Phishing Simulation

A phishing simulation sends a planned imitation of a malicious email or message to a defined audience. Security teams use it to practice spotting suspicious requests, verifying senders and reporting possible attacks. The exercise should be explicitly authorized, proportionate to its educational purpose and designed not to expose real credentials or sensitive data.

A responsible simulation measures more than clicks. Useful signals include whether people reported the message, how quickly the organization triaged reports and whether follow-up education addressed the specific technique. A single click rate is an incomplete measure of security culture, because employees can face different levels of exposure and pressure.

Set expectations about data collection, employee privacy, accessibility and debriefing before launch. Provide a safe reporting route and a learning-oriented explanation. Avoid humiliating individuals or using deceptive scenarios that create unnecessary fear or operational disruption.