- A
95% of employees completed the training within the deadline.
Why wrong: This metric measures completion, not behavioral change. An employee can complete training without retaining or applying the knowledge.
- B
The number of employees reporting phishing attempts to the SOC increased by 40%.
Why wrong: Increased reporting indicates better awareness, but it does not directly measure whether employees are less likely to click on phishing emails. It is possible that more reports are coming from a small group while the overall click rate remains unchanged.
- C
The percentage of employees who clicked on a simulated phishing email decreased from 18% to 6%.
A significant drop in the click-through rate on simulated phishing emails directly demonstrates that employees are less susceptible to phishing attacks, which is the desired behavioral outcome of the training.
- D
The number of helpdesk tickets related to password resets decreased by 10%.
Why wrong: Password reset requests can be influenced by many factors (e.g., password expiration, self-service tools, technical issues). This metric is not a reliable indicator of security awareness training effectiveness.
Measuring Security Training Effectiveness
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security program management and oversight. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A security manager is evaluating the effectiveness of a new security awareness training program that all employees completed last quarter. The company has been conducting monthly phishing simulation campaigns for the past year. Which of the following metrics would provide the strongest evidence that the training is achieving its intended goal of changing employee behavior?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The percentage of employees who clicked on a simulated phishing email decreased from 18% to 6%.
Option C directly measures the reduction in risky behavior (clicking phishing links) after training, which is the core goal of security awareness training. A drop from 18% to 6% demonstrates a measurable behavior change, not just knowledge acquisition. This aligns with the Kirkpatrick Model's 'Behavior' level of evaluation, which is the strongest indicator of training effectiveness.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
95% of employees completed the training within the deadline.
Why it's wrong here
This metric measures completion, not behavioral change. An employee can complete training without retaining or applying the knowledge.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking for evidence of training program adoption or compliance, e.g., 'Which metric best indicates that employees completed the mandatory training on time?'
- ✗
The number of employees reporting phishing attempts to the SOC increased by 40%.
Why it's wrong here
Increased reporting indicates better awareness, but it does not directly measure whether employees are less likely to click on phishing emails. It is possible that more reports are coming from a small group while the overall click rate remains unchanged.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question asked: 'Which metric best indicates that employees are more vigilant and actively participating in the security program?' or 'Which metric demonstrates an increase in security-conscious behavior following training?'
- ✓
The percentage of employees who clicked on a simulated phishing email decreased from 18% to 6%.
Why this is correct
A significant drop in the click-through rate on simulated phishing emails directly demonstrates that employees are less susceptible to phishing attacks, which is the desired behavioral outcome of the training.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The number of helpdesk tickets related to password resets decreased by 10%.
Why it's wrong here
Password reset requests can be influenced by many factors (e.g., password expiration, self-service tools, technical issues). This metric is not a reliable indicator of security awareness training effectiveness.
When this WOULD be correct
This metric would be correct if the question asked for evidence that the training improved password hygiene or reduced account compromise incidents, such as after a training module on password security and multi-factor authentication.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SY0-701 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓The percentage of employees who clicked on a simulated phishing email decreased from 18% to 6%.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
A significant drop in the click-through rate on simulated phishing emails directly demonstrates that employees are less susceptible to phishing attacks, which is the desired behavioral outcome of the training.
✗95% of employees completed the training within the deadline.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Completion rate (95%) measures training participation, not behavior change. The goal is to reduce risky actions like clicking phishing links, not just completing modules.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking for evidence of training program adoption or compliance, e.g., 'Which metric best indicates that employees completed the mandatory training on time?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates confuse completion rates with effectiveness, assuming high participation automatically means behavior change.
✗The number of employees reporting phishing attempts to the SOC increased by 40%.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
An increase in reporting phishing attempts indicates improved awareness, but it does not directly measure behavior change in terms of reducing risky actions like clicking. The question specifically asks for evidence of behavior change, and reporting is a secondary action, not the primary risky behavior.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question asked: 'Which metric best indicates that employees are more vigilant and actively participating in the security program?' or 'Which metric demonstrates an increase in security-conscious behavior following training?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that more reporting directly correlates with better security behavior, overlooking that the core goal is to reduce clicks, not just increase reports. They might also confuse awareness (knowing to report) with behavior change (not clicking).
✗The number of helpdesk tickets related to password resets decreased by 10%.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A decrease in password reset tickets is not directly tied to security awareness training; it could result from other factors like improved password policies or self-service tools, and does not measure behavioral change regarding phishing or security awareness.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This metric would be correct if the question asked for evidence that the training improved password hygiene or reduced account compromise incidents, such as after a training module on password security and multi-factor authentication.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume that any positive metric following training indicates effectiveness, overlooking that password resets are not a direct measure of security awareness behavior change.
Analysis generated from the official SY0-701blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option B (increased reporting) because it sounds proactive, but the question specifically asks for evidence of 'changing employee behavior' away from clicking, not just improving reporting habits.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Phishing simulation platforms (e.g., KnowBe4, PhishMe) track click-through rates (CTR) using embedded tracking pixels or unique URLs. A pre- and post-training CTR comparison isolates the training's impact on user susceptibility. In real-world scenarios, a sustained CTR below 5% is often considered the benchmark for effective training, as it approaches the 'unavoidable click' rate caused by human error or sophisticated spear-phishing.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An employee at a financial services firm receives an email that appears to come from the IT helpdesk, asking them to reset their password via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake portal that harvests credentials. Security teams use phishing simulations and security-awareness training to reduce this attack vector. Questions like this test whether you can identify social engineering techniques and appropriate controls.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SY0-701 question test?
Security Program Management and Oversight — This question tests Security Program Management and Oversight — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The percentage of employees who clicked on a simulated phishing email decreased from 18% to 6%. — Option C directly measures the reduction in risky behavior (clicking phishing links) after training, which is the core goal of security awareness training. A drop from 18% to 6% demonstrates a measurable behavior change, not just knowledge acquisition. This aligns with the Kirkpatrick Model's 'Behavior' level of evaluation, which is the strongest indicator of training effectiveness.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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