Phishing Attack Simulation

Phishing threats have matured from simple scams into complex schemes targeting corporate networks with deceptive, urgency-laden emails and precise spear phishing. In 2022, 71% of organizations faced potential or actual business email compromise (BEC) attacks, with the APWG noting a surge in unique phishing email subject lines.

Phishing reached a new quarterly high in late 2022 (Source)

Modern attackers leverage on-demand phishing services and AI to craft convincing messages, leading to sophisticated BEC and adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) attacks that bypass security measures like multi-factor authentication.

Organizations are now adopting phishing attack simulations to proactively identify weak spots, train employees, and reinforce security. This article makes sure you don’t get left behind, delving into executing these simulations effectively and showcasing how the IRONSCALES platform not only facilitates simulations but also integrates security awareness to keep organizations ahead of threats.

Summary of core phishing attack simulation concepts

Understanding phishing simulation

Phishing simulation is a critical exercise that sends fake phishing attacks to your team in a controlled setting to test their alertness to hacker tactics. This proactive measure prepares them to spot and stop actual threats and meets various regulatory requirements, like those of GDPR and HIPAA, that mandate regular security awareness testing. These simulations transform your staff into an informed frontline defense system.

In the coming sections, we’ll detail how to integrate phishing simulations into your security strategy, enhancing your organization’s defensive capabilities with each drill.

Setting the stage for simulation

Integrating IRONSCALES

The integration process is refreshingly straightforward and accomplished in about 3-clicks: Minimal configuration is required, and there’s no need for a complete system overhaul. Compared to other solutions, Ironscales does not require updating inbound policies or adding exceptions because it integrates with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace via API to ensure a smooth adoption for phishing simulation. 

Defining the Scope

To help ensure that your phishing simulation delivers actionable insights, let’s dissect the pivotal steps in defining its scope.

Clarifying objectives

Start with a clear statement of what you want to achieve. Here’s a table showing what objectives might look like.

Choosing metrics

Once objectives are set, select the right metrics to measure success. Key metrics could include the following:

• Click-through rate (CTR): Tracks the percentage of recipients clicking phishing links, indicating susceptibility
• Reporting rate: Measures how many recipients report phishing emails before and after interaction, showing alertness
• Time to report: The average time taken to report a phishing email, which gauges response speed
• Failure rate by department: Identifies departmental vulnerability based on the percentage that fell for the simulation
• Repeat clickers: Monitors users who repeatedly click on phishing links, signaling ongoing risk

These metrics must align with your objectives, such as using CTR and reporting rate for gauging awareness.

Envisioning expected outcomes

Define clear, measurable outcomes linked to objectives, so you can gauge success. For example:

• A CTR below 5% may reflect effective awareness campaigns.
• A reporting rate over 75% suggests a well-informed team.
• Reporting in under 30 minutes indicates swift incident response.

Creating realistic phishing templates

Crafting realistic phishing templates is crucial for effective simulation, and IRONSCALES provides the tools to mirror actual threats. Here’s a streamlined guide.

Creating templates from scratch

Customize your phishing templates within Ironscales:

1. Start a new template in the Templates section under Content Management.
2. Specify the template details, such as name, type, and user awareness level.
3. Personalize the sender information using the permitted domains.
4. Create the email content with formatting options and attach files or select pages for call to action (CTA) prompts.
5. Insert educational tooltips and set custom URLs for a realistic experience.

This approach equips your team to recognize and counter real threats.

The Create Template dialog box

Using real incidents

IRONSCALES also allows template creation from real or historical incidents:

1. Choose to create a template from an incident’s details.
2. Modify the sender information and email content to simulate specific scenarios.
3. Safely replace harmful content with placeholders.

The platform’s mix of simplicity and customization prepares your team to tackle actual phishing attempts effectively.

Creating an incident template

Target selection

When orchestrating a phishing simulation campaign, one of the initial steps is the meticulous selection of targets. Here, we delve into the segmentation strategy and the frequency and variety settings for the tests.

Segmentation strategy

Segmentation is crucial in creating targeted simulations that yield actionable insights. The following steps outline strategic options for segmenting your workforce:

1. By department: Different departments have diverse exposure and susceptibility to phishing attempts.

    

   Department	Rationale for targeting
   Finance	Financial data
   Human Resources	Sensitive employee data management
   IT	Access to administrative privileges
   Operations	May not be as vigilant as IT-focused teams.
   Customer Service	Frequent engagement with external emails

2. By role: Employees’ department roles can affect their risk profiles; for instance, executives may be prime targets for BEC scams.
3. Based on previous performance: Past interaction with phishing simulations can offer valuable insights into specific training needs. Employees who have previously fallen for simulations represent a critical area of focus for retesting and education.

