If your Cybersecurity Awareness Training still looks like it did three years ago, attackers are already ahead of you. More than that, you’re wasting users’ time - and time is, of course, money.

For managed service providers (MSPs) and growing SMBs, more training shouldn’t be your priority for 2026. Better training should be - updated, effective, relevant training that leaves people better informed and businesses better protected.

Here are five security awareness topics your users need in 2026, plus practical ways to train them without burning time or goodwill.

5 Security Topics to Train Your Users on in 2026

1. Advanced Phishing That Looks… Normal

Phishing is no longer the badly written email from a “Nigerian prince”.

Decades of learning and the more recent AI boom has made phishing:

• Grammatically flawless
• Context aware
• Personalized at scale
• Much harder to detect by eye

Attackers can now instantaneously scrape LinkedIn, company websites, and breach data to craft emails that sound exactly like your CFO, your vendor, or your mom.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, business email compromise continues to cause billions in losses annually. The delivery method may evolve, but the goal stays the same: get someone to click, share credentials, or transfer money.

How to Train for Phishing

Realistic phishing simulations: Not cartoonish, obvious bait. Simulations that reflect current attack trends, tone, and formatting.

Short, scenario-based training: Show users what modern phishing looks like, including AI-assisted impersonation attempts.

Ongoing reinforcement: Regular learning and reminders beat annual training marathons every time. Behavior change requires repetition. Plus, instant feedback on simulations - no more punishment training 2 weeks later that isn’t even relevant.

This is where platforms that continuously update content, rather than recycling the same slides, make a difference.

2. AI-Driven Threats and Deepfake Manipulation

Deepfakes are no longer a novelty.

AI voice cloning and video impersonation have already been used to trick employees into transferring funds and sharing credentials. In recent years, multiple organizations have reported successful fraud attempts involving AI-generated executive voices, including a multimillion dollar case in Hong Kong in 2024.

Attackers don’t need Hollywood production values (although let’s face it, technology is getting there anyway). They need just enough realism to create urgency and authority.

How to Train for Deepfakes

Awareness of social engineering tactics: Train users to verify unusual requests, especially involving money or sensitive access.

Simulated executive impersonation scenarios: Help users practice pausing and validating requests through known channels.

Clear verification protocols: For example, financial transfers above a certain amount require secondary confirmation via a separate communication channel.

Security awareness training in 2026 must include AI-driven social engineering, not treat it as some fringe sci-fi risk that people might encounter.

3. Secure Remote and Hybrid Work

Remote work’s not going anywhere.

Home Wi-Fi networks. Shared devices. Coffee shop logins. Shadow IT. The more remote access to your network, the more potential entry points for, for lack of a better phrase, weenie heads. (I guess we could call them bad actors, but where’s the fun in that?)

According to research from organizations such as CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) and ENISA (European Union Agency for Cybersecurity), misconfigured remote access and insecure home environments continue to contribute to breaches.

Your users won’t ordinarily be security engineers. They’re just trying to get work done.

How to Train for Remote Work Security

Clear remote work policies: What devices are allowed? What VPN or secure access methods are mandatory? What is prohibited?

• Training on secure Wi-Fi and device hygiene
• Router password changes
• Software updates
• Recognizing insecure public networks

Short refresher modules: Quick, digestible lessons on working safely from anywhere.

Practical risk reduction is the goal, rather than paranoia.

4. Authentication Fatigue and MFA Push Abuse

Multi-factor authentication is now standard. But attackers have adapted.

MFA fatigue attacks spam users with repeated push notifications until they click “approve” just to stop the annoyance.

It works because people are busy.

Microsoft has reported on the rise of MFA fatigue techniques used in real-world breaches, proving that simply enabling MFA isn’t enough. Users need to understand why it matters and how attackers exploit behaviour. Because without that understanding, let’s face it, MFA is just an annoyance.

How to Train for MFA Security

Explain the “why” behind MFA: Users who see it as pointless friction will look for shortcuts.

Train users to recognize suspicious push requests: If you didn’t initiate the login, don’t approve it.

Promote phishing-resistant authentication methods where possible: Such as hardware tokens or FIDO-based authentication.

Awareness training should reinforce that MFA isn’t a box to tick. It’s a frontline defense that only works when used properly.

5. Incident Response and Psychological Safety

Breaches aren’t rare events anymore. They’re expected and, largely, accepted as part of modern life.

The difference between minor disruption and full-scale damage often comes down to how quickly someone reports suspicious activity.

But users hesitate. Maybe because they fear embarrassment or punishment, or maybe they assume it’s nothing. That delay can be costly.

How to Train for Incident Response

Normalize reporting: Make it clear that reporting a mistake quickly is a good thing.

Run incident response walkthroughs: What happens after someone clicks a suspicious link? Who do they contact? What should they do immediately?

Reinforce culture, not blame: Security awareness training should create and support a speak-up culture, not create fear.

Many modern training platforms now integrate reporting tools directly into email workflows, making it easier for users to flag suspicious messages without friction. The simpler the process, the faster the response.

What This Means for MSPs and SMBs in 2026

If you are an MSP, your clients rightly expect you to stay ahead of threats rather than reacting to last year’s.

If you are an SMB, your business likely cannot absorb the financial and reputational impact of a serious breach.

Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Training in 2026 should be:

• Continuous, not annual
• Behavior-focused, not compliance-only
• Updated to reflect AI-driven threats
• Supported by realistic simulations
• Reinforced with reporting tools and automation

Modern cybersecurity awareness training platforms combine:

• Multiple content providers to keep material fresh
• Automated phishing simulations
• Easy multi-tenant management for MSPs
• Built-in reporting and analytics
• Ongoing “learning moments” triggered by real user behaviour

The right training solution should reduce admin overhead and improve user outcomes.

If your current program still focuses primarily on spotting bad grammar in phishing emails and reminding people not to use “password123”, it’s time for an upgrade.

Your users should feel confident. Your clients should feel protected. And you should feel certain that your Cybersecurity Awareness Training reflects the real risks of 2026, not the headlines of 2018.

If you want to see how modern, continuously updated training content and simulations can support your users and your business, learn more about Phin Security’s training platform and explore how it aligns with the threats that actually matter today.