{"id":15570,"date":"2026-10-06T15:28:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T09:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/?p=15570"},"modified":"2026-10-06T15:28:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T09:58:50","slug":"how-phishing-simulation-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/","title":{"rendered":"How Phishing Simulation Works: Steps, Metrics, Mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A phishing simulation sends a safe, fake phishing email to your own staff to see what they do. Nobody is harmed, and no data leaves. The point is practice and measurement, not catching people out. Run them regularly, coach rather than punish, and judge the program by how fast people report rather than how few click.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #414141;color:#414141\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #414141;color:#414141\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#How_a_Simulation_Works_Step_by_Step\" >How a Simulation Works, Step by Step<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#What_Gets_Measured\" >What Gets Measured<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#Book_a_Free_Demo_Call_with_Our_Expert\" >Book a Free Demo Call with Our Expert<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#Choosing_the_Right_Difficulty\" >Choosing the Right Difficulty<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#Test_More_Than_Email\" >Test More Than Email<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#Common_Mistakes\" >Common Mistakes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#Pick_the_Right_Channels_for_Your_Staff\" >Pick the Right Channels for Your Staff<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#What_Good_Looks_Like_After_a_Year\" >What Good Looks Like After a Year<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-phishing-simulation-works\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" >Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_a_Simulation_Works_Step_by_Step\"><\/span>How a Simulation Works, Step by Step<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process is simple once you see it laid out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pick the audience.<\/strong> Everyone, or one department that faces a specific threat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Choose a lure.<\/strong> A fake invoice, a password expiry notice, a shared file, or a delivery alert.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Send it on a schedule<\/strong> your staff do not know in advance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Record what each person does:<\/strong> ignored it, clicked, entered details, or reported it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coach immediately.<\/strong> Anyone who clicks sees a short explanation at that moment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Report the results<\/strong> by group, then plan the next round.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing malicious runs at any point. A click leads to a landing page you control, which explains what the clues were. That teaching moment is the part that changes behavior, so it matters more than the statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Gets_Measured\"><\/span>What Gets Measured<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Click rate is the number everyone knows, and on its own it is the weakest of the four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Metric<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>What it tells you<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Why it matters<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Click rate<\/td><td>Who followed the lure<\/td><td>A starting point only<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Report rate<\/td><td>Who told security<\/td><td>The clearest sign of a working habit<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Time to report<\/td><td>How fast the warning arrived<\/td><td>Minutes decide if a real attack spreads<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Repeat failures<\/td><td>Who keeps falling for the same thing<\/td><td>Shows where coaching is needed<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verizon.com\/business\/resources\/reports\/dbir\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Verizon&#8217;s breach research<\/a> found reporting rose sharply after training, which is why report rate deserves the most attention. A click harms one mailbox, while a fast report protects everyone, because the team can pull the same message from other inboxes. A program where clicks fall but nobody reports has not actually improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compare each group against its own past results rather than against other teams. Cross-team comparisons invite blame, and <a href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-incident-reporting-culture-prevents-greater-damage\/\">blame drives mistakes underground<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<meta charset=\"UTF-8\">\n<meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0\">\n<title>Threatcop \u2013 Book a Free Demo<\/title>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Outfit:wght@300;400;500;600;700&#038;display=swap\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n<style>\n  .tc-wrap , .tc-wrap ::before, .tc-wrap ::after { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }\n  .tc-wrap { font-family: 'Outfit', sans-serif; width: 100%; display: flex; justify-content: center; padding: 20px 10px; }\n  .tc-card { width: 100%; max-width: 820px; background: #fff; border-radius: 20px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 20px 60px rgba(24,57,148,0.13), 0 4px 16px rgba(24,57,148,0.07); display: flex; flex-direction: row; }\n  .tc-left { background: linear-gradient(160deg, #1e44b0 0%, #183994 40%, #0e2570 100%); 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never shared with third parties\n        <\/div>\n      <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script>document.getElementById('tc-page-source').value = window.location.href;<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Choosing_the_Right_Difficulty\"><\/span>Choosing the Right Difficulty<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An easy simulation flatters your numbers and teaches nothing. One that is too cruel damages trust. Aim between the two, and expect to adjust after the first round rather than getting it right immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start with lures that look like real mail your staff receive. Then raise difficulty as reporting improves. A finance team that spots generic invoices should next see one that references a real supplier naming convention. Difficulty should track the group&#8217;s results, not the calendar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Match the lure to the role, because exposure differs. Finance meets invoice fraud, HR meets fake r\u00e9sum\u00e9s, and executives meet impersonation. Matching lures to roles makes the test realistic rather than generic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nist.gov\/itl\/applied-cybersecurity\/nice\/resources\/online-learning-content\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NIST&#8217;s phishing guidance<\/a> also stresses realistic but fair testing. Avoid lures built on personal distress. Fake bonuses, layoffs, or health scares produce anger rather than learning, and the anger lasts longer than the lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Test_More_Than_Email\"><\/span>Test More Than Email<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attacks