How to Evaluate the Long-Term Impact of a Security Awareness Program?

We all “check the box” on security awareness training. But here’s the real question: is it making the organization safer? Completion rates look great on a dashboard, yet phishing emails still get clicks. What gives?

For too long, we’ve measured participation instead of protection. The goal was never just to finish a video—it was to change behavior and build a resilient human defense.

The Compliance Trap

The old model celebrated activity: Did people complete training? Did they pass the quiz? Easy to track, but it tells you little about actual risk.

The better path is to measure impact: Are behaviors changing? Is organizational risk decreasing? Many companies (84% in one study) say behavior change is the goal, yet few measure whether change happens—or sticks.

Why “Check-the-Box” Training Is Risky

Sticking with the old model isn’t merely ineffective; it’s risky:

• Wasted spend: If you can’t prove effectiveness, budgets get cut.
• False confidence: “We did the training, so we’re fine” masks real exposure.

As Gartner has put it, if you can’t demonstrate a reduction in real-world incidents, you’ll lose funding and buy-in. You must show value.

Metrics That Matter: A Tale of Two Trends

Success should be visible in two opposite trends:

• Phishing simulation click rate: trending steadily down.
• Employee reporting rate: trending up.

This shows people aren’t just avoiding mistakes—they’re actively participating in defense.

Case in point: Qualcomm identified repeat clickers and delivered targeted coaching, driving a 63% reduction in high-risk behavior. Industry data suggests that consistent, well-measured programs can cut security incidents by up to 70%.

What Your Dashboard Should Track

Move beyond a single “phishing clicks” metric. Track:

• Phishing simulation click rate (overall and by team)
• Report rate (suspicious email/reporting volume and quality)
• Repeat offender trend (declining over time)
• Real incident reports (frequency and time-to-report)
• Key behavior checks (clean desk, data handling, MFA hygiene, password practices)
• Human-error–driven incidents (clear downward trend)

Turn Data into a Continuous Improvement Loop

1. Measure the right things (the metrics above).
2. Analyze for weak spots (teams, topics, behaviors).
3. Target interventions (micro-training, just-in-time nudges, manager coaching).
4. Show outcomes to leadership (tie metrics to reduced incidents and avoided losses) and repeat.

Speak the Language of the Business

Don’t just report, “Click rates dropped from 15% to 3%.” Translate it:

“This represents a substantial reduction in breach likelihood, avoiding potential recovery costs and protecting our brand.”

Frame outcomes in terms of risk reduction, cost avoidance, regulatory exposure, and operational resilience.

Culture Is the Endgame

The ultimate goal is culture change. Security should feel instinctive:

Employees pause before they click and report anomalies—not because they have to, but because that’s how the organization operates.

When you reach that point, awareness is no longer a compliance cost—it’s a strategic asset that protects data, reputation, and the bottom line.

The Question to Take Back

Is your program checking a box, or building a culture of security? The answer makes all the difference.