There’s no question about it – phishing has become one of the biggest global security threats. Research by APWG suggests that these socially engineered attacks are increasingly prevalent, yet barely one in five organizations deliver phishing awareness training to their teams at least once per year. 

The first step in protecting your organization is knowing how to perform a phishing test. For firms seeking a robust training platform, Jericho Security offers AI-powered phishing simulations designed to look like an actual attack. Cutting-edge technology creates phishing simulations that safely teach your team what to look for and adapt to new phishing tactics as they evolve.

What is phishing, and why does it matter?

Phishing has become a favorite tool for fraudsters because it targets the most vulnerable part of any security system: the people. With phishing, attackers use human error to gain access to secure data, personal information, and financial accounts, which is why understanding this threat (and how to prevent it) is critical for both organizations and individuals.  

Before we get into how to perform a phishing test, let’s take a closer look at what phishing attacks are, how they work, and the often catastrophic consequences.

What is a phishing attack?

A phishing attack occurs when a cybercriminal sends a deceptive message designed to trick someone into revealing personal or financial information or downloading malware. These messages, which can include deceptive links, QR codes, attachments, or data entry requests, often look like they come from a reputable source, such as a bank or a well-known company. This makes them hard to recognize and respond to appropriately.  

What are the consequences of a phishing attack?

The consequences of falling victim to a phishing attack can be severe. 

For businesses, a successful attack can lead to substantial financial losses (according to IBM, the average cost of a data breach via phishing is $4.91 million), theft of intellectual property, damage to customer trust and company reputation, and regulatory fines. If ransomware is involved, a phishing attack has the potential to completely shut down a business unless the ransom is paid.

The repercussions of phishing attacks highlight why it's important to carry out phishing tests regularly. By learning how to perform a phishing test, organizations can evaluate their vulnerabilities, better prepare their teams to recognize and respond to phishing attempts, and mitigate potential risks.

Why use a phishing test to prevent phishing attacks?

Using a phishing test is an effective strategy for preventing phishing attacks because it actively engages employees through practical scenarios. 

Phishing simulations provide a safe environment for employees to experience phishing attempts and learn how to recognize and react to malicious emails and links. Regular updates to training content keep the simulations current with the latest phishing techniques, making phishing awareness training a dynamic tool in combating ever-developing AI cyber threats.

How to perform an employee phishing test 

Understanding the consequences of a phishing attack highlights the need for proactive measures. One practical approach is to conduct an employee phishing test that not only gauges their current awareness level but also improves their ability to identify and respond to phishing attempts. 

Here’s how to perform a phishing test and interpret the results:

Step 1: Plan ahead and establish a clear objective 

Before launching an employee phishing test, determine its objectives.

Are you looking to measure how well employees can spot a phishing email? Or are you more concerned about their reaction to a suspicious link or attachment? Understanding what you want to achieve from the employee phishing test makes it easier to set clear and measurable goals for the exercise.

Step 2: Choose your phishing test type

The next step in determining how to perform a phishing test is to select its type. You can choose from various methods such as emails, social media messages, texts, or phone calls. Then decide whether the test will include a misleading link, an attachment, a request for data entry, or even a QR code. Each type targets different behaviors and responses, so pick the one that best suits your training goals.

Some common types of phishing test include:

• Phishing Link Tests: 95% of security incidents begin with clicking a malicious link. In a phishing link test, you send a phishing test email with a simulated malicious link. When employees click on it, they are redirected to a secure page that records the click as a failure, indicating a breach in awareness.

• Attachment Tests: Another common tactic is to include malicious attachments in emails. In an attachment test, a file is sent via email; if an employee opens this attachment or activates macros, the action is logged as a failure. This test helps you understand how your team handles unexpected or suspicious files.

• Data Entry Tests: For a data entry test, you send an email with a link to a page that mimics a legitimate data entry site. This test measures whether your employees will enter sensitive information into a suspicious site. Clicks and data entries are recorded as failures, providing insight into their susceptibility to such scams.

• Spear Phishing Tests: Spear phishing targets specific individuals or departments with highly personalized approaches. You can simulate this by sending custom emails that appear to come from trusted sources. If the targeted employee falls for this tactic, their actions are recorded as test failures.

• Reply-to Tests: In reply-to tests, you challenge employees to respond to a phishing email. It tests their ability to recognize deceptive requests for information or action, and any reply is considered a failure.

• QR Code Tests: These tests involve sending an email with a QR code. When scanned, the code directs the user to a secure page. Like link clicks, scanning the QR code records a failure.

• Callback Phishing Tests: This type of test prompts employees to call a number and enter a provided callback code. If they proceed to give personal information during the call, it is recorded as a failure and indicates a need for further training in recognizing phone-based phishing.

Step 3: Set up your phishing simulation 

The next step is setting up a realistic simulated phishing test. Using specialized phishing simulation software, such as the AI-powered tools from Jericho Security, makes this step easier. These tools, accompanied by instructions on how to perform a phishing test, are designed to craft scenarios that are both realistic and enticing, thereby preparing your employees for actual phishing attempts they may face.

Step 4: Run your phishing simulation 

AI algorithms analyze past data and current trends to generate phishing emails that are not only convincing but also align with the latest phishing tactics. This includes crafting messages that mimic those from credible sources or imitate common business communications.

To perform a phishing test, load these AI-generated scenarios into your training software. This software then distributes the phishing emails to your employees, tracking who opens emails, clicks on links, or downloads attachments. This provides a clear measure of how well individuals recognize and handle phishing attempts.

Step 5: Analyze your results

After running the simulated phishing test, analyze the results to: 

• Assess how well your team recognized and responded to the phishing attempts
• Identify any weaknesses or common mistakes made during the simulation. 

Following this analysis, provide targeted training to address these specific areas. This ensures that your team learns from their mistakes and improves their phishing detection capabilities.

Step 6: Repeat the simulation after security awareness training 

Conducting an initial simulated phishing test provides a baseline to measure progress. However, you’ll want to repeat the simulation after your team has completed their targeted training. 

Repeat phishing simulation testing not only helps in measuring the effectiveness of phishing training but also reinforces it by putting their new knowledge to the test. Security awareness training can further improve your team’s ability to thwart phishing attempts.

Step 7: Make phishing tests a regular part of your security training

Once you’ve decided how to perform a phishing test at your organization, integrate tests into your regular security training schedule. Phishing tactics continually evolve, and regular testing ensures that your team remains vigilant and up-to-date with the latest trends. Making these simulations a consistent part of your security strategy will play an important role in protecting your information and systems from sophisticated cyber threats.

If you find yourself dealing with employees who repeatedly fall for phishing attempts, creating phishing simulations based on these attacks can be a targeted way to improve your organization’s security. 

Send ultra-realistic company phishing tests and protect your organization

Phishing tests are a key part of maintaining security within any organization. By learning how to perform a phishing test using AI-powered tools, your firm can improve its defenses against cyber threats. 

Regular simulations, thorough analysis, and continuous training create a resilient environment that is critical today. We invite you to partner with Jericho Security for your phishing training needs to ensure that your team is always prepared and protected. Reach out to the team at Jericho Security to learn more about how we can help empower your team – and business – to successfully combat phishing attacks.