Frequency and variety

The frequency and variety of tests are also pivotal. Here’s a guideline to help set an effective schedule:

1. Frequency:
   
   

   Employee segment	Suggested frequency
   High-risk groups	Monthly
   Medium-risk groups	Quarterly
   Low-risk groups	Biannually

2. Variety:

Launching the phishing simulation

Streamlining simulations with the IRONSCALES Quick Launch feature

This feature streamlines the deployment of phishing simulations, enabling security teams to quickly set up and execute campaigns. Here’s how to utilize this efficient tool.

1. Choose Quick Launch from the Simulation & Training menu.
2. Set the campaign timing for immediate or future deployment.
3. Specify target groups based on risk assessment findings.
4. Confirm the auto-generated settings, including language, templates, and landing pages.
5. Run a test with a select user group for quality assurance.
6. Launch the campaign, adjusting any elements as necessary.

Quick Launch is designed for ease, flexibility, and targeted simulations, allowing for frequent and varied phishing tests with just a few clicks. 

Setting up a campaign

Organizations that want finer control over their phishing simulation campaigns can configure them by clicking Simulation & Training > My Campaigns > Simulation. Fill in the information required in this screen with the results from the “Setting the stage” section above.

Selecting phishing email templates

The Ironscales platform provides phishing email templates across various difficulty levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—to match employee awareness. Beginners start with basic, common phishing scenarios; intermediates progress to more complex social engineering techniques; and advanced users tackle targeted spear-phishing and BEC simulations. Select templates that align with your organization’s security posture to ensure an appropriate level of challenge.

Choosing a landing page

Selecting the right landing page for a phishing simulation is key. It not only gives instant feedback to users about clicking on a mock phishing link but also educates them on the warning signs they overlooked. Additionally, it can present further learning materials. Tailoring this page to the simulation’s context amplifies its educational impact.

Integrating training modules

IRONSCALES enhances phishing simulations by including training modules. These can operate immediately, taking users to a training module upon interacting with a simulation email, or as a follow-up, delivering educational content after the simulation for reinforcement. Access to IRONSCALES vast training library ensures that employees learn to identify phishing threats and apply best practices in response.

Campaign test: running a pilot simulation

Before deploying a campaign across the organization, it’s prudent to conduct a pilot test with a controlled group. This serves several functions:

• Training verification: It confirms that the linked training modules are functioning and accessible, as intended.
• Metric accuracy: It validates the clarity and accuracy of the campaign’s reporting metrics.
• Adjustments: Based on the feedback and the results, necessary adjustments can be made to improve the campaign’s effectiveness.

Campaign execution

Once the campaign has been set up and tested, it can be executed with the target groups by clicking Launch. Ironscales enables real-time monitoring, allowing you to gather immediate insights and metrics on the My Campaigns page. This visibility is crucial for gauging the campaign’s impact and making necessary adjustments.

Enhancing phishing awareness training

As phishing attacks become more complex, ongoing education is essential for a robust defense. IRONSCALES provides a wealth of training materials and structured training schedules to bolster your team’s preparedness against these evolving threats.

Tapping into the IRONSCALES library of training content

The IRONSCALES library is a rich, comprehensive repository tailored to diverse learning needs that extends across various publishers known for their compelling video content. With the library, training becomes an engaging experience, drawing from NINJIO’s anime-style cybersecurity episodes, Infosequre’s behavior-changing narratives, and Wizer’s extensive video collection on security awareness, compliance, and company culture.

Crafting a consistent training schedule

Consistency is the key to building security competence. The IRONSCALES platform streamlines the creation of regular, targeted training that keeps teams alert. For a new security awareness training campaign, follow these steps:

1. Setup: Assign a campaign name and language, utilizing auto-translation for diverse teams.
2. Participants: Choose your audience by department, location, or security awareness level.
3. Timing: Schedule the frequency and timing of campaigns to ensure ongoing vigilance.
4. Content: Select impactful video content from Ironscales’ libraries or your own material.
5. Engagement: Personalize the campaign’s delivery email to boost engagement.
6. Follow-up: Implement reminders to encourage consistent training participation.
7. Review: Test your campaign before launching to confirm smooth execution.

