You’ve probably seen the signs hanging in manufacturing facilities:
“___ Days Since Our Last Workplace Accident”
Companies don’t put those signs up because they look nice. They do it because culture matters.
The sign creates awareness. It reminds employees every day that safety is everyone’s responsibility. It encourages people to think twice before taking shortcuts and helps create an environment where everyone is looking out for potential problems.
Professional service firms, law firms, accounting practices and healthcare organizations don’t usually worry about forklifts or factory machinery. But they do face another type of workplace accident:
An employee clicks a bad link.
One click can hand over login credentials. One malicious attachment can launch ransomware. One successful phishing email can create weeks of disruption and potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
The reality is that most cybersecurity incidents don’t start with sophisticated technology. They start with a human being making an honest mistake. That’s why employee cybersecurity training remains one of the most important cybersecurity investments a business can make. Organizations that invest in ongoing phishing prevention and employee cybersecurity training are often far better positioned to recognize and stop threats before they become incidents.
The Good News: Training Works
What’s encouraging is that training actually works.
According to KnowBe4’s 2025 Phishing by Industry Benchmarking Report, organizations that implemented ongoing security awareness training and simulated phishing campaigns reduced phishing susceptibility by 86% over a 12-month period. Average failure rates dropped from roughly 33% to just over 4%.
Those numbers are so impressive they might seem hard to believe, but they rhyme with what we see in our own client base. Within the first 2 months of starting cybersecurity training, employee click rates crater, and they remain low as long as a sustained training program remains in place.
But I think most businesses miss an opportunity they could go along with cybersecurity training.
Typically, employee cybersecurity programs focus exclusively on avoiding mistakes. Employees complete training modules, sit through awareness presentations, receive the simulated phishing emails and then move on with their day.
The goal should be bigger than checking a compliance box.
The goal should be creating a culture where employees naturally stop and think before clicking.
What If We Rewarded Good Security Habits?
Here’s an idea.
After implementing employee cybersecurity training, offer a meaningful reward for employees who successfully navigate phishing simulations throughout the year. Maybe it’s $500. Maybe it’s $1,000.
If multiple employees make it through the year without being successfully phished, hold a drawing.
Suddenly people care.
Employees start comparing notes. They become more skeptical of unusual emails. They warn coworkers about suspicious messages. Instead of cybersecurity being viewed as “the IT department’s problem,” it becomes something everyone actively participates in.
More importantly, it creates positive reinforcement rather than fear.
Everyone knows they should avoid phishing emails. Giving employees a tangible incentive helps turn awareness into action.
Building a Culture of Healthy Skepticism
The best cybersecurity cultures aren’t built around paranoia. They’re built around thoughtful decision-making.
Employees should be asking themselves:
- Was I expecting this email?
- Does this request make sense?
- Why is this person asking for my password?
- Should I verify this before clicking?
Those few seconds of hesitation can stop a cyberattack before it starts.
In many cases, the difference between a normal workday and a major cybersecurity incident is simply one employee taking a moment to ask a question.
That’s the behavior we want to encourage.
The Return on Investment Is Obvious
When I talk with business leaders after a ransomware incident, nobody ever says, “I wish we had spent less time training employees.”
Usually, it’s the opposite.
Most wish they had invested more in awareness before the incident happened.
The financial math is pretty straightforward. A ransomware event can easily cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars when you factor in downtime, recovery expenses, lost productivity and reputational damage.
Compared to those costs, a $500 or $1,000 employee incentive program is insignificant.
Technology is important. Email filtering is important. Endpoint protection is important.
But people still play a huge role in cybersecurity.
If you’re looking for a simple way to strengthen your security culture, consider rewarding employees for doing the right thing.
Sometimes the best cybersecurity investment isn’t another piece of software.
Sometimes it’s giving your employees a reason to stop, think and avoid clicking the bad link.
