The 17 best phishing awareness training programs in 2024

Training your employees is one of the most important things you can do to prepare them for phishing attacks. That ‘s why phishing awareness training programs are on the rise.

However, there are a ton of different training methods on the market. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best phishing email awareness training programs to help you pick the solution that fits your organization.

17 best phishing staff awareness training programs

1. Guardey: Duolingo for phishing awareness

Guardey believes that phishing awareness training doesn’t have to be boring or time-consuming. That’s why they modeled their training platform after Duolingo. Guardey uses gamification to keep the learning experience fun, which also makes the training much more effective.

Colleagues can compete with each other on a company-wide leaderboard. You can score points by performing well during short micro-challenges that take three minutes to complete. You also get rewarded for consistently showing up each week.

Guardey also comes with a compelling storyline. At the start of the ‘game’, the user will become the founder of their own fictional organization, which they have to protect from cyber threats. When they perform well, the organization makes money. If they don’t the organization’s reputation tanks and they lose money.

Pros:

• Fully gamified learning experience
• Time-efficient for both admins and end-users
• Real-time insights and monthly reports on performance
• Supports 10+ languages

Cons:

• Doesn’t use video, which is seen as a con by some

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2. KnowBe4

KnowBe4 is the most widely used cybersecurity phishing awareness training system. It stands out from the crowd thanks to its extensive training library, quality materials and convincing simulations. KnowBe4 is used internationally and supports over 35 different languages.

Reviewers praise its effectiveness and ease of deployment, although some note that there are translation and localization issues in some languages. Also, the platform requires a lot of customization by admins. This is fine for larger organizations with a team in place to take of phishing awareness. However, it becomes an issue for smaller organizations who can’t spare a full FTE or more to focus on its phishing awareness program.

Pros:

• Effective, with convincing phishing simulations.
• Baselining, ongoing training and continuous evaluation.
• Ease of use.
• Extensive, high-quality training library.

Cons:

• High cost.
• Requires a lot of customization from admins.
• Localization issues with some languages.

3. Mimecast

Mimecast is less expensive than other products. Tthe training system can be integrated with Mimecast’s cybersecurity solutions, allowing real-world performance to shape the training offered to each learner. On the downside, some Mimecast’s reviewers seem unimpressed with its performance, citing technical issues in setting up simulated phishing campaigns and poor customer service.

Pros:

• Ongoing training and evaluation.
• A well-organized training library.
• Emphasis on training for regulatory compliance.
• Can be integrated with Mimecast’s cybersecurity products.

Cons:

• No baselining or gamification.
• Limited interactive training elements.
• Some reviewers complain of technical problems and sub-par customer service.

4. Barracuda

Barracuda Security Awareness Training aims to equip employees with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to avoid phishing attacks and other cybersecurity threats. Barracuda has all the top features that customers want to see in this kind of product — continuous training, phishing vulnerability evaluation, personalization, interactivity and a large training library. Notably, though, training isn’t gamified. Barracuda also doesn’t appear to offer baselining, without which it’s hard to measure the success of its training materials.

That said, most reviewers are very satisfied with Barracuda. It stacks up well next to its competitors. Learners find the UI easy to use, although the admin dashboard can be challenging. Overall, Barracuda is one of the better phishing security awareness training solutions out there, although far from the cheapest.

Pros:

• Ongoing training and evaluation.
• Strong focus on phishing.
• Convincing simulations.

Cons:

• No baselining or gamification.
• The admin dashboard is unintuitive and tricky to use.

5. Phished

As the name implies, Phished is a cybersecurity and phishing awareness training solution that focuses primarily on phishing and similar attacks. It’s an automated system, designed to be set up once and allowed to run without requiring much adjustment. This is good news for busy admins. Phished offers an “academy” for training employees, while also delivering convincing simulated phishing attacks that keep users on their toes. Reviewers like the automation and found the simulations highly realistic. One criticism is that although risk analysis and reporting features are present, they could be more user-friendly and the reports more in-depth.

