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How to Use Phishing Data to Improve Training

Tracking phishing simulation click rates isn't the same as improving security. This article explains how to go beyond basic metrics and turn phishing data into targeted training and measurable behavior
Phishing Data Article Cover

Going Beyond the Click Rate for Actionable Improvements

Most organizations run phishing simulations and track basic metrics like click rates or how fast employees report a suspicious email. But collecting data isn’t the same as improving security. Without a plan to translate those metrics into targeted training and measurable behavior change, phishing assessments become little more than a checkbox exercise.

To reduce risk, you need to go beyond the numbers. That means understanding what the data is actually telling you, who’s vulnerable, why they’re falling for attacks, and how to reinforce the right behaviors. In this article, we’ll break down how to turn raw phishing metrics into a focused, effective training plan that strengthens your human firewall.

Table of Contents

Identify the Right Metrics to Track
Use Scenarios to Target Specific Behaviors
Four Tips to Build a Data-Driven Phishing Training Plan
How TrollEye Security Supports Your Team

Identify the Right Metrics to Track

Not all phishing metrics are equally valuable. While high-level statistics like overall click rate can signal general trends, meaningful improvement starts with understanding why users are making mistakes. That requires a deeper look at specific behaviors.

    • Click Rate – This tells you how many users are falling for phishing simulations, but it doesn’t explain the reasoning behind the clicks. Pair this with context, what type of lure was used? Who clicked? Was it a new employee, or someone in a high-risk department?

    • Report Rate – It’s not enough for employees to avoid clicking, they also need to report suspicious emails. A high report rate means users are engaged and aware. A low rate might indicate apathy or uncertainty about what to do.

    • Repeat Offenders – Look for users who fail multiple simulations. This isn’t about blame, it’s about identifying who may need one-on-one coaching or more hands-on training to change behavior.

    • Credential Submission Rate – One of the most dangerous outcomes in a phishing scenario is when a user submits their login credentials or other sensitive data. When you exploit the credentials, you can see how far an attack could have gone in a real-world scenario, helping you identify risks beyond the human firewall.

The key is to treat these metrics as the starting point, not the end goal. They reveal patterns of behavior and gaps in understanding that your training plan can directly address.

Use Scenarios to Target Specific Behaviors

Phishing simulations are most valuable when you go beyond outcomes and analyze the context around each event. Here are some examples of how different simulation outcomes can guide your training strategy:

Finance Employee Submits Credentials After Clicking an Invoice Link

A user in accounts payable receives an email appearing to be from a known vendor, referencing an overdue invoice. The email uses the correct branding and language tone, and the link leads to a spoofed login page. The employee clicks and submits their Microsoft 365 credentials.

Analysis:

  • The employee recognized the vendor’s name but didn’t verify the email source.
  • The realistic tone and business context made the phish convincing.
  • There was no second-layer verification (e.g., confirming with the vendor internally).

Training Strategy:

  • Launch a module focused on invoice fraud and business email compromise (BEC).
  • Introduce or reinforce policies for verifying financial requests through alternate channels.
  • Create a short video walkthrough of a fraudulent invoice example, and show how small clues (email domain, language patterns, urgency) expose the deception.
  • Provide targeted reinforcement for anyone in finance roles every quarter.

Senior Executive Clicks on a “DocuSign” Email From a Mobile Device

A C-level executive receives a mobile-friendly email asking them to sign a time-sensitive document. The interface mimics DocuSign and includes a fabricated signature request from their legal counsel. The executive taps through and almost completes the form before closing it out.

Analysis:

  • The executive was working from their phone and didn’t notice the spoofed domain.
  • The impersonation of a known internal contact increased urgency and trust.
  • Mobile email clients display fewer phishing indicators (e.g., full URL, sender details).

Training Strategy:

  • Roll out mobile-specific phishing awareness training with side-by-side screenshots showing how phishing emails appear on desktop vs. mobile.
  • Offer a one-on-one coaching session to executives on verifying requests from key contacts.
  • Use future simulations to target executive assistants or chiefs-of-staff with similar lures to test and reinforce a broader protection layer.

Large Number of Employees Ignore and Don’t Report a Phishing Simulation

A simulation using a generic alert (“You’ve won a gift card!”) was sent to a non-technical department. Most users deleted the email without opening it, and only one person reported it.

Analysis:

  • Employees recognized it as suspicious but didn’t report it.
  • There’s a breakdown in understanding the value of reporting.
  • The organization may lack an easy or well-known process for reporting phish.

Training Strategy:

  • Emphasize the critical role reporting plays in early detection and incident response.
  • Simplify and promote the phishing report button or process.
  • Gamify reporting for future campaigns, and reward timely and accurate reporting.
  • Include the simulation results in an internal security newsletter to build awareness and engagement.

