Phishing is not new. It has existed since the early days of email, and yet it remains the attackers’ go-to method for breaking in.
If you’re a security leader, you already know the drill: an employee clicks a link, enters credentials, and suddenly your team is in incident-response mode. The frustrating part? Everyone knows about phishing. Everyone has been warned. Yet people still click.
Then what’s the missing link?
Well, the solution exists beyond cybersecurity itself.
Some sectors have figured out how to develop the habit, alter behavior, and educate humanity on how to identify risks without putting them to sleep. Step back for a moment, and you’ll see phishing defense strategies hiding in plain sight across aviation, finance, healthcare, and even retail.
Let’s begin with three sectors that are already leaders in defense: finance, health, and technology. Here’s how each one tackles threats and what you can learn from them.
Phishing Training Lessons from Other Industries
Here are some phishing training lessons from other industries:
1. Finance: Multilayered Controls That Trap Errors
Banks live and breathe fraud prevention. They know attackers won’t stop trying, so their defenses are never one-and-done.
Banks stack defenses: fraud alerts, transaction holds, MFA, and spending limits. If one fails, another takes over. Even the built-in friction on the wire transfers—those pesky extra steps—serve to give you time to stop and think.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Don’t expect one silver bullet. Phishing training alone isn’t enough. Pair it with smart technical controls, email filters, and identity checks. Create speed bumps that give users room to second-guess themselves.
Finance proves layered defenses step in when people inevitably slip.
2. Healthcare: Keep It Human
In medicine, teaching always comes full circle to the ultimate: protecting people. Handwashing campaigns delivered results not because of posters, but because they were framed as an act of life-saving.
Doctors and nurses don’t follow rules because they have to—they do it because real people depend on them. They memorize rules because actual human beings are at stake.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Employees don’t fall for phishing because they’re lazy. They fall because attackers use urgency and human cues. The fix? Make training human too.
Rather than saying “that’s against policy,” illustrate how an improper password could exclude patients from their health records or hold up lifesaving treatments. Relate each lesson to human impact in the real world.
Healthcare proves that people rally around people—not rules.
3. Tech: Real-Time Simulations That Stick
There are constant attacks on tech companies. From phishing to insider threats to ransomware, the stress is non-stop. That is why many have turned to real-time drills and simulations.
Think bug bounties. Think live phishing campaigns. Think capture-the-flag challenges where engineers scan for vulnerabilities with the clock on. The idea is not theory—it’s practice. Again. And again.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Most phishing awareness programs stop at telling people what not to do. Tech companies go further: they put people in the fire. Employees learn faster when they make mistakes in safe simulations than when they’re just told “don’t click.”
Real-time simulations teach instincts, not book knowledge. Instincts are the thing that will see you through when the inbox bomb hits 4:59 PM on a Friday.
4. Aviation: Drills Develop Habits
Pilots not only know how to react in an emergency. They rehearse. Again. And again.
They repeat simulators, mock crises, and checklists until reacting is instinctive. It’s not about memorizing rules from a binder; it’s about instinct under pressure. You’re acting on instinct, under duress.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Most current phishing education is annual, checklist-based. That’s equivalent to requesting the pilot to “skim the guide” before flying customers. No way.
Instead, phishing training should feel like a simulator. Drop people into realistic inbox scenarios. Make them spot suspicious patterns. Give them feedback instantly. Do it so often that the behavior sticks.
Small, repeated drills build habits. That’s how aviation keeps planes in the sky—and how security leaders can keep credentials off the dark web.
5. Retail: Training That Doesn’t Feel Like Training
Retail employees are taught on the job. A new cashier doesn’t attend a 3-hour tutorial on forged bills. They receive quick, snappy instruction on the job—“Here’s how you identify a bogus $20. Practice it.”
It’s quick, useful, and directly applicable.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Long presentation slides and corny cartoons are ineffective. No one pays attention.
Instead, give employees bite-sized phishing defense drills. A two-minute scenario in their inbox. A quick puzzle that makes them spot red flags. Something that feels like part of the day, not an extra chore.
Retail realized that optimum learning occurs in the actual flow of doing the work. Cybersecurity needs to emulate that playbook.
6. Sports: Construct a Team Culture
An athlete or player relies not just on personal ability. They trust the team to cover gaps, call out plays, and back up.
Good teams have an environment where the communication never stops. They help each other in identifying weak spots because the team depends on them.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Phishing thrives when people feel isolated. “I don’t want to bother with IT.” “I’ll just handle this email personally.”
Turn that around. Create an environment where reporting suspicious email helps the team, not tattletailing. Fete catches. Share team meeting wins.
Sports demonstrate that culture trumps individual heroes. So does phishing defense.
7. Military: Train for Stress
Soldiers are not taught in quiet classrooms. They train under stress—noise, fatigue, and pressure—where mistakes can be made easily.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Phishing emails are built to stress you out: ‘Your account will be disabled in 24 hours.’
Why then, during low-pressure, relaxed environments, do businesses train employees? Better to mimic the stress. Expose them to mock tick-tocking on the clock. And test them to think fast—but thoroughly.
The military teaches us: If you’re trained with stress, the real thing doesn’t faze you.
8. Hospitality: Service With Empathy
Hotels and restaurants also train employees to anticipate when required. They not only address issues but also identify problems even before the guests face them.
It’s a mindset: proactive care, not reactive firefighting.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Phishing defense should also be proactive. Don’t just train people to react to suspicious emails. Teach them to notice subtle patterns before they escalate.
Promote curiosity. If an email sounds “off,” it likely is. Reinforce the urge to pause, not the impulse to react.
Hospitality teaches us that anticipation is as valuable as reaction.
