Description #

Phishing attacks are one of the most prevalent threats in today's digital landscape, with attackers constantly seeking to compromise user credentials and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. To combat this threat, organizations must ensure their employees are well-prepared to recognize and respond to phishing attempts.

This service focuses on implementing phishing attack simulations using Microsoft Attack Simulation Training with custom payloads. These simulations help train employees by delivering simulated phishing messages containing tailored links or attachments. Custom payloads can be created and modified to better suit the client’s environment and security needs, making the training more relevant and effective. The simulation tracks employee responses to these scenarios and delivers targeted training based on their actions—whether they correctly identify and avoid the threat or fall victim to it. Attack Simulation Training employs various social engineering techniques, curated from the MITRE ATT&CK® framework, to deliver realistic simulations. The available payload types include credential harvesting, malware attachments, or links to malicious code. This approach provides an immersive learning experience and helps security teams gauge the organization's readiness against phishing attacks.

IT Partner Responsibilities #

1. Configure the Microsoft Attack Simulation Training environment and confirm licensing.
2. Collaborate with the client to create and customize phishing payloads to suit the specific needs and threats relevant to the client’s environment.
3. Define the target user groups to receive the simulated phishing messages.
4. Deploy phishing campaigns using the defined payloads and social engineering techniques.
5. Monitor user interactions with the simulated phishing emails and payloads.
6. Collect and analyze data on user actions, such as clicking links, submitting credentials, or opening attachments.
7. Assign tailored training based on user actions (e.g., those who fall for phishing attempts will receive additional, focused training).
8. Provide users with educational content on identifying and reporting phishing threats.
9. Analyze simulation results and provide a detailed report outlining user performance and potential areas for improvement.
10. Offer recommendations for enhancing user security awareness and adapting the training based on the client’s environment.

Client Responsibilities #

1. Provide access to the Microsoft 365 tenant for deploying Attack Simulation Training.
2. Collaborate with IT Partner to define the target user groups for the phishing simulation.
3. Review the outcomes of the simulation and collaborate on implementing recommended changes to security practices.

Prerequisites #

1. Attack simulation training requires a Microsoft 365 E5 or Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 license.

Plan #

1. Configure Attack Simulation Training environment and confirm licensing requirements.
2. Collaborate with the client to create and customize phishing payloads to better reflect the organization’s typical threat landscape.
3. Define user groups and deploy simulations using a range of custom phishing messages and payloads.
4. Monitor user interactions and gather data on the success or failure of the phishing attempts.
5. Assign targeted training based on user behavior and responses to the phishing simulations.
6. Analyze the results of the simulation and create a comprehensive report.
7. Conduct a post-simulation review meeting to assess findings and offer recommendations.

Success criteria #

1. Employees gain practical experience in recognizing and responding to phishing attacks.
2. Custom payloads are tailored to reflect the client’s environment, increasing the relevance and effectiveness of the training.
3. Detailed insights into organizational vulnerability to phishing attacks.
4. Targeted training for users based on their interaction with the phishing simulations.
5. Strengthened cybersecurity posture through the identification and remediation of user weaknesses.
6. Comprehensive reporting on user behavior and recommendations for enhanced security awareness.