Standardized Phishing Attack Template for Group Performance Benchmarking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods to counter phishing attacks are inadequate as they fail to standardize simulated phishing attacks across different groups, making it difficult to compare the performance of one group to another, which is essential for effective education and training.
Innovation Solution
Standardized simulated phishing attacks are generated from a template with placeholders for individual and company-specific information, allowing for identical attacks to be administered across groups, enabling meaningful comparisons by monitoring responses and providing aggregate performance metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If simulated phishing attacks are customized for different individuals and companies, then the attacks are more realistic and effective for education, but it becomes difficult to standardize and compare performance across different groups
Solution Approach 1:
The phishing attack template is segmented into fixed standardized components and variable customizable components. The standardized portions (attack structure, messaging framework, target actions) remain consistent across all groups, while variable portions (individual name, company name, specific scenarios) can be customized. This segmentation allows performance comparison on standardized elements while maintaining customization where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the phishing attack template have different qualities - some parts are kept standardized (local quality of consistency) for comparability, while other parts are customized (local quality of adaptability) for realism. Specifically, the core attack mechanism and measurement criteria maintain uniform quality across groups, while surface-level details adapt to local contexts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different phishing attack templates are used for different groups, then each group receives tailored training, but meaningful comparison of aggregate performance between groups becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
A universal template framework serves multiple functions: it provides standardized measurement capabilities for cross-group comparison while simultaneously allowing customization for tailored group training. The template acts as a multi-functional tool that maintains core consistency for measurement purposes while accommodating group-specific adaptations.
Solution Approach 2:
The template allows controlled parameter changes - certain parameters (attack structure, success criteria, measurement metrics) remain fixed to enable comparison, while other parameters (specific scenarios, messaging details, target profiles) can be modified for group tailoring. This selective parameter approach maintains measurement precision while providing training adaptability.
3Manufacturing precision
If standardized templates are used for all phishing attacks, then performance comparison between groups is meaningful, but the attacks may lack individual and company-specific relevance
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized template is prepared in advance with clearly defined fixed and variable sections. This preliminary structuring ensures that standardization requirements are met while pre-identifying where customization can occur. The template framework is established beforehand to guarantee comparability, with slots prepared for individual and company-specific information insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The template acts as an intermediary between the need for standardization and the need for customization. It mediates by providing a consistent structural framework that enables comparison while incorporating variable elements that allow individual and company relevance. The template translates between these two opposing requirements through its hybrid fixed-variable structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are methods, network devices and machine-readable media for conducting a simulated phishing attack on a first group of individuals, and performing an analysis of the group's performance to the simulated attack. In the analysis, an aggregate performance of the first group is compared with an aggregate performance of individuals from a second group. To ensure uniformity in the simulated phishing attacks, messages thereof may be constructed from template messages, the template messages having placeholders for individual-specific and company-specific information.