9. Entertainment: Engagement Is Everything
Think Netflix, TikTok, or games. They hook people with stories, short bursts, and instant rewards.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
If the security training is dull, individuals might forget it. Period.
Get an edge from entertainment:
- Use short, interactive modules.
- Add story-driven scenarios.
- Offer immediate feedback (positive or negative).
Entertainment demonstrates that attention is earned, not required. Training on phishing must feel less like homework and more like a challenge everyone wants to conquer.
10. Transportation: Safety Through Routine
Bus drivers, train conductors, truckers—everyone has checklists. Daily routines help nothing fall between the cracks. You’re not dealing with recalling all the details. You’re working on building consistency.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Make reporting and verifying suspicious emails routine. A button on the email program. Having a weekly “phish check” routine. Something habitual that instills best practices through muscle memory.
Transportation demonstrates that routine builds safety. Cybersecurity leaders can use this in their strategy.
11. Fitness: Progress, Not Perfection
Personal trainers know people don’t get fit in one big session. It’s about small, consistent workouts over time. They track progress, celebrate milestones, and keep things varied so people don’t quit.
Lesson on phishing defense strategies
Security awareness is not perfect. Security awareness is progress. Were fewer people clicking this month? Good. Were more people reporting suspicious emails? Better.
Approach phishing defense as an exercise routine. Make it a routine, monitor progress, and celebrate little victories.
Phishing Training Lessons from Other Industries – Summary
Here’s the big picture:
- Finance instructs how to mount defenses.
- Healthcare instructs us to remain human.
- Tech demonstrates real-time simulations to develop instincts.
- Aviation proves the effectiveness of recurrent drills.
- Retail makes training short and relevant.
- Sports highlight the strength of culture.
- The military values stress training.
- Anticipation is strong in hospitality.
- Entertainment makes engagement essential.
- Transportation builds safety with regularity.
- Fitness proves progression surpasses perfection.
Every one of these industries has something to teach us. And if you’re a security leader, the smartest move you can make is to borrow liberally.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Phishing Prevention Strategies
Learning from other industries is strong. No less vital is evading the pitfalls that keep phishing defense vulnerable. Security leaders frequently fall for these traps:
- Only Annual Training. Annual slide shows won’t develop the habit. Humans have short memories, and the bad guys aren’t waiting twelve months to hit.
- Blaming employees. It’s easy to say, “They should’ve known better.” However, phishing emails are designed to trick people. Blame builds fear. Support builds resilience.
- Overloading with jargon. Telling someone about “advanced persistent threats” won’t help them recognize a fake invoice. Keep it simple and relatable.
- Ignoring feedback. If employees find training confusing or irrelevant, listen to them. Training should feel useful, not like extra work.
- Avoiding the human factor. Posters and policies won’t do. Humans resonate with narratives, not with checklists for compliance.
Dodging these pitfalls matters just as much as using phishing prevention strategies that actually work. Think of it this way: every weak spot you close is one less opening for attackers.
The objective is not perfection but to create an environment where people feel assured, encouraged, and willing to defend against dangers in real-time.
The Next Step for Security Leaders
So, where does all this leave you as a security leader? You’ve watched the finance, health, and technology sectors develop robust defenses. You’ve also watched aviation, sports, hospitality, and others make training stick. So, the larger question becomes: how do you apply these lessons?
Here’s your roadmap:
- Move Beyond Generic Awareness
Annual slideshows and checkbox-style modules aren’t the answer today. People forget them as soon as the session ends. Instead, design phishing prevention strategies that look and feel real. Use scenarios that match what employees actually see in their inboxes. Make the practice short, interactive, and frequent—like fitness drills, not marathons. - Create a Strong Reporting Culture
One employee spotting a phishing email can save the whole company. Promote reporting by making it convenient and quick. Those who do it should also be appreciated publicly. When reporting feels collaborative and not punitive, everyone benefits. - Layer Your Defenses
Even the best training will not stop all clicks. That is why layered defenses aren’t an option. Take a cue from finance: employ speed bumps. Multi-factor authentication, smart filters, link scanning, and browser isolation provide a second chance to think about a bad decision.
Training + technology = resilience
- Use Real-Time Simulations
Practice fades quickly. That’s why technology businesses hold drills all the time. Create phishing simulations that replicate the real thing. Create urgency. Create stakes. Let individuals practice with the pressure on in the safety envelope. When the real deal arrives, instincts will take over. - Be Human
People don’t connect with abstract risks. People connect with a story. Frame your phishing defense strategies with concrete consequences: broken trust with customers, delayed treatment, missed paychecks. Show the ripple effect for one click. When people understand the human impact, they’re exponentially less likely to put it at risk. - Measure Progress, Not Perfection
Don’t expect overnight success. Measure small wins: fewer clicks, faster reporting, more participation. Share these wins with your teams so they see progress, too. Treat phishing defense like a fitness program—the goal is to get stronger, not perfect.
How Anagram Security Can Assist
And the wonderful thing is that you need not create all this anew from scratch. That’s where Anagram Security comes in.
- Security Awareness Training lets your employees learn interactively through bite-sized modules. Instead of lectures, they face real phishing scenarios and hone instincts that they will indeed put to use.
- Developer Training digs into it in detail for engineers. They complete training with real-world vulnerabilities, repair bugs in code, and fortify your defenses where most attacks originate—within the app itself.
With better training, robust cultures, multifaceted defenses, and real-time practice, security leaders will be better positioned to draw on the lessons of other sectors and develop phishing defense strategies that actually last.
There’s an obvious next step: put an end to tickboxing compliance. Get resilience-building underway. Ready to move beyond check-the-box training? Let’s talk about how Anagram Security can help you build phishing defense strategies that deliver.