Pros:

• Baselining, ongoing training and evaluation.
• Convincing, customizable phishing simulations.
• Large training library.
• Time-efficient for admins

Cons:

• No gamification.
• Reporting features could be improved in terms of usability and information.

6. Ninjio

Ninjio’s main claim to fame is its fun and engaging training content. Its training materials are very well-produced, with excellent short videos that convey a lot of important information in a quick and digestible format. Reviewers generally found Ninjio’s training very effective in raising phishing and security awareness among staff.

On the downside, admins report finding Ninjio more than a little difficult to use. There’s a distinct learning curve when getting to grips with the dashboard. All the fun content in the world can’t compensate for instability and technical issues. Another criticism is that the reporting features could benefit from an upgrade.

Pros:

• High-quality video content.
• Baselining, ongoing training and evaluation.
• Phishing evaluation.
• Interactive training materials.

Cons:

• Technical issues and instability.

7. Living Security

Living Security bills itself as a total human risk-management (HRM) solution. While it doesn’t emphasize phishing specifically, phishing awareness training is a major element of the overall system. Living Security aims to go beyond essential regulatory compliance, equipping staff with the knowledge they need to avoid incidents before they occur.

Does it succeed? Well, reviewers seem to think so. Living Security is rated highly on platforms like G2, with customers praising the quality training materials and the clear explanations of technical jargon. The customer support also drew praise. Some reviewers do report occasional technical hitches when a lot of learners are active at one time.

Pro:

• Well-designed training materials.
• Engaging, jargon-free presentation of complex topics.
• Continual development and expansion of the training library.
• Ongoing training and evaluation.

Cons:

• A newer product with some technical wrinkles to be ironed out.

8. Infosec IQ

Infosec IQ is a cyber security phishing awareness training solution with a library of over 3,000 resources. It checks all the boxes in terms of features: baselining, gamification, personalization, interactivity, etc. The range of subjects covered is extensive, from basic digital security concepts to more sophisticated topics like spear-phishing and social engineering.

Reviewers praise the quality of the training content, the ease of setup and the overall effectiveness in improving employees’ security know-how. That said, many admins struggle with Infosec IQ’s technical issues and unimpressive reporting features. It’s also difficult to add and remove users to the simulated phishing campaign lists.

Pros:

• Vast training library.
• Gamification and interactivity.
• Baselining, ongoing training and evaluation.
• Effective simulated phishing campaigns.

Cons:

• Sometimes unstable and buggy.
• Adding and removing users is difficult.

9. Hoxhunt

As one of the top names in phishing security awareness training, Hoxhunt boasts all the features you’d expect. Baselining gives administrators an overview of each employee’s awareness and skill level, allowing users’ progress to be tracked against their initial scores. Trainings include plenty of interactive content, along with gamification to promote engagement. Hoxhunt supports personalization and white labeling.

Reviewers expressed enthusiasm for the use of real-world scenarios to create convincing phishing simulations and the overall ease of use for both learners and administrators. A common complaint, however, was the complexity of the initial setup. Reviewers also note that Hoxhunt is an expensive option.

Pros:

• Gamification and interactivity.
• White labeling and personalization.
• Realistic phishing scenarios based on actual cases.
• Baselining, ongoing training and evaluation.

Cons:

• Expensive, especially if many learners will be using the software.
• Setup can be complicated and time-consuming.

10. Hook Security

Hook Security is a smaller player in the phishing and security training space but their training solutions have drawn praise from many customers. Hook Security is a full-featured training solution, lacking only gamification to complete the full set of desirable elements.

Overall sentiment is positive, with reviewers praising the engaging and relatable training content. On the minus side, there’s a lack of individual risk assessment and some technical issues that reviewers found frustrating.

