What are the emerging trends and innovations in security awareness training and how do you keep up with them?

??Gamification: Integrating game elements like points, badges, and leaderboards into training. ???♂?Simulation: Realistic scenarios, such as phishing attacks, to practice responses. ??Microlearning: Bite-sized content delivered on-demand via mobile apps. ??AI-driven personalization: Tailoring training content based on user behavior. ??Continuous learning: Regular updates to keep pace with evolving threats. ??Collaboration platforms: Peer-to-peer learning through social features. ??Stay updated by following security blogs, attending webinars, and joining security communities.

There are obviously a lot of benefits listed here however you should also consider some of the drawbacks such as: - High cost set up. - Technical requirements, this can be a challenge if you don’t have your own training centre or are working with staff who are not familiar with the technology. - Scenarios. Keeping them realistic can be a challenge. You also need to consider the assessment criteria you will be using and how staff who do not meet the criteria because of their unfamiliarity with the technology can be supported.

Emerging trends include gamification, interactive simulations, and personalized training content. Stay updated through industry conferences, online forums, and continuous professional development courses. Engage with security vendors, subscribe to relevant newsletters, and conduct regular assessments to adapt training methods and content to evolving threats and learner preferences.

Estás son dos técnicas que pueden hacer que la capacitación en conciencia de seguridad sea más divertida, interactiva y realista. La gamificación implica aplicar elementos del juego, como puntos, insignias, tablas de clasificación y recompensas, al contenido de entrenamiento, mientras que la simulación implica crear escenarios que imitan situaciones del mundo real, como ataques de phishing, infecciones de ransomware o violaciones de datos. Estas técnicas pueden ayudar a los estudiantes a desarrollar habilidades prácticas, poner a prueba sus conocimientos y recibir retroalimentación.

Gamification and simulation are great tools for overcoming the challenge of keeping security awareness training engaging. From my perspective, gamification works because it taps into people's natural competitiveness and desire for rewards—things like leaderboards and badges make it more fun and less of a chore. Simulations, on the other hand, are incredibly valuable because they provide hands-on experience. Phishing simulations or mock ransomware attacks allow users to apply their knowledge in realistic scenarios, helping them build practical skills. The instant feedback these techniques offer is key to reinforcing learning and showing employees where they can improve, making the training much more effective and memorable.

Micro learning is where I believe security training will go in future. The option to take bite size topics regularly in a place which the individual learns best is a win win for employer and employee. The risk is knowing that the individual is the person completing the training and set up costs can be high.

In my experience, leveraging microlearning and personalization has been instrumental in enhancing the effectiveness of security awareness training programs. For instance, in a recent project aimed at improving employee cybersecurity awareness, we implemented microlearning modules tailored to specific job roles and departments within the organization. By breaking down complex security concepts into digestible nuggets of information, employees were able to absorb the content more effectively and apply it to their daily tasks. Additionally, by personalizing the training content based on learners' preferences and performance metrics, we were able to address individual learning needs and reinforce key concepts more efficiently.

Personalisation is very relevant in todays workplaces. Making sure that the right people get the right training can be difficult though as work responsibilities can change quickly as threats change. So ensuring that you are constantly monitoring the training needs analysis is important.

Microlearning and personalization are great for delivering effective security awareness training. Microlearning breaks content into short, digestible modules that learners can access on demand, making it easier to fit into busy schedules. Personalization tailors the training to the learner’s role and specific risks, ensuring it's relevant and targeted. This approach helps people retain the most important information without feeling overwhelmed. By addressing individual needs and using analytics to guide content, these techniques make training more engaging and effective, helping to close knowledge gaps while reducing cognitive overload. It’s about the right content, at the right time, for the right person.

??Leverage gamification and interactive learning platforms to make training more engaging and memorable for users. ??Use personalized training based on individual risk profiles or job roles to ensure relevance. ??Incorporate simulated phishing attacks and real-world scenarios to assess user awareness in real time. ??Adopt microlearning modules for continuous, bite-sized security education. ??Track behavioral analytics to measure improvements and tailor future sessions. ??Stay updated by attending cybersecurity conferences, following industry blogs, and joining professional communities focused on training innovations.

