Phishing Simulation and Security Awareness Training

Your people are the control that attackers target first. Tooling like managed cybersecurity catches a lot, but a single click on a convincing email can still hand over credentials. Phishing simulation training turns that weak point into a measurable, improving defence layer — and it sits naturally alongside AMVIA's email security and phishing protection services.

What is phishing simulation training?

Phishing simulation training is a controlled programme that emails staff fake-but-realistic phishing messages, records who clicks or reports them, and delivers short awareness training to those who need it. It is repeated regularly so behaviour change is measured, not assumed. The goal is a lower click rate and a higher report rate every quarter.

The UK's National Cyber Security Centre treats user awareness as a core part of defending against phishing, not an optional extra (NCSC phishing guidance). Simulations make that awareness measurable: you see exactly which teams, roles, or individuals are most exposed, and you can prove improvement to your board, your insurer, and your auditor.

How does AMVIA run your phishing simulations?

AMVIA runs simulations as a continuous, four-stage cycle rather than a one-off test. We baseline current behaviour, train the people who fail, repeat with fresh real-world templates, then report against benchmarks. Each campaign uses current attack patterns — spear phishing, CEO fraud, and credential harvesting — so the test reflects what your staff actually face.

• 01 — Baseline campaign. We send a realistic simulated phish to your team to measure current click and reporting rates before any training.
• 02 — Targeted training. Short awareness modules are assigned automatically to staff who clicked, focusing effort where the risk is highest.
• 03 — Ongoing campaigns. Monthly simulations using current templates keep awareness live and stop results drifting back over time.
• 04 — Reporting and improvement. Monthly reports track click rates, report rates, and training completion against industry benchmarks.

This is the same managed model behind AMVIA's managed detection and response and 24/7 security monitoring: UK-based engineers configure, run, and report on it so your team doesn't have to.

What's included in the service?

Every AMVIA phishing simulation programme includes campaign delivery, automated training assignment, new-starter onboarding, and monthly reporting. You get a named account team and audit-ready records of who completed what and when. Training content is refreshed quarterly to track the threats currently hitting UK organisations.

• Realistic, current templates — spear phishing, business email compromise, credential harvesting, and removable-media lures.
• Micro-learning modules — five-to-ten-minute sessions with interactive examples and short quizzes.
• Automatic new-starter enrolment — joiners get a baseline module in week one, so they aren't a gap in your defences.
• Board-ready reporting — click rate, report rate, and completion tracked over time with industry benchmarks.
• Audit-ready evidence — central records that support UK GDPR and ISO 27001 awareness requirements.

Why do UK SMEs need phishing simulation training?

Because phishing is the most common way UK businesses get breached, and staff are the entry point. The 2025 Cyber Security Breaches Survey found phishing was the single most prevalent attack type reported by UK businesses, identified in around 85% of breaches (gov.uk, DSIT 2025). Training the people attackers target is the highest-leverage control most SMEs can add.

• 43% of UK businesses experienced a cyber breach in the past year (gov.uk, DSIT 2025).
• 85% of breaches involved phishing (DSIT 2025) — making it the top reported attack vector (gov.uk).
• Businesses that run regular simulations typically cut staff click rates by 60–70% within six months — a consistently reported effect of sustained simulation programmes (typical UK 2026 range).
• £3,550 average cost of a disruptive breach for UK businesses
• 19,000 UK businesses hit by ransomware in the past year

A lower click rate is not a vanity metric. It directly reduces the chance of the credential theft that precedes most ransomware and business email compromise incidents.

In-house awareness vs AMVIA managed phishing simulation

Many SMEs try to run awareness internally with an annual slide deck. That ticks a box but rarely changes behaviour. A managed, measured programme is the difference between hoping staff are careful and proving they are.

How much does phishing simulation training cost?

AMVIA delivers phishing simulation training on fixed monthly pricing as part of a managed security package, with no hidden fees. Exact cost depends on user count and whether it's bundled with wider services like email security and endpoint protection. For how security packages are priced overall, see our managed cybersecurity cost guide.

Pricing scales per user, so a 25-seat firm and a 250-seat firm are quoted differently. We'll size it to your headcount and the controls you already run — including any Microsoft Defender for Business licensing you hold.

Why choose AMVIA for phishing simulation training?

AMVIA is a security-first managed partner, not a telecoms reseller bolting on awareness training. We hold Cyber Essentials Plus certification and Microsoft Solutions Partner status, our engineering and support team operates from Sheffield, and we manage IT and security for 1,200+ UK businesses across legal, finance, healthcare, and professional services.

• Cyber Essentials Plus certified and a Microsoft Solutions Partner — UK-recognised security credentials.
• 1,200+ UK businesses protected across regulated sectors.
• Sheffield-based UK team that understands UK compliance and infrastructure.
• Sub-one-hour critical-issue response, by phone, email, and portal, with named account managers.

> "Client testimonial coming soon — AMVIA protects over 1,200 UK businesses." — AMVIA Client