Even the most advanced security infrastructure cannot prevent every cyber-attack. Why? According to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), nearly one-third of data breaches in 2024 were caused by human error, including email mistakes, unintended data publication, and the failure to redact sensitive information1. When combined with social engineering and phishing attacks, the human element represents a significant portion of cyber incidents. For IT and business leaders, the question is not if your employees will be targeted, but when.
Attack simulation as a service provides a proactive solution to this challenge, helping organisations test their human defences before cybercriminals exploit them.
What is Attack Simulation as a Service?
Attack simulation as a service (ASaaS) helps organisations safely replicate real-world cyber-attacks to assess how employees respond to threats such as phishing emails, credential harvesting attempts, and malware attachments. Unlike one-off security awareness training, it provides ongoing testing, measurement, and improvement of your workforce’s security behaviour.
Professional attack simulation consulting services, such as those offered by Professional Advantage, extend beyond basic phishing tests. Expert consultants design realistic scenarios, configure enterprise-grade simulation platforms (such as the attack simulation training available in Microsoft Defender for Office 365), interpret results, and provide actionable recommendations that align with your organisation’s risk profile and compliance requirements.
Why Organisations Need Attack Simulation as a Service
Engaging a trusted partner for ASaaS helps your organisation:
- Identify vulnerabilities before attackers do.
ASaaS reveals critical gaps in your security posture. Through controlled testing, you will discover which departments are most vulnerable, which types of attacks are most effective against your workforce, and where additional training investment will yield the highest return. - Meet compliance and governance requirements.
For organisations subject to regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or industry-specific frameworks, demonstrating due diligence in security awareness is crucial. ASaaS provides measurable evidence of your proactive security program, supporting audit requirements and board-level reporting. - Maximise your security technology investment.
Many organisations already have access to powerful attack simulation capabilities through Microsoft Defender for Office 365 or similar platforms. However, these tools often remain underutilised due to a lack of expertise or resources. Attack simulation as a service from Professional Advantage ensures you extract maximum value from existing security investments. - Build a culture of security awareness.
Regular simulations normalise security vigilance across your organisation. When employees understand they may be tested at any time, they naturally become more cautious and attentive to potential threats. This cultural shift is far more valuable than any single technology investment.
Why Organisations Need Attack Simulation as a Service
STEP 1: Initial Assessment and Setup
The ASaaS at Professional Advantage begins with understanding your organisation's unique risk profile, industry threats, compliance requirements, and current security maturity. Our consultants will configure simulation platforms, create target user groups, customise attack templates to reflect real threats facing your industry, and establish baseline metrics for measuring improvement.
A comprehensive setup typically involves defining campaign objectives, configuring your security portal, tailoring simulation scenarios, establishing reporting frameworks, and creating user groups based on role and risk level.
STEP 2: Ongoing Quarterly Attack Simulations
Each quarter, we run new attack scenarios that challenge employees with different techniques, helping them recognise evolving threats.
Common attack simulation campaigns include:
- Phishing link simulations – Test link-clicking behaviour.
- Credential harvesting – Mimic fake login pages.
- Malware attachment tests – Evaluate how users handle unexpected files.
- Advanced phishing attacks – Introduce realistic, multi-layered threat vectors.
Each campaign runs for up to a week, allowing your entire workforce (casual or full-time) to participate and learn.
STEP 3: Automated Training and Reinforcement
The goal of an attack simulation program is not to catch people out. It is to create awareness and change behaviour. When users engage with a simulated threat, they are redirected to a custom landing page that explains the red flags they missed. They are then automatically assigned targeted awareness training, ensuring that learning occurs immediately and is both relevant and meaningful. These are all done through Microsoft Defender for Office 365’s attack simulation training.
STEP 4: Measurable Reporting and Continuous Improvement
After each simulation, Professional Advantage provides detailed analytics that show the number of users compromised, the number of employees who correctly reported suspicious content, training completion rates, and trends in improvement over time. These insights inform security strategy and provide compelling evidence of programme effectiveness for executive stakeholders.
Getting Started with Attack Simulation as a Service
Implementing ASaaS is straightforward. Begin with an initial consultation to assess your needs and current security posture. Professional Advantage will then evaluate your Microsoft 365 license and design a customised programme aligned with your risk profile and business objectives.
Most programmes launch within weeks and begin delivering measurable insights from the first simulation campaign. As your programme matures, you will see progressive improvement in employee security awareness and a quantifiable reduction in human-related cyber risk.
Your employees do not have to be your weakest link. With attack simulation as a service from Professional Advantage, you can transform your workforce into a proactive defence layer that identifies and reports threats before they cause damage.
Contact us today to discover how we can help your organisation build lasting security awareness and measurable risk reduction.
Call 1800 126 499 or email [email protected].
