Effective Methods for Security Awareness Training
What Actually Worked (After a Lot of Trial and Error)
When we first rolled out our cybersecurity awareness training program, we assumed it would be straightforward. Send out some videos, check off a few boxes, and everyone would know what phishing looks like… right?
Not exactly.
We used KnowBe4—one of the best-known platforms out there. The content was solid. The phishing simulations were clever. But here’s what we learned:
Security awareness isn’t just about content—it’s about behavior change.
Behavior change is hard. Especially when:
- People are overwhelmed with work
- IT feels like “yet another department asking for time”
- Security feels like a distant, abstract problem—until it isn’t
This post shares what we tried, what failed, what finally clicked, and the practical methods we used to build a real security culture—even with a small team and no dedicated security staff.
The First Rollout: A Quiet Flop
When we first launched KnowBe4, emails went out and a few reminders sent—but engagement was minimal. Some took it seriously, others ignored it. A handful even asked, “Do I have to do this?”
It became clear: we had a good platform, but a weak rollout. We needed to:
- Show why it mattered
- Make it relevant
- Hold people accountable
- Remove friction
What We Did to Make It Work
1. Tie Training to Real Incidents
After finance almost fell for a spoofed invoice email, we blurred names and deconstructed it during an all-staff call. That story did more than any generic video.
Lesson: Real examples engage better than risks in theory.
2. Make Completion Expected, Not Optional
Training became part of onboarding, performance reviews, and quarterly checks. If someone failed a phishing test, they were auto-assigned a refresher, not as punishment, but reinforcement.
Lesson: Clear expectations and consistent follow-through make all the difference.
3. Automate Where Possible
We automated training enrollment for new hires, triggered refreshers for failures, and scheduled monthly phishing simulations, with reminders sent a week before deadlines.
Lesson: Automation ensures consistency with a small team.
4. Keep It Short and Focused
We prioritized quick modules under 10 minutes, covering topics like “How to Spot a Phishing Link.” We also created brief internal clips showing share security best practices for tools like Box.
Lesson: Short, focused content reduces drop-off and improves retention.
5. Use Humor and Light Competition
Our “Most Creative Phish of the Month” feature became a crowd favorite. It sparked curiosity and laughter, without embarrassment.
Lesson: Safe gamification builds engagement and culture.
6. Track Metrics That Matter
We monitored completion by department, repeat phishing clickers, reporting rates, and improvements over time. We shared these metrics with leaders and used them to offer targeted coaching.
Lesson: Shared visibility drives accountability and improvement.
Current Approach: Training as a Continuous Process
Today, our program looks like this:
- Training in the first week of onboarding
- Quarterly phishing simulations with fresh templates
- Annual refresher modules
- Automated refresher assignments for phishing failures
- Quarterly security tips shared in newsletters and Slack
It’s not perfect, but it’s consistent. And increasingly woven into how we operate, not just a compliance checkbox.
Final Thoughts: Culture Beats Content
Even the best platform (like KnowBe4) won’t stick unless it changes behavior. So if you’re starting out:
- Start with real, relatable stories
- Tie training to onboarding and performance review
- Automate what you can
- Follow up with managers
- Celebrate progress, not perfection
And if something doesn’t work, don’t scrap it. Tweak it. Try again. Make it your own.
Keep Building Momentum
To make your security awareness and compliance efforts more impactful, consider linking out to:
- [SaaS Compliance Checklist: Key Steps for Every Business] – helps frame training within broader compliance efforts
- [Effective Incident Response Methods] – demonstrates how awareness ties into incident management and security culture
Want to see how this training fits into a complete security and compliance framework? Be sure to explore:
Comprehensive SaaS Security Management: Ensuring Data Integrity, Compliance, and Risk Mitigation
