Gamification in Cybersecurity Awareness: Does It Really Work?

We all know cybersecurity training is essential. Yet, for many employees, it’s the one item on the calendar they dread the most. Unfortunately, the outdated, monotonous approach to training isn’t just boring—it’s dangerous.

The biggest threat to any company’s security isn’t always a sophisticated hacker. More often than not, it’s human error. In fact, in 2024, 68% of data breaches could be traced back to employee mistakes. That means nearly seven out of every ten successful attacks began with someone clicking the wrong link or falling for a scam.

This vulnerability is significant, but it’s also one we can actively address. The question is: if annual quizzes and long slide decks aren’t working, what will?

Why Traditional Training Fails

The problem isn’t the information—it’s the delivery. Many organizations approach cybersecurity education as a “check-the-box” exercise. Employees endure endless PowerPoint slides, disengage, and rush through just to finish.

As a result, they don’t develop the instincts needed to recognize real-world threats. One healthcare company even referred to this as “death by PowerPoint”—a perfect description of why traditional methods fail.

Enter Gamification

The solution lies in changing the rules of the game—literally. Gamification takes elements that make video games addictive, such as earning points, climbing leaderboards, and unlocking rewards, and applies them to cybersecurity education.

Importantly, this isn’t about turning workplaces into arcades. It’s about using the psychology of gaming to reinforce secure behavior. Here’s how:

• Immediate feedback: Employees receive instant recognition (e.g., points for correctly flagging a phishing email).
• Positive reinforcement: Small rewards create a sense of achievement.
• Habit-building: Over time, secure behaviors become second nature.

Proven Impact

The results of gamified cybersecurity training are impressive:

• A global energy company saw employee engagement rise from 10% to 70% after shifting to gamified challenges.
• A TalentLMS survey found that 83% of employees felt more motivated with gamified training.
• Security platform Hawk Hunt reported an 86% reduction in phishing failures across its clients.

Major organizations are already embracing this approach. PwC uses a program called Game of Threats for executive training. IBM has introduced cybersecurity escape rooms. Healthcare providers like Bulmont Health have gamified training to engage busy hospital staff.

The common outcome? Security shifts from being a dreaded chore to a challenge employees want to succeed at.

Best Practices for Implementation

Of course, gamification must be done thoughtfully. Simply adding points to outdated training won’t work. Here are key principles:

1. Align challenges with real risks your organization faces.
2. Celebrate wins instead of punishing mistakes—create a supportive culture.
3. Balance competition and teamwork to appeal to different personalities.
4. Provide continuous feedback so employees can track improvement.
5. Avoid “pointsification.” Points and badges should reinforce learning, not distract from it.

Most importantly, security awareness should not be a once-a-year exercise. To truly build habits, training must be continuous and ongoing.

Turning the Weakest Link into the Strongest Defense

For years, people have been called the weakest link in cybersecurity. But with the right approach, employees can become a company’s strongest line of defense. Gamification transforms security awareness from a burden into a shared mission—one that employees are motivated to win.

So here’s the question every organization should consider:
Is your human firewall currently a liability waiting to be exploited—or could it become your most powerful security asset?