SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING

Security Awareness Training Calculator & Vendor Comparison 2025

Calculate security awareness training costs. Compare 10 leading SAT platforms with Q3 2025 pricing based on users, program level, and phishing simulation frequency.

10
Vendors
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Phishing Sim
Q3
2025 Pricing

What is Security Awareness Training and Why Sizing Matters

Security Awareness Training (SAT) educates employees to recognize and respond to cybersecurity threats including phishing, social engineering, malware, password security, and data handling. Modern SAT platforms combine interactive training modules, simulated phishing campaigns, gamification, and metrics/reporting to measure behavior change.

🎓 Why SAT Sizing is Critical

Under-licensing excludes employees from training—untrained users are 3-5x more likely to click phishing links. Over-licensing wastes $15K-60K annually. Our calculator helps you size based on training frequency, program depth, and phishing simulation needs.

💰 Pricing Models Explained

SAT vendors charge per user per year. Pricing tiers: Basic annual training ($15-25/user/year), Standard with quarterly updates ($25-40/user/year), Advanced with monthly content ($40-60/user/year), Comprehensive continuous learning ($60-100/user/year). Phishing simulations typically included.

📊 Real Production Data

Our sizing comes from 250+ enterprise SAT programs. We account for training completion rates (70-85% typical), phishing simulation baseline click rates (15-30%), and post-training improvements (5-10% click rates after 6 months).

Key Factors in SAT Sizing

  • User Coverage: Train all employees with email access, not just IT staff. Include contractors, temps, and third-party vendors with system access. Typical coverage: 100% of employees + 50-75% of contractors.
  • Training Frequency: Annual training ($15-25/user/year) vs. Quarterly ($25-40/user/year) vs. Monthly ($40-60/user/year) vs. Continuous micro-learning ($60-100/user/year). More frequent training = lower phishing susceptibility.
  • Phishing Simulations: Monthly campaigns (included in most packages), Bi-weekly ($+20%), Weekly ($+40%), Continuous random testing ($+60%). Baseline click rate: 15-30%. Target: <5% after 12 months.
  • Content Customization: Off-the-shelf content (included) vs. Custom modules for industry-specific risks ($5K-25K one-time) vs. Custom phishing templates ($1K-5K per template). Healthcare, finance need custom content.
  • Compliance Requirements: PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOX, GLBA mandate annual security awareness training. Compliance training includes specific modules and completion tracking. Budget for audit reporting features.

Common SAT Sizing Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake #1: Only training technical staff. 90% of breaches start with non-technical users (finance, HR, sales). Everyone with email needs training, especially executives (high-value BEC targets).

❌ Mistake #2: Annual "check-the-box" training. One-time annual training shows 30-40% knowledge retention after 6 months. Quarterly or monthly reinforcement maintains 70-80% retention and reduces phishing susceptibility 5-10x.

❌ Mistake #3: Not running phishing simulations. Training without testing doesn't measure behavior change. Phishing simulations identify high-risk users and prove ROI. Run monthly campaigns minimum.

❌ Mistake #4: Ignoring training completion rates. 70-85% completion is typical. Low completion (below 60%) indicates poor content engagement or lack of management support. Track completion by department and follow up on laggards.

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