no longer arrive only by email, so simulations should follow. Text messages, chat apps, and voice calls all carry real attacks now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voice deserves special mention, because it is the channel most programs skip. Attackers now clone an executive&#8217;s voice convincingly from a short public clip, which makes a phone call far less trustworthy than it used to be. A cloned voice asking for an urgent payment tests a completely different reflex than a suspicious link does. Practising the callback rule in a <a href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/ai-vishing-attack-simulation\">voice phishing simulation<\/a> is far better than meeting it for the first time during a real attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Messaging apps matter too, particularly where staff use them for work. Many teams run client conversations on WhatsApp without treating it as a work channel, so nobody watches it. A simulation there reaches a channel most programs ignore entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_Mistakes\"><\/span>Common Mistakes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most programs fail for predictable reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Running one a year.<\/strong> Habits fade, so quarterly is a sensible floor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Publishing names of clickers.<\/strong> This guarantees people hide real incidents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chasing a low click rate.<\/strong> It is easy to achieve with weak lures and proves nothing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Skipping the coaching moment.<\/strong> The lesson lands best in the seconds after a click.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Forgetting to tell IT.<\/strong> Your own helpdesk should know a test is running.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Using the same lure repeatedly.<\/strong> Staff learn the test, not the skill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pick_the_Right_Channels_for_Your_Staff\"><\/span>Pick the Right Channels for Your Staff<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pick the channels for your phishing simulation by what your people actually use for work. A WhatsApp simulation suits teams who handle client conversations there, which is common across many regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/role-based-security-awareness-training\/\">Role-based training<\/a> keeps this manageable, since the groups already exist in your directory. Add channels in order of exposure rather than all at once. Email first, because volume is highest. Then the messaging app your teams use daily. Then voice, because it takes the most effort to run well and benefits from a settled reporting habit first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Good_Looks_Like_After_a_Year\"><\/span>What Good Looks Like After a Year<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Expect modest, steady change rather than a dramatic drop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Report rate should climb and keep climbing. Time to report should fall from days to minutes. Repeat failures should concentrate in a small group who then get focused coaching. Click rate usually falls too, though it moves less than people expect, and that is normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also watch for a quieter sign of success. Staff start reporting real suspicious emails, not just simulated ones, and sometimes they report things that turn out fine. Those false alarms are a good sign, because they mean reporting feels safe. That shift is the clearest evidence a program is working. Pair the simulations with short lessons, so coaching reaches people who need more than a landing page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Running This Without Manual Work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most programs stall on administration rather than intent. Scheduling, chasing, and reporting eat the time that should go into coaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/threatcop-security-awareness-training\">Threatcop Security Awareness Training (TSAT)<\/a> handles the assessment half. It runs simulations across multiple attack vectors, including email, SMS, voice, QR codes, and WhatsApp, so a program is not limited to the channel that is easiest to test. Its Employee Vulnerability Score turns a department average into a named list, which is what makes targeted coaching possible rather than theoretical. It also measures average breach time, meaning how long from lure to compromise, and identifies repeat offenders automatically, so the people who need help surface without anyone building a spreadsheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Active Directory integration keeps the groups current as roles change, and the executive report gives leadership the trend rather than a single month&#8217;s click rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span>The Bottom Line<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A phishing simulation is practice, not a test with a pass mark, and treating it as a test is what makes staff resent it. Run them at least quarterly, because habits fade between rounds. Keep individual results private, and coach in the seconds after a click, when the lesson actually lands. Widen the program past email to the channels your attackers already use, including text, chat, and voice. Then judge the whole thing on one question rather than a dashboard full of them: when something suspicious arrives, how quickly does somebody tell you? A program where clicks fall but nobody reports has not made the organization safer. One where reports arrive in minutes has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"sp-easy-accordion-block sp-eab-regular-accordion alignwide\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sp-eab-wrapper sp-eab-vertical-accordion sp-eab-e953d50ca0a1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion sp-eab-mode-vertical sp-eab-vertical-one sp-d-flex' data-accordion-settings=\"{&quot;mode&quot;:&quot;vertical&quot;,&quot;activeEvent&quot;:&quot;click&quot;,&quot;defaultAccordionOpen&quot;:&quot;first-item&quot;,&quot;selectedItemOpen&quot;:0,&quot;openMultiItemAtaTime&quot;:false,&quot;scrollToTopOnLoad&quot;:false,&quot;scrollToTopOnClick&quot;:false,&quot;accordionItemToUrl&quot;:false,&quot;animationEffect&quot;:false,&quot;applyAccessibility&quot;:true}\">\n        \t    \t\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tid =\"sp-eab-item-f5e6b78effb1\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sp-eab-accordion-item eab-item-0ca0a1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sp-eab-accordion-item-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='sp-eab-accordion-heading sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-heading-0ca0a1'\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-icon-position-end'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-start sp-d-flex sp-justify-left sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-title-subtitle-wrapper sp-d-flex'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-text'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is a phishing simulation?