The acquisition of knowledge never happens in an environment of fear. I believe a prerequisite for an effective training program is removing the fear of failure. We don't go into training because we are already experts. We go to learn. Leaders can set a critical example. If you are a leader of security training make sure and share stories of your own failures. Create a safe space to be ignorant. Celebrate growth of yourself and teammates. Embarrassing teammates during collaboration or social learning will kill any acquisition of true knowledge. Your teammates will run from exposing themselves to ridicule and self-perceive as failures.

Social learning and collaboration play a pivotal role in fostering a culture of security within organizations. For instance, during a recent security awareness training initiative, we introduced collaborative learning activities such as group discussions, knowledge-sharing forums, and cross-departmental projects. By encouraging employees to share their experiences, insights, and best practices, we created a supportive environment where individuals felt empowered to contribute to the collective security posture. Additionally, leveraging social media platforms and online communities allowed employees to engage with security experts, ask questions, and stay updated on the latest security trends and threats.

Social learning and collaboration are key to building a strong security culture. By leveraging social platforms and peer interactions, employees can share best practices and learn from each other. This creates a network of security advocates who spread awareness and exchange tips. Collaboration, through team activities or challenges, encourages problem-solving and communication, making security awareness a shared responsibility. In my experience, this approach helps embed security into the day-to-day mindset, turning it from an individual task into a team effort, which is essential for long-term success in keeping an organization secure.

One of the most effective ways to solidify security awareness is through social learning and collaboration. From what I've seen, fostering a culture where employees discuss security incidents and share best practices creates an environment of mutual accountability. Peer-to-peer learning, especially through internal forums or discussion boards, also makes employees more receptive to security messaging. Encourage team-based challenges or create 'security champions' within departments to facilitate ongoing engagement. Promoting a collaborative approach not only makes security a shared responsibility but also helps uncover blind spots that formal training might miss.

At this point, we have our own company app where it's possible to follow other colleagues, contribute with articles and texts on relevant topics. But it doesn't stop there; we encourage individuals engaged with relevant company topics like Physical Security, Codes of Ethics, among others. We provide a direct channel with the responsible person for the area where they can make their contribution or report, and they choose how to do it, anonymously or not, guaranteeing the confidentiality of the report. Additionally, we have selected employees in areas with greater vulnerability as Security and Compliance advocates. They always engage other colleagues and also reinforce policies throughout the company, taking care of each other.

AI driven curriculum development is an emerging innovation in the training space broadly. As an expert in cybersecurity and education technology the trend towards AI developed curriculum will significantly disrupt existing training models. The power of an AI driven curriculum development is the ability to rapidly customize a security training curriculum to a company, team and individual. Imagine instantly creating security training that is tailored to customer success jobs, executive assistants or software developers at a specific company. We are already working on these types of solutions at Strike Graph. Considering that social engineering is the single most difficult and easiest surface area to breach better training is critical.

AI and automation are transforming security awareness training by making it more adaptive and efficient. I’ve noticed AI-driven platforms that assess employee behavior and customize training based on their risk profile are gaining traction. For instance, an employee who frequently fails phishing tests might receive more targeted anti-phishing modules. Automated systems can also provide real-time feedback during risky activities, such as flagging unusual email behavior, reinforcing learning at critical moments. Investing in AI-based tools allows organizations to deliver more responsive, context-aware training, ultimately closing security gaps more swiftly.

Artificial intelligence and automation are really transforming security awareness training. AI helps by using machine learning and natural language processing to create more dynamic and personalized training content. This means the training can adapt in real time based on the user's behavior and learning progress, making it more relevant and engaging. Automation, on the other hand, streamlines the whole process—automating training delivery, tracking progress, and even sending reminders or quizzes. This not only improves efficiency but also ensures consistent training across the board. Together, AI and automation make the training smarter, more responsive to evolving threats, and less resource-intensive to manage.

