MSP & MSSP-Provided Security Training Shouldn't Just Check a Box

It's That Time of Year Again...

It’s time for your clients’ annual security awareness training. You send it to their employees knowing very well it will sit in their inboxes for weeks until the deadline arrives. We are well aware, Security Awareness Training (SAT) and Phishing Simulation Testing (PST) are often viewed as items to ‘check-the-box’ tasks. Whether driven by compliance or shareholder concern, they’re part of the non-negotiables when it comes to security.

MSPs and MSSPs differ in the types of services offered, but they share many common goals. Arguably, the most important goal is to improve the day-to-day operations of their clients by effectively reducing client risk. Both MSPs and MSSPs act as a business enabler in that way. As the old adage goes: an organization’s greatest asset is their employees. They work countless hours to “seal the deal”, juggle multiple processes, and aid the organization in its growth in many exhaustive forms. Unfortunately, while they are “leaving it all on the line” for their respective organizations (your clients), mistakes are made.

68% of breaches involve human error, misuse, stolen credentials, or social engineering, according to Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report. We all know it’s impossible to eliminate human error, therefore, the conversation becomes one of harm reduction. The necessity to coordinate complex and effective SAT and PST is crucial to augment even the best security technologies you’ve implemented in your client’s environments.

Before we dive into our approach to these tools, let’s be sure we’re on the same page about the attacks your clients are up against.

Attacks Leading the Pack

Your client’s internal teams grapple with a multitude of malicious attacks. A few leading the pack these days are Spoofing, Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks, and BEC. One weak link in the chain, a convincing email leading to accidental data exposure, compromised credentials, or leaked financials, is enough to put your client at a severe setback or potentially out of business. These three attacks are often in the conversation when an organization is compromised today.

Email Spoofing

Spoofing fakes the identity of emails, websites, or phone numbers you trust to steal credentials or spread malware. It’s a simple but effective method to bypass basic email defenses and deceive your employees.

Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks

MITM attacks intercept communication between two parties to steal or manipulate sensitive data. Hackers often use phishing or fake Wi-Fi hotspots to secretly compromise victim communications. A big problem area for the growing population of remote employees.

Business Email Compromise (BEC)

BEC involves cybercriminals impersonating trusted individuals, utilizing CEO Fraud or posing as other business executives, to trick employees into transferring money or sharing sensitive data (Forbes recently highlighted a scary-yet-convincing DocuSign BEC this year). According to the 2023 FBI Internet Crime Report, BEC was the second-costliest type of crime with 21,489 complaints amounting to $2.9 billion in reported losses.

To make matters worse, Generative AI attacks are only becoming more prevalent. According to Deep Instinct’s latest Voice of SecOps Report, 75% of security professionals reported a rise in cyberattacks in the last 12 months, with 85% linking this escalation to the use of generative AI by threat actors. Do we still think testing and training should merely check a box?

Our Approach to SAT and PST

Cybercriminals increasingly exploit untrained employees to bypass sophisticated security systems, making user awareness a critical defense layer. For MSPs and MSSPs, offering security training is no longer just an add-on or a nice-to have—it’s a necessity to protect your clients’ data, reputation, and compliance posture.

IRONSCALES comprehensive platform is designed to make testing just as simple as it is effective. After our API-based integration is installed within your client’s environment, they will have access to over 200 videos made by our internal team, Wizer, and other premium security training providers. No effort is required on your end, as the IRONSCALES team provides regular updates to our content to incorporate relevant trends, attack vectors, and techniques into your library of videos. End users may also add their own videos for further customization or compliance.

PST with IRONSCALES empowers MSPs and MSSPs to proactively assess and improve their clients’ email security posture. This includes innovative GPT-Powered Phishing Simulation Testing. IRONSCALES’ AI-driven phishing simulations, integrated with real-world attack data, ensure your clients’ training stays ahead of evolving threats. Employees receive instant feedback when they interact with simulated attacks, reinforcing a security-first culture. For MSPs managing diverse client environments, this scalable and automated approach streamlines the process of testing and training, minimizing administrative overhead.

This capability is a game-changer for MSPs and MSSPs because it turns a common vulnerability—end-user behavior—into a strength. By offering complex PST as part of your services portfolio, MSPs can differentiate themselves in a crowded market, showcasing your commitment to holistic, proactive cybersecurity.

We focus on 3 core principles within our training platform to keep your employees sharp. Smart Targeting allows you or your client’s in-house security team the ability to pick and choose which departments, executives, or frequently targeted individuals get tested based on their role and associated risk. Our Adaptive Content keeps employees vigilant about what tactics are used most today. Lastly, we make sure all our content meets the compliance and government needs of your client.

In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, emphasizing SAT and PST is critical as human error remains the top enabler of phishing attacks. We handle the heavy lifting, so your organization can focus on what matters most—driving new business.

Moral of the Story

Once again, no company can guarantee your network of clients won’t have an employee fall victim to phishing or the dozens of alternative malicious attacks the modern enterprise faces today. We can only improve their vigilance. We’ve seen time and time again the need for relevant, real-world phishing testing and security training as businesses fall victim to reputational damage, financial loss, costly data breaches, and more.

Conversations involving SAT and PST are often treated with little to no respect these days because clients are focused on checking a box. Maybe your clients are looking for lower cyber insurance rates, solely seeking to maintain compliance, or simply appeasing stakeholders. Whatever the driving force is, don’t compromise when it comes to employee and end-user training. After all, an organization's employees are their greatest asset.