How can you make security awareness assessments engaging and fun?

1 Use gamification

Gamification is the use of game elements and mechanics, such as points, badges, levels, leaderboards, rewards, and challenges, to motivate and engage learners in a non-game context. Gamification can make security awareness assessments more fun and interactive, as well as provide feedback, recognition, and competition. You can gamify your assessments by adding quizzes, puzzles, scenarios, or simulations that test your employees' security skills and knowledge, and reward them with points, badges, or certificates for completing them. You can also create leaderboards or teams to foster a sense of collaboration or friendly rivalry among your staff.

2 Incorporate storytelling

Storytelling is the use of narratives, characters, and emotions to convey a message or a lesson in a memorable and relatable way. Storytelling can make security awareness assessments more engaging and relevant, as well as appeal to your employees' curiosity and empathy. You can incorporate storytelling into your assessments by creating realistic and compelling scenarios or case studies that illustrate the impact and consequences of security incidents or breaches, and ask your employees to apply their security knowledge and skills to solve them. You can also use stories or testimonials from real victims or experts to highlight the importance and benefits of security awareness.

3 Customize your content

Customization is the process of tailoring your content to suit the needs, preferences, and interests of your target audience. Customization can make security awareness assessments more meaningful and effective, as well as demonstrate your respect and appreciation for your employees. You can customize your assessments by using relevant and up-to-date examples and data that reflect your industry, organization, or department. You can also use humor, graphics, or multimedia to make your content more appealing and accessible. You can also allow your employees to choose their own pace, level, or format of learning and assessment, and provide them with options and feedback.

4 Involve your employees

Involvement is the act of engaging your employees in the design, delivery, or evaluation of your security awareness program. Involvement can make security awareness assessments more fun and empowering, as well as increase your employees' ownership and commitment to security. You can involve your employees in your assessments by asking them to contribute their own questions, ideas, or feedback, and incorporate them into your content or process. You can also ask them to share their own experiences, challenges, or best practices with security, and create a community of learning and support. You can also recognize and reward your employees for their participation and performance, and celebrate their achievements.

5 Keep it simple and short

Simplicity and brevity are the qualities of making your content clear, concise, and easy to understand and remember. Simplicity and brevity can make security awareness assessments more enjoyable and manageable, as well as reduce your employees' cognitive load and frustration. You can keep your assessments simple and short by using simple and direct language, avoiding jargon or acronyms, and explaining any technical terms or concepts. You can also use clear and specific instructions, objectives, and expectations, and provide examples or hints if needed. You can also limit the number, length, and difficulty of your questions, and avoid repetition or redundancy.

Making security awareness assessments engaging and fun can have many benefits for your organization and your employees. It can improve your employees' learning outcomes, retention, and behavior change, as well as boost their morale, motivation, and satisfaction. It can also enhance your security culture, reputation, and resilience, and reduce your risks and costs. By following these tips and ideas, you can create security awareness assessments that are not only informative and effective, but also enjoyable and rewarding for your staff.