Ironscales’ platform enables the crafting of phishing awareness training that’s engaging and retentive, turning routine exercises into a resonant learning journey.

Evaluating the phishing attack simulation results

IRONSCALES analytics platform offers a robust mechanism to dissect the results of phishing simulations, revealing critical insights into employee behavior and the effectiveness of prior training.

Analytics to evaluate training effectiveness

Begin evaluating your phishing campaign by accessing the campaign results via Simulation & Training > Campaigns, then clicking View. This section enables a detailed analysis across different organizational segments, providing insights into department-specific performances.

Focus on these crucial metrics:

• Number of Clicked Participants: Measures the propensity to click on suspect links or attachments
• Number of Trained Participants: Gauges interaction with provided training materials
• Number of Reported Participants: Indicates the level of alertness in spotting and reporting phishing attempts

The Attack Readiness Indicators report is crucial for assessing response effectiveness.

 It includes the following:

• First Report: The time from the campaign’s start to the first filed report
• Mitigation Time: How long it took to initiate an automated response to a suspected attack
• Lured Before Mitigation: The count of users interacting with the campaign before the automatic response was triggered
• Reports to Mitigate: The number of reports needed to start the automated remediation process

These indicators are instrumental in measuring how prepared an organization is to handle a real phishing threat.

Further targeted training campaigns 

By analyzing the Campaign Summary and Simulation Assessment reports, organizations can pinpoint specific areas where employees are most vulnerable. For instance, if the Number of Clicked Participants figure is high, this suggests a need for more focused training on identifying suspicious links and email content.

The Campaign Participants report aids in customizing training by revealing patterns in individual behaviors, highlighting those needing further education. Utilizing the Last 5 Results to identify those needing additional training and the Resend Training feature ensures that employees receive the necessary follow-up training to stay current with security protocols.

Exporting results and reporting

IRONSCALES enables the exporting of campaign data for in-depth review and sharing. With the Export Campaign feature, you can download a zip file containing participant responses, summaries, and detailed reports for documentation or stakeholder review. Utilize the Share function to disseminate campaign analytics directly to relevant parties within the organization.

Additionally, the Campaign Participants report can be exported as a CSV file, providing essential data for in-depth analysis and presentations. This functionality is integral to refining cybersecurity training programs, ensuring that continuous improvement aligns with organizational security goals and equips employees to counter phishing threats effectively.

Continuous improvement

In the rapidly changing cyber-threat landscape, organizations must continuously refine their phishing defense strategies to stay ahead. This means not only responding to current threats but also anticipating and preparing for future ones. Ironscales’ Autonomous Campaigns for Complete Protect (Beta) facilitates this by providing monthly campaigns with minimal setup, based on the latest phishing tactics, so teams can focus on up-to-date defense training.

Adapting phishing simulation strategies

Autonomous campaigns ensure that your defenses remain robust by reflecting the latest threats. IRONSCALES Campaign of the Month automatically aligns with the newest phishing patterns, offering the latest insights with no configuration needed.

Implementing autonomous campaigns

1. Campaign of the Month: Embrace Ironscales’ curated monthly campaigns to test against current threats.
2. Review results: Post-campaign, Ironscales sends a detailed analysis to highlight areas for improvement.
3. Continuous learning: Use these insights for regular team learning, evolving your defense with each campaign.

For implementation:

1. On the Campaign Management page, select Autonomous simulation.
2. Set the campaign schedule, and customize the participant list.
3. Submit to launch the campaign, which begins at the start of the month for a 14-day period.

Cultivating awareness and learning

A vigilant team is crucial, and a security-conscious culture is fostered through regular updates, training, and discussions. Ironscales’ Autonomous Campaigns support this by providing a steady flow of simulations that keep your team alert and informed.

Conclusion

Phishing simulations and ongoing training are critical parts of the cyber defense arsenal. This article has highlighted the imperative of proactive strategies, leveraging Ironscales’ comprehensive suite for realistic simulations coupled with robust training and threat protection. 

We encourage you to embrace this iterative approach to keep pace with the ever-evolving phishing threats and further explore how IRONSCALES can fortify your organization’s email security, ensuring that you’re not just preparing for today’s cyber challenges but also future-proofing against tomorrow’s threats. Your email security can be a stronghold with Ironscales at the helm.