Phishing training for employees: A complete guide

3. Phishing awareness workshops 

Phishing awareness workshops are live training sessions that bring employees together to learn about phishing threats in an interactive setting. Led by cybersecurity experts or internal IT staff, these sessions often include real-life examples, group discussions, and Q&A segments. 

The goal is to create a space where employees can openly ask questions, share experiences, and gain a better understanding of how phishing works and how to stay safe. These workshops are especially effective because they promote active learning and can be tailored to the specific needs or recent threats faced by the company.

Phishing awareness webinars are a great way to keep employees up to date with the latest phishing tactics. Try SC Training’s Virtual Classroom feature, which allows your team to easily join in on training sessions using their mobile device. Whether off-site, fully remote, or working in a hybrid setup, they can access the video training they need to succeed.

4. Just-in-Time Training

Just-in-time training delivers quick lessons exactly when employees need them most—right after they’ve made a mistake. Instead of waiting for the next scheduled training, this gives immediate feedback and a short, targeted learning session. This helps employees recognize past errors and understand how to prevent them from happening again.

This type of training works well because it turns an error into a learning opportunity without being overwhelming. It reinforces the idea that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility and that everyone can improve with the right guidance. Over time, just-in-time training is a powerful way to create lasting habits and build a security-first mindset across the entire organization.

5. Post-Training Assessments & Quizzes

Post-training assessments and quizzes are a simple but effective way to reinforce phishing awareness after employees complete their training. These short tests help make sure that key concepts have really sunk in. They also give employees a chance to turn passive knowledge into active understanding. 

With SC Training’s Rapid Refresh feature, you can turn quizzes into fun and engaging games. Watch your team tap and drag their way through questions, making learning a more engaging experience. Plus, with a leaderboard to show off their strengths, there’s an extra boost of motivation to perform at their best.

How to train employees against phishing attacks

Discover how to give your employees the phishing training that will keep your company safe from attacks with this list.

1. Make training regular, not one-and-done

One-time training sessions aren’t enough to keep up with ever-changing phishing tactics. Phishing attacks are constantly evolving, so your training should too. Make it a regular part of your cybersecurity routine; quarterly or even monthly updates can go a long way. 

Frequent touchpoints help keep phishing awareness top of mind, rather than something employees forget a week after the session. Consistent training also shows that your company takes cybersecurity seriously. When employees see that phishing awareness is treated as an ongoing priority, they’re more likely to engage and apply what they learn. 

SC Training’s course management lets you set recurring schedules, publishing dates, and completion criteria for a seamless learning experience. This way, you can start onboarding, training, and upskilling your teams in minutes.

2. Keep the content relatable and realistic

Training works best when it reflects the actual threats employees might see in their inboxes. Use examples that mimic real phishing emails, like fake invoices, suspicious login alerts, or emails pretending to be from company leadership. The more relatable the scenario, the better employees will remember and recognize it in the wild.

When phishing email training feels too technical or abstract, employees can tune out. But when they see examples that could realistically land in their inbox, the training clicks. You’re helping them connect the dots between what they learn and what they might face on the job. This leads to quicker, more confident responses when a real phishing attempt shows up.

3. Encourage a culture of reporting, not blame

It’s important to create an environment where employees feel safe admitting when they’ve clicked something suspicious. Mistakes happen, but they’re valuable learning opportunities. Encourage employees to report phishing emails, even if they fell for them. 

When people aren’t afraid of being blamed, they’re more likely to speak up quickly. That makes your response faster and your organization more secure. Promote a “see something, say something” culture where reporting phishing earns positive reinforcement.

4. Mix up the training methods

Different people learn in different ways, so it’s smart to combine various types of training. This variety keeps training from feeling repetitive and stale. It also boosts knowledge retention by appealing to multiple learning styles.

Some employees might learn best through hands-on practice, while others may prefer watching a video or attending a live session. By mixing up your approach, you make sure the message sticks across your entire team. It also keeps things fresh and engaging, so training doesn’t feel like a chore.

5. Celebrate success and improvement

Positive reinforcement goes a long way in encouraging good cybersecurity habits. Celebrate milestones like increased phishing report rates or improved quiz scores. Whether it’s a shout-out in a team meeting or a small reward for spotting a tricky phishing email, showing appreciation makes a difference.

When employees feel recognized for doing the right thing, they’re more likely to keep doing it. Celebrating success also shifts the tone of training from something reactive to something proactive and rewarding. Over time, this builds a sense of pride and ownership in keeping the organization secure.

SC Training’s Achievements feature has custom banners and badges, making recognizing training milestones more fun and motivating. Keep track of everyone’s progress and easily export achievements, all while monitoring individual performance. 

Boost your defense with phishing training

Cyber safety statistics show that one data breach can cost your business USD 5 million on average. From entry-level staff to executives, knowing how phishing works and how to respond keeps the company less likely to fall victim to these costly breaches or data leaks. This is why phishing training doesn’t just keep inboxes safe, it protects the entire business.

Phishing training platforms like SC Training have free cybersecurity training courses that house interactive lessons to reinforce safe behavior and respond effectively to potential threats. Packed with real-world examples and ongoing assessments, these training courses are a must to keep company data safe. 

Strategies to combat phishing attacks 

SC Training houses a comprehensive course built to teach your teams how to combat phishing attacks. This three-part training explores the most common phishing attacks and guides employees on how to stay ahead of phishers. It’ll help learners recognize the signs of phishing attempts, identify emerging phishing trends, and apply precautions to prevent attacks.