Given the prevalence and danger of phishing, organizations must continuously test and train their employees to recognize these threats and respond appropriately.

Phishing simulation tools are essential for security teams to assess and improve their organization's security awareness. These tools allow businesses to simulate phishing attacks in a controlled environment, helping to identify vulnerable employees and assess the effectiveness of their security training.

In this article, we’ll explore the top 5 phishing simulation tools that are widely used by security professionals to test and improve security awareness.

1. KnowBe4: Comprehensive Phishing Simulations with Training

KnowBe4 is one of the most popular and comprehensive phishing simulation tools available today. It provides organizations with the ability to create realistic phishing simulations and combines them with a robust security awareness training platform.

Key Features of KnowBe4:

• Pre-Built Phishing Templates: KnowBe4 offers a large library of customizable phishing email templates that replicate real-world attack scenarios, such as spear-phishing, CEO fraud, and social engineering tactics.
• Automated Phishing Campaigns: You can set up automated phishing campaigns to send simulated phishing emails to employees. The system tracks who falls for the attack and provides detailed reports.
• Security Awareness Training: KnowBe4 includes a wide range of training modules and resources designed to educate users on how to recognize phishing attacks and other security threats.
• Reporting and Analytics: KnowBe4 provides detailed reporting on phishing simulation results, including open rates, click rates, and training completion rates, allowing you to identify areas where your team may need additional training.

Example:

Imagine your organization wants to simulate a spear-phishing attack targeting the finance department. KnowBe4 allows you to customize a phishing email that mimics an urgent request from the company’s financial officer asking for wire transfer details. The tool will send this email to selected employees, and you can track who interacts with the message, clicks any links, or provides sensitive information.

How to Use KnowBe4:

1. Sign Up: Create an account and integrate KnowBe4 with your email system.
2. Choose a Template: Select a phishing simulation template from the library or customize your own.
3. Configure Campaign Settings: Define your target audience (e.g., specific departments or the whole organization), and set a time frame for the campaign.
4. Launch the Simulation: Start the phishing campaign, and track the results.
5. Train and Improve: After the simulation, use KnowBe4’s training resources to educate users who clicked or interacted with the phishing emails.

2. Cofense (formerly PhishMe): Phishing Simulations and Threat Intelligence

Cofense offers phishing simulation tools along with a powerful threat intelligence platform. Cofense's focus is on educating users to recognize phishing attempts and helping organizations respond quickly when a phishing attack occurs. Cofense provides advanced phishing simulation features, including customizable attack scenarios, real-time reporting, and integration with incident response systems.

Key Features of Cofense:

• Advanced Simulations: Cofense provides customizable phishing campaigns that can simulate various types of phishing attacks, including email phishing, SMS phishing (smishing), and voice phishing (vishing).
• Interactive Training: After a user clicks on a simulated phishing link, they are redirected to an educational training page that teaches them about the attack and how to recognize similar threats.
• Real-Time Alerts: Cofense offers real-time alerts when users fall for phishing attacks, enabling your security team to respond quickly.
• Phishing Incident Response: Cofense integrates with your organization's threat response tools, enabling security teams to take immediate action after detecting a phishing attempt.

Example:

Cofense could simulate an email that appears to come from an external service provider, asking employees to update their account details. The simulation would track whether the user clicks the link and enters information on a fake website, triggering a report and immediate training.

How to Use Cofense:

1. Sign Up: Create an account on the Cofense platform and configure your settings.
2. Select Phishing Templates: Choose from Cofense’s extensive library of phishing templates or create custom scenarios.
3. Launch Campaigns: Choose the target audience and schedule phishing simulations.
4. Monitor and Report: View real-time results and gather detailed reports to analyze user behavior and identify areas for improvement.
5. Provide Training: Deliver targeted training to employees who fell for the phishing attempt.

3. PhishLabs: Targeted Phishing Simulation and Threat Intelligence

PhishLabs is a robust phishing simulation tool with a focus on providing targeted and customized phishing attacks that mimic real-world threats. PhishLabs’ platform offers powerful simulation capabilities, detailed reporting, and real-time threat intelligence.