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-end eab-icon-animated'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-expand-collapse-icon sp-d-block'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-expand-icon eab-icon-angle-down-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-collapse-icon eab-icon-angle-up-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- accordion body -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content eab-content-0ca0a1'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-body'>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A phishing simulation is a safe, fake phishing email sent to your own employees to measure how they respond, and <a href=\"https:\/\/threatcop.com\/blog\/how-do-phishing-simulations-contribute-to-enterprise-security\/\">what it contributes<\/a> is a measured reporting habit. Nothing malicious runs, and no data is taken. It exists to build and measure a reporting habit.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tid =\"sp-eab-item-ec5c91b0114d\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sp-eab-accordion-item eab-item-0ca0a1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sp-eab-accordion-item-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='sp-eab-accordion-heading sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-heading-0ca0a1'\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-icon-position-end'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-start sp-d-flex sp-justify-left sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-title-subtitle-wrapper sp-d-flex'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-text'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow often should you run phishing simulations?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-end eab-icon-animated'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-expand-collapse-icon sp-d-block'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-expand-icon eab-icon-angle-down-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-collapse-icon eab-icon-angle-up-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- accordion body -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content eab-content-0ca0a1'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-body'>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quarterly is a reasonable minimum, and monthly suits higher-risk roles such as finance. Annual testing does not work, because the habit fades between rounds and staff treat the exercise as a formality.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tid =\"sp-eab-item-9b29adaac1a0\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sp-eab-accordion-item eab-item-0ca0a1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sp-eab-accordion-item-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='sp-eab-accordion-heading sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-heading-0ca0a1'\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-icon-position-end'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-start sp-d-flex sp-justify-left sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-title-subtitle-wrapper sp-d-flex'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-text'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIs it unfair to trick employees with phishing simulations?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-end eab-icon-animated'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-expand-collapse-icon sp-d-block'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-expand-icon eab-icon-angle-down-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-collapse-icon eab-icon-angle-up-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- accordion body -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content eab-content-0ca0a1'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-body'>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not if the program coaches instead of punishing. Keep results private, explain the clues right after a click, and avoid lures built on personal distress such as bonuses or layoffs. The aim is practice, not a trap.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tid =\"sp-eab-item-dfe15f84a29d\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sp-eab-accordion-item eab-item-0ca0a1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sp-eab-accordion-item-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='sp-eab-accordion-heading sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-heading-0ca0a1'\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-icon-position-end'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-start sp-d-flex sp-justify-left sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-title-subtitle-wrapper sp-d-flex'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-text'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is a good phishing simulation click rate?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-end eab-icon-animated'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-expand-collapse-icon sp-d-block'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-expand-icon eab-icon-angle-down-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-collapse-icon eab-icon-angle-up-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- accordion body -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content eab-content-0ca0a1'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-body'>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no universal number worth chasing, because difficulty changes it completely. A rising report rate and falling time to report say far more about readiness than a low click rate does.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tid =\"sp-eab-item-a969eff1f86e\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sp-eab-accordion-item eab-item-0ca0a1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sp-eab-accordion-item-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='sp-eab-accordion-heading sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-heading-0ca0a1'\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center eab-icon-position-end'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-start sp-d-flex sp-justify-left sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-title-subtitle-wrapper sp-d-flex'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-wrapper sp-d-flex sp-align-center'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-title-text'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShould phishing simulations include phone and text?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-accordion-header-end eab-icon-animated'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='sp-eab-expand-collapse-icon sp-d-block'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-expand-icon eab-icon-angle-down-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class='sp-eab-collapse-icon eab-icon-angle-up-solid'><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- accordion body -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content eab-content-0ca0a1'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class='sp-eab-accordion-body'>\n\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, because real attacks use those channels. Voice calls with cloned audio and text message lures test different reflexes than email, so a program limited to email measures only part of your actual exposure.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A phishing simulation is safe practice, not a trap. See how it works step by step, which metrics matter, and the mistakes that ruin a program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":15575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cybersecurity-awareness"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Phishing Simulation Works: Steps, Metrics, Mistakes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A phishing simulation is safe practice, not a trap. 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