Pros:

• Transparent pricing and modest rates.
• Extensive, engaging training library.
• Highly customizable phishing simulations.
• Baselining and ongoing training/assessment.

Cons:

• A lack of individualized risk scoring.
• Some technical issues.

11. MetaCompliance

As you’d surmise from the name, MetaCompliance focuses primarily on ensuring that learners are in compliance with regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA, as well as with a company’s own policies and standards. This makes it an attractive choice for situations where employees must handle sensitive information such as patient records, and need to be trained in compliance with specific regulations.

Reviewers praise the quality of the training materials and the effectiveness of the training programs, as well as the realism of the simulated phishing attacks. Few customers who reviewed MetaCompliance found much to criticize, although there is a rather steep learning curve for administrators.

Pros:

• Great for training to regulatory standards.
• Baselining, risk analysis, ongoing training and assessment.
• Customizability and white labeling.
• Gamification.
• Good reporting features.

Cons:

• Can be challenging for administrators.

12. Proofpoint

Proofpoint Security Awareness Training’s main USP is its intelligence-driven approach. Proofpoint uses machine learning to gather information from security systems and then deploys this data to tailor each user’s specific training path. For example, if a user interacts with one of Proofpoint’s simulated phishing scams in a way that would open the organization to risk, Proofpoint would serve that user additional training on how to spot phishing emails. This detailed personalization could be appealing if learners are at very different levels in terms of their knowledge.

Proofpoint offers all the features you’d want to see: baselining, continuous training and evaluation, risk scoring, gamification, etc. Reviewers praise the materials and the effectiveness of the phishing awareness training program but criticize issues with integration into security systems.

Pros:

• Intelligence-driven training.
• Baselining, ongoing training and evaluation.
• Good reporting features.
• Great for enterprise organizations.

Cons:

• Slow loading times.
• Disorganized library.
• Steep learning curve.
• Manual customization is limited.

13. ESET

ESET Security Awareness Training is an online cybersecurity and phishing staff awareness training solution. It features a range of courses, some short and some taking up to 90 minutes. ESET also allows administrators to send out simulated phishing attacks using pre-made templates; admins can also create their own templates for their specific requirements. ESET emphasizes training for regulatory compliance. Reviewers liked the gamification element of the training and the fact that there were relevant materials for users of all knowledge levels, including those who already had plenty of experience. Pricing is transparent, starting at $125 for five devices.

Pros:

• Realistic phishing simulations.
• Gamification and immersive training promote engagement.
• Training materials are based on real-world examples.
• Transparent pricing.

Cons:

• The administrator dashboard is complicated, making it difficult to assign users and create phishing campaigns.

14. Boxphish

Boxphish is a well-rounded product with most of the features you’d expect to see in a security and phishing awareness training program. It emphasizes phishing training and prevention. Reviewers liked the ease of setup and use and praised the excellent customer service. On the downside, Boxphish’s training materials seem to be limited in terms of level and scope, and the quizzes are too simplistic for some reviewers’ needs. Pricing is not transparent but based on reports from customers, Boxphish is notably more expensive than comparable solutions.

Pros:

• Baselining and ongoing training/evaluation.
• White labeling and customization options.
• Simple to set up and use.
• Great customer service.

Cons:

• Training and quizzes don’t cater for higher-level learners.
• Comparatively high cost.

15. Arctic Wolf

Arctic Wolf is a big name in cybersecurity training, with tens of thousands of customers. It’s a higher-end provider, offering concierge-style cybersecurity services that integrate with its training solutions. Their training uses data gathered from their security services, ensuring that each user receives targeted training that’s relevant to past mistakes or insecure behaviours. Because it’s part of Arctic Wolf’s security solutions, the training package is less appealing as a standalone solution. Pricing is not transparent but it’s fair to say that Arctic Wolf charges significantly more than other providers; not unreasonably, given the high level of service offered.