Key Features of PhishLabs:

• Realistic Attack Scenarios: PhishLabs provides a library of customizable phishing templates that simulate a wide range of real-world phishing attacks, including business email compromise (BEC), account takeovers, and data breaches.
• Comprehensive Reporting: PhishLabs offers in-depth reporting and analytics, including who clicked on the link, entered data, and interacted with the phishing email.
• Threat Intelligence Integration: The platform integrates with PhishLabs’ threat intelligence, providing up-to-date information on current phishing tactics and campaigns targeting organizations.
• Advanced Threat Detection: PhishLabs can automatically identify patterns in phishing campaigns, allowing your security team to stay one step ahead of emerging threats.

Example:

PhishLabs can create a phishing simulation that closely mirrors an email from your organization’s IT department. The email may contain a link to a fake password reset page, and the simulation will track who clicks the link and attempts to enter their login credentials.

How to Use PhishLabs:

1. Create an Account: Sign up for PhishLabs and configure your settings.
2. Choose Templates: Select phishing attack templates or design your own to reflect realistic attack methods.
3. Run Simulations: Configure the campaign parameters and target audience.
4. Analyze Results: Monitor detailed reports and identify which users are most susceptible to phishing.
5. Remediate and Train: Use the platform’s training modules to educate users who fell victim to the attack.

4. Barracuda PhishLine: Phishing Simulations with Comprehensive Security Awareness Training

Barracuda PhishLine is another powerful phishing simulation and training platform that helps organizations protect against phishing attacks. It is part of the Barracuda security suite and is designed to help businesses run realistic phishing campaigns while providing actionable insights to improve employee security awareness.

Key Features of Barracuda PhishLine:

• Customizable Templates: Barracuda offers a wide range of customizable phishing templates that allow users to simulate phishing attacks tailored to their organization.
• Advanced Targeting: Barracuda’s platform lets you target specific employees or groups within your organization, helping to create more realistic attack scenarios.
• Detailed Analytics: Barracuda provides robust reporting tools to analyze employee responses to phishing simulations, with metrics like click-through rates, report rates, and training progress.
• Comprehensive Training Modules: PhishLine includes interactive security awareness training that is delivered when users fall for a phishing simulation.

Example:

A simulated phishing email might ask employees to click a link to review their payroll information. If an employee clicks the link, they will be directed to a landing page that educates them about phishing and the proper steps to take in such situations.

How to Use Barracuda PhishLine:

1. Sign Up: Register for the Barracuda PhishLine platform.
2. Create Simulations: Select from Barracuda’s phishing email templates or create your own.
3. Launch the Campaign: Define your target audience and launch your phishing test.
4. Monitor and Report: Track how employees respond to phishing emails and gather analytics.
5. Security Awareness Training: After an attack, offer training to users who clicked on the phishing links.

5. Proofpoint Essentials: Phishing Simulation and Security Training

Proofpoint Essentials is a robust phishing simulation tool that offers a combination of simulated phishing attacks and user training to improve security awareness. It is designed for small to medium-sized businesses and offers an easy-to-use interface for setting up phishing campaigns.

Key Features of Proofpoint Essentials:

• Automated Phishing Tests: Proofpoint Essentials automatically schedules and runs phishing simulation campaigns across the organization.
• Tailored Training: When users fall for a phishing simulation, they receive immediate training to help them recognize phishing emails in the future.
• Easy Integration: Proofpoint integrates seamlessly with popular email systems like Microsoft 365 and G Suite.
• Real-Time Reporting: The platform provides real-time data on employee engagement and vulnerability to phishing attempts.

Example:

Proofpoint Essentials may simulate a phishing attack in which employees receive an email purporting to be from their HR department, requesting them to update their personal information. Users who fall for the attack will be redirected to training materials.

How to Use Proofpoint Essentials:

1. Sign Up: Create an account and configure your company’s email system for phishing simulations.
2. Select a Template: Choose a phishing template or customize your own.
3. Launch the Attack: Send phishing emails to your employees and track the responses.
4. Analyze and Report: Review detailed reports on the performance of your phishing campaign.
5. Educate and Improve: Offer targeted training to employees who fell for the phishing email.

Conclusion

Phishing simulations are a critical component of any organization's security awareness program. Tools like KnowBe4, Cofense, PhishLabs, Barracuda PhishLine, and Proofpoint Essentials help simulate real-world phishing attacks, track user behavior, and provide interactive training to mitigate the risk of falling victim to phishing.

By regularly testing employees and offering educational resources, organizations can build a culture of cybersecurity awareness and significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful phishing attack.