What is phishing simulation and how does it work?

Phishing simulation sends fake phishing emails to employees and records who clicks, who submits credentials, and who reports the message. The platform collects that data and can automatically deliver training to users who failed the test.

How often should companies run phishing simulations?

Most security frameworks recommend running simulations at least monthly, with different templates each time so employees do not recognize a recurring pattern. Higher-risk roles or repeat clickers are often tested more frequently.

Does phishing simulation actually reduce click rates?

Studies and vendor data consistently show that regular simulation combined with immediate follow-up training lowers click rates over time, typically within three to six months of a continuous program.

What is the difference between phishing simulation and security awareness training?

Phishing simulation is the test that measures whether employees recognize and avoid phishing attempts. Security awareness training is the educational content that teaches them what to look for. The two work best when used together.

What is Phishing Simulation?

Phishing Simulation is a controlled security testing practice in which a platform sends fake phishing emails, and sometimes other social engineering messages, to employees to measure how many click, submit credentials, or report the attempt. Results are used to identify at-risk users and trigger targeted training.

What it does

A phishing simulation platform sends realistic but harmless fake phishing emails to employees without prior warning. The platform tracks three key behaviors: who clicked a link, who submitted data such as a password, and who reported the message as suspicious. Many platforms also deliver immediate "just-in-time" training to users who fall for the simulation, showing them what they missed right after the click. Some tools extend beyond email to test SMS, voice calls, and messaging apps, covering a broader range of social engineering vectors.

Why teams buy it

Security teams cannot improve what they cannot measure. Phishing simulation gives a concrete click rate and credential-submission rate that can be tracked over time. Common reasons teams deploy these platforms include:

Meeting compliance requirements that mandate regular security awareness testing
Identifying specific departments or roles with higher susceptibility before a real attack does
Justifying budget for Security Awareness Training programs with before-and-after data
Reducing the volume of real phishing incidents that reach the help desk

Phishing simulation sits inside the broader Human Risk category alongside Security Awareness Training and Human Risk Management platforms. Many vendors bundle simulation and training together in a single product.

What to look for

Template library depth: A large, regularly updated library of templates that mirror current attack styles, including credential-harvest pages and pretexting lures
Difficulty levels and customization: The ability to tailor campaigns by department, role, or previous performance so repeat clickers get harder tests
Reporting and triage: Per-user and per-campaign dashboards, plus automated escalation or triage workflows for reported messages

What is Phishing Simulation?

What it does

Why teams buy it

What to look for

Common confusions

Phishing Simulation tools

Frequently asked questions