Pros:

• Narrowly targeted training that addresses employees’ specific weak areas.
• Up-to-the-minute materials that are always fresh and relevant.
• Baselining, ongoing training/evaluation.
• Gamification and engagement-promoting features.

Cons:

• Designed to work with Arctic Wolf’s security products and services rather than as a standalone training solution.
• Premium pricing.

16. Breach Secure Now

Breach Secure Now is a smaller player than, say, KnowBe4, but has built a solid customer base on its effective training and positive philosophy. Aimed specifically at managed service providers, Breach Secure Now emphasizes treating employees as potential cybersecurity assets and training them accordingly. They also offer a range of other cybersecurity and compliance services. Their phishing training has attracted positive reviews, particularly the CatchPhish module which uses interactive games to help learners engage with the material.

Pros:

• Plenty of features.
• Continuous training/evaluation.
• Positive training philosophy.
• Emphasis on compliance.
• Targeted towards MSPs.
• Gamification.

Cons:

• Not relevant to organizations that aren’t MSPs.

17. Wizer

Wizer’s training modules emphasize brevity and compelling storytelling, drawing on real-life phishing attacks and other scams to engage learners’ attention and create a compelling phishing awareness training program. Their Wizer Stories series is memorable, effective and popular with learners. There’s a free tier available for you to try out the service, consisting of a one-off course on essential security. If you upgrade to the Boost tier, you get access to monthly videos, phishing simulations and phishing exercises. The Boost tier is free for 10 days, after which you’ll pay $25 per user per year.

Pros:

• Fun, engaging content with gamification elements.
• Modestly priced with plenty of free content to try.
• Emphasis on phishing prevention and regulatory compliance.

Cons:

• Less feature-rich than more expensive competitors.

The importance of phishing awareness training

Phishing email awareness training is very important for staff at all levels. Phishing can lead to a range of serious issues for an organization. These can include:

• data breaches
• loss of data
• infection with malicious software (such as ransomware)
• identity theft
• financial fraud

Organizations can also face heavy fines if a breach of regulations is involved, to say nothing of reputational harm if sensitive information is stolen. A company that’s hit by a successful phishing attack might even have problems with obtaining insurance in the future.

Phishing prevention used to consist of checking for obvious typos and suspicious sender addresses. Those were simpler times. Phishing attacks have evolved, using cunning tricks like address spoofing and AI to make malicious communication harder to recognize. There are new vectors, too. Attacks affect individuals and organizations everywhere in the world, from the smallest mom-and-pop operation to the biggest multinational.

The Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) is an industry organization set up to fight phishing and related crimes. According to APWG’s Phishing Activity Trends Report for Q1 2024, there were nearly 300,000 attacks in March 2024. There were fewer attacks overall, but the number of individual phishing campaigns rose by around two-thirds. While successful phishing campaigns have declined over 2024, it’s important to stay on the ball and know how to spot phishing. A phishing awareness training program can give your staff the know-how they need, protecting them and your organization.

How does phishing work?

Phishing is a type of identity theft. Attackers carefully craft fake messages that appear to come from reputable sources that a victim would trust, such as banks, retailers, postal services or other companies. Typically, the recipient will be prompted to visit a site that’s controlled by the attacker. The site will look exactly like a trusted website, such as an online banking portal.

When the victim attempts to log in with their details, this information — user name, password, email etc. — will be harvested by the attacker and used to gain access to the victim’s account. Phishing messages are often highly convincing, using logos, URLs and email addresses that closely resemble those of a legitimate entity.

The most-used forms of phishing

Here are some of the most common forms of phishing to watch out for.

Email phishing

Email phishing uses fake emails purporting to come from banks, retailers and other trusted sources. Typically, they will include a link that the user is meant to click on. While the link will usually be disguised to look as if it leads to a real website, it will take the victim to a website controlled by the attacker where their user information will be harvested. Alternatively, it might lead to an attack site or download malicious software directly onto the victim’s device or network.

