Security awareness training shouldn’t feel like a chore… but too often, employees see it as just another box to tick. If your security training isn’t engaging, it’s not working. Enter… security engagement.
The key to strong security engagement is making training relevant, interactive, and memorable. But many businesses fall into the same traps that lead to low participation, poor retention, and ultimately, higher cyber risk.
Here are the five biggest mistakes that kill security engagement… and (cause we’re helpful like that) how to fix them. Let’s go…
1. TREATING SECURITY AWARENESS LIKE A COMPLIANCE EXERCISE
The Problem: Most cybersecurity training is designed to meet compliance requirements, not to change behaviour. Employees tune out because they don’t see what’s in it for them.
The Fix: Make security personal. Instead of saying, “This protects the business,” focus on “This protects YOU.”
Show employees how cyber threats like phishing, ransomware, and social engineering could compromise their personal bank accounts, social media, and private data… not just corporate assets. When security awareness training feels relevant, people pay attention.
2. USING BORING, GENERIC TRAINING CONTENT
The Problem: One-size-fits-all security training doesn’t work. Employees check out when the content isn’t relevant to their job.
The Fix: Tailor security training to different teams. Your finance department needs to know about invoice fraud, while developers need training on secure coding. The more personalised and role-specific the content, the more effective the training.
💡 Pro Tip: Use interactive security awareness training… like cyber escape rooms, phishing simulations, and hands-on workshops… to keep people engaged. (Psst… we can help with that).
3. USING CONFUSING CYBER SECURITY JARGON
The Problem: If your security messaging sounds like this: “Implementing least privilege to reduce the attack surface…” …you’ve already lost your audience.
The Fix: Keep it simple. If your mum wouldn’t understand it, rephrase it.
Instead of “Reduce the attack surface,” say “Only give people access to what they actually need—just like you wouldn’t give house keys to strangers.”
The easier it is to understand, the more likely employees will remember and apply it.
4. MAKING SECURITY TRAINING PASSIVE INSTEAD OF ACTIVE
The Problem: Employees forget passive security training—if they even complete it at all.
The Fix: People learn by doing. Instead of dull PowerPoints or endless e-learning modules, use:
- Live phishing tests – See how employees react in real-time
- Cyber escape rooms – Make learning fun and immersive
- Gamified security training – Use quizzes, leaderboards, and competitions to boost engagement
When employees experience cyber threats firsthand, they’re more likely to remember and respond effectively in a real attack.
5. NOT MARKETING SECURITY WITHIN THE BUSINESS
The Problem: Security has an image problem. It’s either seen as the “fun police” blocking access, or it’s so invisible that people forget about it entirely.
The Fix: Think of security as a brand. Promote it using:
- Posters & Infographics – Make security messages visible
- Memes & Slack Reminders – Keep cybersecurity top of mind
- Competitions & Incentives – Reward secure behaviour
If security is fun, engaging, and part of company culture, employees will actually care.
THE BOTTOM LINE: MAKE SECURITY FUN, ENGAGING & INTERACTIVE
The best security awareness training isn’t just a compliance exercise… it’s a behavioural change programme.
By avoiding these five mistakes, you can create engaging security training that sticks, helping employees become your strongest line of cyber defence.
Want to see what real security engagement looks like? Try a Cyber Escape Room and turn your training into an experience employees will actually enjoy.
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