyber defense. Phishing test programs like these are an important part of a broader and longer-term strategy to raise your organization’s cybersecurity baseline. They initially take stock of employee awareness. This drives organizations to build measures of continuous improvement into their corrective action plans to remedy areas of weakness noted in the report.
Organizations that invest in effective cybersecurity awareness training and phishing test programs can mitigate the costs associated with data breaches significantly. By building an organizational mindset around protecting against and being aware of potential risks, businesses can make themselves less susceptible to cyber attacks.
