Why Your Clients Need Online Phishing Training Now More Than Ever

Online phishing training helps safeguard your data, money, and systems by preventing malicious attacks. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities can be identified and patched. Proactive alerts can be set for any anomalies or tampering pertaining to access points, devices, and data. Unfortunately, phishing can potentially bypass all these safeguards because it targets the vulnerabilities of the human psyche.

Phishing attacks typically involve cybercriminals sending fake emails or messages disguised as sent from a trusted source, such as a bank, a vendor, or a co-worker. These attacks aim to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive information or clicking on a link that downloads malware or takes them to a fake website.

Attacks along similar lines also include social engineering attacks. These involve cybercriminals using psychological manipulation techniques to trick people into revealing sensitive information or performing an action, not in their best interest.

 

The Alarming Prevalence of Phishing

Phishing attacks have historically yielded great rewards for cybercriminals, be it in terms of valuable data, financial assets, or sensitive intellectual property. 90% of data breaches stem from phishing. According to the FBI, phishing attacks may increase by as much as 400% every year.

Phishing attacks can be carried out with basic technical knowledge and tools. For instance, all that a perpetrator needs to do is send out malicious emails/messages in bulk. With a mix and match of malicious tools and social engineering tactics, cybercriminals have constantly been adapting and refining their phishing game.

While purpose-built solutions exist– such as secure email gateway and cloud email security– to protect enterprises from phishing and other cyber attacks, effective phishing awareness training is the best defense that enterprises can have against phishing and social engineering attacks. After all, the user is the direct target of all phishing attacks.

 

The Imperative Need For Online Phishing Training

Leading to financial loss, data breaches, and reputational damage, phishing attacks are constantly increasing in frequency and sophistication and can be devastating for companies.

As much as employees (users) are the targets of phishing attacks, they can also be the first defense/deflector of phishing attempts with proper training. Online phishing training helps raise awareness about the tactics and techniques used by cybercriminals. Companies can thereby reduce the risk of successful attacks.

A Taste of Real-world Phishing Attacks

Online phishing training can include simulated phishing exercises, which can help companies identify vulnerabilities and provide targeted training to employees who need it most. These exercises can also help companies understand their risk level and take proactive steps to prevent successful attacks.

Improved Cybersecurity Posture

Online phishing training can help companies improve their overall cybersecurity posture by providing employees with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize and respond to phishing attacks.

Regulatory Compliance

Many industries have compliance requirements related to cybersecurity, including training requirements for employees. Online phishing training can help companies meet these requirements and avoid penalties for non-compliance.

Continued Phishing Training

Phishing training is by no means a one-time initiative, as such attacks are constantly evolving, and new threats are emerging all the time. Providing ongoing training and education ensures that employees are always up-to-date on the phishing awareness gamble. Online phishing training enables this through customized training, refresher courses, updated training content and assessments, and recurring/periodic simulated phishing.

 

The Crucial Role of MSPs in Improving Phishing Awareness

Given the increasingly important role that managed service providers (MSPs) play in delivering enterprise IT and security, effective phishing awareness training needs to be a strong offering for MSPs.  Companies, especially the fast-growing ones that are glowing targets of phishing attacks, look up to MSPs for their phishing awareness training expertise and more, including:

• The extensive resources (dedicated staff and training materials) that MSPs have to deliver cybersecurity awareness training

• The experience and knowledge to develop and deliver customized training programs
• The capability to scale the training program across departments and branches
• A better understanding of compliance requirements and regulations related to cybersecurity awareness training, including phishing training

This is where online phishing training and simulated phishing solutions can be  game changers for MPSs.

 

How Online Phishing Training Solutions Can be of Use to MSPs

With the rise of sophisticated phishing attacks, MSPs must stay on top of the latest threats, trends, and best practices to help their clients prevent and respond to them.

By leveraging online phishing training and simulated phishing tools, MSPs can improve their clients' cybersecurity posture, help them become more aware of the risks of phishing, and develop a more proactive and practical approach to managing their clients' cybersecurity risks. In addition, MSPs can:

• Educate their clients’ employees on how to recognize and avoid phishing attacks, report suspicious emails, and respond in the event of a successful phishing attack
• Simulate real-world phishing attacks and test the ability of their client’s employees to recognize and avoid these attacks
• Assess the clients' vulnerability to phishing attacks and identify areas for improvement in their security awareness training programs
• Use the results of online phishing training and simulations to tailor their clients' training programs and improve their overall cybersecurity posture

Without these tools, MSPs may struggle to effectively train their clients' employees on how to recognize and respond to phishing attacks and may not have clarity on the clients' vulnerability to these attacks.

As a result, MSPs may be more reactive than proactive in their approach to cybersecurity.

 

Contents of Online Phishing Training

Online Phishing Training typically starts with an introduction to phishing, including the types of phishing attacks, the tactics and techniques used by cybercriminals, and the impact of successful phishing attacks on individuals and organizations.

Common Indicators of Phishing

This section covers common phishing indicators, such as suspicious sender email addresses, misspellings, and urgent personal or financial information requests. Employees will be taught how to identify these indicators and respond appropriately.

Phishing Prevention Best Practices

This section provides employees with best practices for preventing phishing attacks, such as verifying the authenticity of emails and messages, not clicking on suspicious links, avoiding sharing personal or financial information, and using phishing protection tools effectively.

Reporting and Response

Here, employees will be taught how to report phishing attempts to the appropriate IT or security personnel and how to respond appropriately if they are the victim of a phishing attack

Simulated Phishing Exercises

Phishing simulations translate theory to hands-on training-  which can help employees apply what they have learned in a safe, controlled environment. These exercises can also help companies identify vulnerabilities and provide targeted training to employees who need it most.

Assessments and Quizzes

These are conducted before and after phishing simulation training to gauge employee knowledge and skills improvement. They help measure the effectiveness of the training program, reinforce key concepts, and provide targeted training to employees who need it most.

 

Try SafeTitan’s Purpose-built-for-MSPs Solution For Online Phishing Training and Simulation

Protect your clients from the ever-growing threat of phishing attacks with SafeTitan's comprehensive security awareness training and phishing simulation solution.

Our solution can help you reinvent yourself as a cyber awareness-first MSP, delivering a superior level of service to your clients.