Phishing emails often include ominous warnings that an account is about to be closed or that there will be some financial or legal penalty if the user doesn’t log in immediately. This is to create stress and urgency in the victim, making them less likely to pause and reflect on whether the email is real or not.

As well as conventional email, phishing messages are often sent via social media, either as direct messages or as fraudulent posts or comments.

Spear phishing

Most regular phishing campaigns are broad and generic, aiming to fool as many targets as possible. Spear phishing is different. It involves targeting specific, high-value individuals such as C-suite executives or people with access to important information that the attackers want. Spear phishing emails are designed to look as if they come from someone that the victim trusts, often including information and language that will put the victim off their guard.

Vishing

Vishing is short for “voice fishing”. In this type of attack, criminals use phone calls to fool the victim rather than using email. The goal is the same: to garner sensitive data which can be used for identity theft, account hacking or monetary fraud. Vishing attacks often involve high volumes of calls, sometimes using computer-generated voice messages that are delivered automatically. The aim is usually to trick the victim into talking to a human agent, who will proceed with the scam.

The term “vishing” can also refer to fraudulent video calls. Although these are rarer, the rise of generative AI has made creating fake videos of real people much easier and the results are more convincing.

WhatsApp phishing

WhatsApp phishing refers to the use of the WhatsApp instant messaging system to send scam messages. Attackers may claim to represent a charity or an investment opportunity or to work for WhatsApp. They may also pretend to be people the victim knows. They may try to harvest sensitive information, such as user names and passwords, or to persuade the victim to send them money.

Quishing

Quishing uses QR codes as an attack vector. You’re probably familiar with QR codes: black and white squares that you can scan with your phone to reveal information. A QR code might be used to direct users to an app or website, or it might be an encrypted document or image. Unfortunately, QR codes can be used to direct users to malicious websites or deliver fraudulent information. They may even download malware directly onto a victim’s phone. One common example of quishing is the placement of fake QR codes on parking meters. Victims think that they’re using a legitimate QR code to pay for parking with their cellphones, but in reality, their payments are going to a cybercriminal.

Smishing

Smishing is phishing via SMS or other cellphone text messaging services. It is very similar to email phishing, with the aim of tricking victims into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware onto their cell phones.

Real-life examples of phishing

Real-world examples of phishing are not difficult to find. There have been many high-profile attacks over the past two decades, often affecting millions of people. One example is the notorious WannaCry attack from 2007. This attack used phishing emails to spread ransomware to individuals and businesses worldwide. Victims unwittingly downloaded malware that immediately encrypted all of the files on a device or network, causing untold disruption and financial harm.

Another example is the Twitter VIP attack that occurred in 2020. Cybercriminals used phishing messages to steal the Twitter accounts of several high-profile individuals, and then used those accounts to post about a cryptocurrency scam. They obtained huge sums in Bitcoin before the accounts could be recovered.

A more recent example is the Uncle Scam phishing campaign, which is still active as of 2024.

This targets contractors seeking work with the US government. Victims are sent convincing emails inviting them to bid on government contracts via a link to a website.

Although the site has been carefully crafted to look exactly like the real website of the General Services Administration (GSA), it’s controlled by cybercriminals. This attack aims to obtain sensitive personally identifying information that can be used for further identity theft. The Uncle Scam attack leverages generative AI, using LLMs to create convincing emails.

With attacks increasing in sophistication all the time, it’s never been more important to train your staff in phishing awareness and prevention. Investing in a good phishing awareness training program is a must.

Conclusion

There is a huge offer of phishing awareness training tools on the market. By using the list above, you can find a solution that best fits your organization. Make sure to keep in mind that the solution should fit your organization size, the time you have to monitor and customize the training sessions, and what style of learning fits your employees best.

Guardey offers a phishing awareness training solution that aims to make the learning experience fun. It uses gamification elements like a leaderboard, achievements, and hot streaks to keep users engaged and create a form of friendly competition.