Open Access
STRENGTHENING CYBER RESILIENCE: A COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING AWARENESS PROGRAMS
4
Human Factors and Cyber Awareness Lab, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
4
Human Factors and Cyber Awareness Lab, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Abstract
Social engineering remains one of the most effective and exploited attack vectors in the cybersecurity landscape, often targeting human vulnerabilities rather than technical flaws. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of social engineering awareness programs aimed at enhancing organizational cyber resilience. Through a multi-layered assessment involving surveys, phishing simulations, and behavioral analysis across various enterprise environments, the effectiveness of existing training models is critically examined. Key factors such as program frequency, delivery methods (e.g., interactive modules vs. lectures), and user engagement levels are analyzed to determine their impact on long-term behavioral change and threat recognition capabilities. The results reveal that continuous, gamified, and context-aware training significantly improves user awareness and reduces susceptibility to phishing and other social engineering tactics. The study concludes with recommendations for designing adaptive, user-centric awareness programs that align with evolving threat landscapes, thereby strengthening overall organizational security posture.
Keywords
Cyber resilience,
social engineering,
cybersecurity awareness,
phishing prevention
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