New developments in security awareness training, including artificial intelligence and automation, are reshaping how organizations educate employees on cybersecurity risks. These advancements enable tailored training experiences based on individual learning preferences. To stay abreast of these changes, engage with industry resources, attend events, and network with professionals. Collaborating with vendors and experts can also provide valuable insights into emerging trends and best practices in security awareness training.

La inteligencia artificial y la automatización son dos herramientas que pueden ayudar a superar este desafío. La inteligencia artificial implica el uso de aprendizaje automático, procesamiento de lenguaje natural y visión por computadora para analizar datos, generar información y crear contenido de entrenamiento adaptativo y dinámico. La automatización implica el uso de software, scripts y bots para agilizar y optimizar la entrega, administración y evaluación de la capacitación. Estas herramientas pueden ayudar a mejorar la calidad, la eficiencia y la eficacia de la capacitación en concientización sobre seguridad.

Immersive training will inevitably be the future. When it comes to security related training this will offer a great opportunity to develop training which is relevant and specific to the organisation. I do believe that this is still in its infancy but watch this space !!!

Immersive and experiential learning is powerful but currently unrealized in security training. Cost is a factor, however the ability to use AI to tailor experiential security training could ameliorate the issue. Here are two great use cases. Imagine we could replicate a cloud environment. Then we can introduce issues in the replicated cloud environment and measure teams to responses. Assessing response times and leveling up issue complexity can help the team grow. Imagine we can replicate social engineering. We can use experiential learning to attack common surface areas and review employee response. This allows us to track individual competence and create thought leaders from within our existing employees.

Immersive and experiential learning techniques have revolutionized the way we approach security awareness training. For example, in a recent training program aimed at educating employees about the risks of phishing attacks, we utilized immersive simulations that replicated real-world scenarios. Through virtual reality environments, employees were able to experience firsthand the tactics used by cybercriminals and understand the consequences of falling victim to phishing scams. This experiential approach not only heightened awareness but also instilled a sense of responsibility and vigilance among participants, leading to a more resilient security culture within the organization.

Immersive and experiential learning are game-changers in security awareness training. With immersive learning, tools like virtual reality and augmented reality create realistic environments where learners can actually experience the impact of their actions, like falling for a phishing attack or causing a data breach. It’s a powerful way to make the training feel real and relevant. Experiential learning, on the other hand, taps into storytelling and emotions—by using real-world examples or simulations, learners can connect on a personal level. This makes the lessons stick, as they can reflect on the consequences and apply that knowledge in future situations. These approaches create deeper engagement and more meaningful behavior change.

El aprendizaje inmersivo y experiencial son dos estrategias que pueden ayudar a lograr diferentes resultados. El aprendizaje inmersivo implica el uso de realidad virtual, realidad aumentada y realidad mixta, para crear entornos inmersivos y realistas, donde las personas pueden experimentar las consecuencias de sus acciones, explorar diferentes escenarios y practicar sus habilidades. El aprendizaje experiencial implica el uso de la narración de historias, la emoción y la reflexión, para crear experiencias memorables y significativas, donde las personas pueden conectarse con el contenido de la capacitación, empatizar con los demás y aplicar su aprendizaje.

Consider your training needs analysis (TNA) as part of the wider security strategy. Involve the right stakeholders in this process and review regularly.

One thing I’ve found in security awareness training is that customization is key. Every organization has its own unique culture and challenges, so it’s important to tailor the training to match those specifics. In one case, I worked with a company where employees didn’t take phishing seriously until we showed them real examples from their own industry. That made the risks feel a lot more personal. Another thing to keep in mind is that repetition matters—regular, bite-sized reminders or quizzes help keep security top of mind without overwhelming the team. And always keep it engaging and fun—gamification, for instance, adds a competitive element that boosts participation and retention.