If your business runs annual cybersecurity training, one session per year where everyone watches a video and clicks through a quiz, you’re not alone. It’s the most common approach, and it’s also largely ineffective. By the time the next training rolls around, most employees have forgotten the majority of what they learned, and the threat landscape has changed significantly.
The good news is that more frequent, shorter training is more effective and less disruptive than a single annual session. Here’s how to think about a training schedule that builds lasting security habits.
Why Annual Training Isn’t Enough Anymore
Cyber threats change constantly. The phishing tactics that were common twelve months ago are being replaced by AI-generated emails that are significantly harder to detect. Attackers are finding new ways to impersonate trusted contacts, exploit new platforms, and manipulate people into taking actions they wouldn’t otherwise take.
Annual training captures a snapshot of the threat landscape at one point in time. It doesn’t account for the new tools your team adopts during the year, the new attack methods that emerge, or the reality that people simply forget information they don’t regularly use. Keeping awareness sharp requires ongoing reinforcement.
A Practical Training Cadence That Works
Here’s the approach most security professionals recommend for small and mid-sized businesses:
- Monthly: run a simulated phishing test and share the results with staff, highlighting what to watch for based on current attack trends.
- Quarterly: deliver a short (15-20 minute) focused training module on a specific topic: password hygiene, safe browsing, social engineering, or data handling.
- Annually: conduct a comprehensive cybersecurity training sessionthat reviews all core topics and introduces anything new that’s emerged over the year.
- Event-based: provide targeted training whenever a new tool is adopted, a near-miss incident occurs, or a significant new threat is identified.
Simulated Phishing Is the Most Powerful Tool You Have
Telling someone what a phishing email looks like is far less effective than showing them what it feels like to almost click one. Simulated phishing campaigns send realistic fake phishing emails to your team and track who clicks, who submits credentials, and who reports the message. The data gives you a clear picture of where training is working and where it isn’t, and staff who nearly fell for the test remember the lesson far longer than someone who just watched a video.
At PlexxTech, we run phishing simulation programs and cybersecurity awareness training for businesses across Canada. Training is tailored for non-technical staff, engaging, and paired with measurable outcomes so you can show leadership and insurers that it’s making a real difference.
Build a stronger human firewall for your business. Ask PlexxTech about cybersecurity awareness training.
