Social engineering in cybersecurity refers to misleading someone into performing an act that benefits the attacker, such as disclosing private information that might be used fraudulently or providing access to sensitive systems or networks. In 2024, social engineering has been listed as the number one cyber threat. 98% of all cyberattacks involve social engineering and human error is involved in 82% of security breaches, making social engineering even more impactful.

Phishing is the most common type of social engineering attack in which a target is contacted via email, phone, or text message by someone posing as a trusted person or entity. Regular simulations to determine how your organization fares against such attacks are a critical part of a cybersecurity program, and must be supplemented by recurring awareness training.

Phishing simulation exercises send realistic phishing emails to employees to determine their susceptibility to this type of attack. These simulations raise employee awareness of phishing, help determine areas where staff may need training, and enhance the organization’s overall preparedness for phishing attacks.

No one is immune to social engineering attacks. In many of our simulations, we see failures across all organizational levels, from entry-level staff to executives.