Social Engineering Assessments are a type of security test used by organizations to evaluate how susceptible their employees or systems are to manipulation or deception by attackers.

What is Social Engineering?

Social engineering is the act of tricking or manipulating people into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security. It often bypasses technical defenses by targeting human behavior.

Purpose of a Social Engineering Assessment

To simulate real-world social engineering attacks and:

• Identify human vulnerabilities.

• Evaluate how well employees follow security protocols.

• Improve awareness and training.

 Common Types of Social Engineering Assessments

1. Phishing Simulations

   • Fake emails sent to employees to trick them into clicking malicious links or giving credentials.

2. Vishing (Voice Phishing)

   • Phone calls impersonating IT support or leadership to extract info.

3. Pretexting

   • Creating a fabricated story or identity to manipulate someone (e.g., pretending to be a new employee).

4. Baiting

   • Leaving infected USB drives in the office to see if someone plugs them in.

5. Physical Security Testing

   • Attempting to enter restricted areas or access devices physically without permission.

What Happens After the Assessment?

• A report is generated showing:

  • Who was tricked or responded to the attack.

  • What information was compromised.

  • How policies can be improved.

• Used to train staff and strengthen defenses.

Why It’s Important

• Human error is one of the top causes of cyber breaches.

• These assessments help prevent real-world attacks like ransomware, data leaks, or fraud.