Social Engineering Assessment Services
Understand how attackers target people — and reduce human errors before they lead to real incidents.
About Service
Social Engineering Assessment Overview
Most cyber attacks begin with people, not systems.
A convincing email, a fake login page, a quick phone call, or a simple request can bypass even the strongest technical defenses.
Social engineering assessments help you understand how employees respond to real-world manipulation attempts. Instead of guessing your human-layer risk, you get clear evidence of where the weak points are — and how to improve them.
CyberXSoft runs controlled, safe social engineering scenarios that show how attackers think and how your staff reacts. These exercises reveal gaps in awareness, reporting habits, and decision-making. The goal is not to blame individuals — but to strengthen your organization’s overall readiness.
What Is Social Engineering?
Social engineering is when attackers trick people into giving access, sharing information, or performing actions that compromise security.
It relies on psychology — trust, urgency, fear, curiosity — rather than technical hacking.
Standard social engineering methods include:
- Phishing emails
- Fake login pages
- Phone impersonation
- Physical entry attempts
- Fake IT support messages
- Social media-based targeting
Understanding these methods helps organizations prevent breaches caused by simple human mistakes.
What Our Social Engineering Assessments Include
Phishing Simulation Testing
We send controlled phishing emails to measure how employees react to suspicious messages.
What’s included:
- Realistic phishing templates
- Fake login pages or link-based tests
- Tracking open, click, and submission rates
- Guidance for employees who fall for the test
Spear Phishing & Targeted Scenarios
Attackers often gather information online to craft believable messages. We test this using tailored campaigns.
What’s included:
- OSINT-based targeting
- Customized phishing content
- Role-specific scenarios
- Reporting behavior tracking
Vishing (Phone-Based Impersonation)
Phone scams remain one of the most effective attack methods. We test how employees respond to unexpected calls.
What’s included:
- Impersonation attempts (HR, IT, support, vendors)
- Credential or information request scenarios
- Employee reaction measurement
- Safe, controlled scripts approved by management
Physical Social Engineering (Optional)
Physical attempts test how well your onsite staff identify unauthorized visitors.
What’s included:
- Badge bypass attempts
- Tailgating tests
- Reception and guard interaction review
- Reporting and escalation testing
(Physical testing is optional and depends on your environment.)
Behavior & Response Analysis
We review how employees behave when faced with suspicious communication.
What’s included:
- Reporting rate analysis
- Risk-prone departments identification
- Awareness gaps
- Recommended improvements
Tools Commonly Used in Social Engineering Testing
Organizations worldwide use tools to run controlled simulations and track user behavior. Common examples include:
- GoPhish (email testing)
- Microsoft Attack Simulator (M365 environments)
- Proofpoint Security Awareness Platform
- KnowBe4 (training + simulation)
- Custom phishing frameworks
- Internal ticketing systems for reporting analysis
These tools help measure responses, not replace awareness programs.
Real Problems Social Engineering Assessments Help Solve
Companies often struggle with:
- Employees clicking links without checking
- Staff entering passwords on fake login pages
- People trusting “urgent” messages from unknown senders
- Little to no reporting of suspicious activity
- Weak awareness around phone-based scams
- Poor verification habits for unexpected requests
- Lack of understanding of real attacker tactics
- No structured training after incidents
These issues are among the biggest causes of breaches — not technical flaws.
Use Cases
1. Teams Experiencing Frequent Phishing Attempts
If your inboxes regularly receive suspicious emails, testing helps measure how prepared employees are.
2. Organizations Preparing for Awareness Training
Assessing current behavior helps tailor training to the right topics.
3. Compliance & Certification Requirements
Many frameworks require social engineering testing as part of ongoing security awareness efforts.
4. After a Real Incident or Near-Miss
If someone recently clicked a malicious link or shared information, testing helps validate improvements.
How Our Social Engineering Process Works
Scoping & Scenario Selection
We choose realistic testing scenarios based on your environment and risks.
Simulation Deployment
We send phishing emails, perform phone tests, or conduct approved physical checks.
Behavior Monitoring
We track employee actions — clicks, replies, submissions, or reporting.
Analysis & Reporting
You receive clear results showing which groups or behaviors need attention.
Awareness Improvement Support
We provide guidance on how to strengthen employee habits and reduce risks.
Who Can Benefit From This Service?
- Companies targeted by phishing
- Teams working remotely or hybrid
- Organizations needing compliance evidence
- Businesses with limited awareness training
- Fast-growing teams onboarding new staff
- Organizations handling sensitive or regulated data
- Companies that want true insight into human-layer risk
Test how attackers target your people — safely.
Understand your human-layer risks and reduce them early.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should organizations conduct social engineering assessments?
Most companies run phishing and behavior-based tests every quarter. However, organizations exposed to frequent attacks — such as finance, healthcare, SaaS, and government — often benefit from monthly simulations to keep employees alert and improve long-term habits.
Are employees told before simulations happen?
Usually no. Blind simulations reveal real behavior. However, some companies prefer partial notification, especially during the first round, to avoid anxiety. We follow whatever approach aligns best with your culture and HR guidance.
Do social engineering assessments harm or embarrass employees?
No. Tests are safe, controlled, and designed to educate, not punish. Results are shared at the group level, and individual data is handled respectfully. The purpose is improvement, not blame.
What happens if an employee submits passwords or sensitive data during a simulation?
All data submitted during testing is securely captured and immediately deleted after analysis. It is never misused. The goal is to understand risk behavior and guide employees, not to collect sensitive information.
Is social engineering testing required for compliance?
Many frameworks — including ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA — expect organizations to run awareness testing, simulations, or behavior-based evaluations. Social engineering assessments help meet these needs.
How long does a typical assessment take?
Most testing cycles run 1–2 weeks, depending on the number of scenarios. Phishing tests are quick, while vishing or physical tests take additional coordination. A full cycle includes planning, simulation, analysis, and reporting.
Our Core Services
IT Staff Augmentation
Access pre-vetted developers, engineers, and tech experts to boost your in-house team’s capacity and accelerate delivery.
Dedicated Teams
We provide fully managed, dedicated teams that work exclusively on your projects while staying aligned with your business culture and goals.
Project-Based Consultants
Hire specialized consultants (cloud, AI, cybersecurity, data, DevOps, etc.) for short-term or long-term projects to ensure quality outcomes
Remote Talent Sourcing
Expand beyond borders - tap into global talent pools while we handle recruitment, onboarding, and compliance.
Onsite & Hybrid Staffing
Need resources locally or in a hybrid model? We ensure the right balance of flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and productivity.
Rapid Onboarding
Get the right talent on board quickly, reducing hiring delays and risks.