IT Staff Clicks on a Password Reset Notification

An IT help desk technician receives a spoofed internal email alerting them to a “password expiration.” The link leads to a fake internal portal where they nearly submit credentials before realizing the mistake.

Analysis:

  • The phish exploited routine work tasks that don’t usually raise red flags.
  • The attacker used internal branding and formatting to lend credibility.
  • Even trained users can become desensitized to common requests.

Training Strategy:

  • Develop advanced role-specific simulations that mimic internal systems.
  • Encourage a default mindset of verification, even for IT staff.
  • Add phishing awareness refreshers to technical team onboarding and quarterly training schedules.
  • Include discussions in purple teaming exercises to test and strengthen the help desk’s phishing defenses.

Phishing metrics aren’t just about clicks, they’re about behavior, environment, and context. When training is built around that context, it becomes more relevant, personalized, and effective.

Four Tips to Build a Data-Driven Phishing Training Plan

Running effective phishing simulations is only part of the equation. To truly reduce human risk, you need a structured training plan that uses your phishing data to guide who gets trained, how, and when. Here’s how to build a program that adapts and improves over time.

#1 Map Behaviors to Training Content

Start by linking specific risky behaviors to targeted training responses:

  • If users frequently click credential-harvesting links, assign modules focused on phishing site recognition and MFA reinforcement.
  • If they open attachments, build training around document-based malware delivery and file-type awareness.
  • If users consistently ignore phishing emails without reporting, prioritize education on incident response procedures and reporting importance.

Rather than sending everyone through the same awareness course, focus on what each group actually needs to improve.

#2 Segment Your Audience by Risk and Role

Phishing affects users differently based on their roles, access levels, and typical workflows. Customize your training plan by grouping employees into categories such as:

  • High-risk roles (e.g., finance, HR, executives) who are frequent targets of BEC or spear phishing.
  • Repeat offenders who’ve failed multiple simulations and need individualized coaching.
  • New hires who need foundational training within their onboarding process.
  • Technical staff who may require advanced simulations or red team collaboration.

This segmentation ensures the training is relevant and keeps high performers engaged while giving higher-touch support to those who need it.

#3 Establish a Feedback Loop

Training isn’t a one-and-done activity, it’s a continuous process. Establish a rhythm for reviewing phishing simulation results and training outcomes, such as:

  • Monthly reviews of simulation data to identify new trends
  • Quarterly refinement of training materials based on observed behaviors
  • Annual assessments of program effectiveness using metrics like overall click rate reduction, report rate increases, and improved credential hygiene

Use this feedback to iterate: update scenarios, retire ineffective modules, and test new tactics for improving engagement and retention.

#4 Simulate Emerging Threats, Not Just Common Tactics

Modern phishing threats change quickly, so your training content should too. Use threat intelligence to regularly update your simulations and ensure they reflect the current landscape. This could include:

  • Incorporating real phishing lures observed in the wild, such as QR code scams or MFA fatigue attacks.
  • Adapting simulations to mimic current events, seasonal scams, or tools your team actually uses (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams, DocuSign).
  • Testing new vectors, like voice phishing (vishing) or text-based phishing (smishing), to broaden employee awareness.

By keeping your simulations timely and relevant, you help employees recognize the tactics attackers are using right now, not just the ones from last year’s training module.

By aligning metrics with targeted content, segmenting users by risk, and continuously refining your approach, you turn phishing assessments into a living part of your security program. The result is a smarter, more resilient workforce, one that doesn’t just recognize phishing threats but responds to them decisively.

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Learn how you can use phishing assessments to identify risks in your human firewall and to improve your training program to reduce successful attacks.

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How TrollEye Security Supports Your Team

Most phishing assessment providers stop at sending out simulations and sharing basic metrics, but we go further. At TrollEye Security, our phishing assessments are built to help your team take action on the results, not just observe them.

We work directly with your security and compliance teams to:

  • Tailor campaigns to your environment – Our assessments aren’t one-size-fits-all. We design campaigns that reflect the types of phishing attacks your organization is likely to face, whether that’s vendor invoice fraud, executive impersonation, or MFA fatigue attacks.

  • Validate findings for real-world impact – When credentials are captured during a simulation, our team doesn’t just mark it as a failure, we analyze whether those credentials are usable, how they might be exploited, and what an attacker could do with them. This helps you distinguish between theoretical and actionable risk.

  • Turn metrics into a training roadmap – We don’t just hand over a report. After each assessment, we review the results with your team, highlight trends and user behaviors, and help you prioritize next steps. If needed, we assist in mapping these findings to your internal training tools or provide additional coaching resources.

  • Provide continuous improvement, not one-offs – Our phishing assessments are conducted quarterly so you can track progress over time, reinforce key lessons, and adapt your program to changing threats.

By partnering with us, you’re not just testing employee awareness, you’re building a culture of security, one campaign at a time.

Learn More About Our Phishing Assessments

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