HSM IT ServicesSecurity Awareness Training
Practical training that turns your people from the easiest target into your first line of defence. Our Security Awareness Training gives your staff short, practical lessons and realistic phishing simulations that build lasting security habits. We focus on the threats your people actually face, like fraudulent invoices and fake sign-in pages, and track progress so you can demonstrate reasonable safeguards.
Our company is named for the eighth layer: the people who use technology every day. Firewalls and filters stop a great deal, but most successful attacks still involve someone clicking a link, approving a sign-in prompt, sharing a password or paying a fraudulent invoice. Security Awareness Training addresses that layer directly. It is not about blaming staff. It is about giving them the knowledge and confidence to recognize manipulation and respond appropriately.
The program combines brief, engaging lessons with simulated phishing emails tailored to your organization and industry. Topics include phishing and business email compromise, multi-factor authentication fatigue, safe handling of personal and health information, password managers, social media oversharing and how to report suspicious activity. When someone clicks a simulated link, they receive immediate, friendly coaching rather than a reprimand. Leaders receive role-specific training on wire fraud, impersonation and the decisions attackers try to rush.
Progress is tracked over time, showing completion rates, simulation results and reporting behaviour by department. That evidence helps you demonstrate reasonable security arrangements under PIPA and the Health Information Act, satisfy cyber insurance questionnaires, and support control requirements in frameworks such as CIS Controls v8.1, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and SOC 2. We review results with you and adjust content so the training stays relevant as threats change.
What is included
- Baseline phishing simulation to measure starting point
- Short online lessons on current threats
- Ongoing simulated phishing campaigns
- Just-in-time coaching for users who click
- Role-based training for leaders, finance and administrators
- Privacy training for personal and health information
- Phish reporting button for Outlook
- Progress reports for leadership and insurers
How it works
Baseline
We run an initial simulation and survey to understand current awareness across your organization.
Train
Staff complete short lessons on a regular schedule, with content matched to their roles.
Simulate
Realistic phishing tests reinforce lessons and give immediate coaching when someone is caught.
Measure
We report trends and adjust the program to focus on the areas where risk remains highest.
Who it is for
Security Awareness Training benefits every organization with staff who use email, but it is especially important for businesses that process payments, clinics and pharmacies handling health information, professional firms with client funds or confidential files, and organizations whose cyber insurer asks about training. It works for teams of every size, including staff with limited technical background.
Questions we hear
Will simulated phishing make staff feel tricked?
It can if handled poorly, which is why we design the program around learning rather than punishment. Staff are told the organization runs simulations, coaching is immediate and supportive, and individual results are not used to embarrass anyone. Over time, most teams come to see simulations as useful practice, and reporting of real suspicious email typically increases.
How much time does training take?
Lessons are short, usually a few minutes each, and are scheduled so staff can complete them without disrupting their work. Simulated phishing runs in the background of normal email. Leaders and higher-risk roles may receive some additional content, but the program is designed to build habits through regular, brief practice rather than long annual sessions.
Does training help with compliance obligations?
Training on its own does not make an organization compliant, but it is an expected safeguard. PIPA and the Health Information Act require reasonable security arrangements, and staff awareness is widely considered part of that. Frameworks like CIS Controls v8.1, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and SOC 2 include awareness controls, and our reports provide evidence for them.