Essential dark web training for employees: safeguarding your business

If you’ve ever received a “data breach” email about your credentials being found online, chances are—those credentials ended up on the dark web.

And no, we’re not talking about some mythical internet underworld. The dark web is simply a hidden part of the internet, accessible only through specific tools like Tor, where anonymity rules. It’s where stolen logins, credit card numbers, company documents, and personal data are bought, sold, and traded like baseball cards. Think of it as the black market of the internet—and business is booming.

But here’s the twist: this isn’t just a problem for your IT department. It’s a problem for everyone in your organization. It’s how you transform your team from passive targets into informed defenders. The benefits of dark web training for employees include reducing security incidents, ensuring compliance, and empowering staff to act as the first line of defense against cyber threats.

The human factor

In fact, according to Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, 74% of all breaches involve the human element—whether that’s someone clicking on a malicious link, reusing a password that was already exposed, or unknowingly handing over sensitive information to an imposter.

Employees are often the easiest way in for cybercriminals. It’s not because they’re careless—it’s because they’re human. And without the right training, they won’t know how to spot the red flags until it’s too late. This lack of training can lead to an increase in security incidents, while proper security awareness training helps reduce these occurrences by minimizing risky behaviors and improving response to threats.

Why now?

There are more credentials on the dark web today than ever before. A recent study from SOCRadar revealed that over 15 billion usernames and passwords are currently circulating in dark web forums. And these aren’t just old accounts from long-abandoned services. Many belong to active employees—with working access to your systems.

The cost of inaction? Beyond the obvious reputational and financial damage, breaches linked to stolen credentials take longer to detect (an average of 327 days) and cost more to fix.

That’s why dark web training for employees is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a critical layer of your security stack. Providing additional training for both new hires and existing employees is essential to maintain compliance and adapt to evolving cyber threats. It’s how you transform your team from passive targets into informed defenders.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to design, deliver, and measure a dark web training program that empowers your people to protect their identities—and your business.

Unique risk vectors from the Dark Web to employees

When most people think about the dark web, they picture shadowy figures trading secrets in code. The reality? It’s more like a chaotic flea market for stolen data—and your employees’ information might be on the table.

Let’s break down how the dark web creates very real risks for your team and your company.

It is also crucial to engage stakeholders such as management and compliance officers in understanding and addressing dark web risks to ensure organizational accountability.

1. Credential dumps and identity-theft marketplaces

The most common items for sale on the dark web? Email and password combinations. These “credential dumps” often come from previous breaches—think LinkedIn, Dropbox, or even that old food delivery app someone used once and forgot about.

But here’s the problem: employees often reuse those passwords across work accounts. So when one account is exposed, attackers use tools called credential stuffers to try those same logins across hundreds of sites. If they hit a match—say, your company’s Slack or CRM—boom, they’re in.

According to IBM, compromised credentials are the #1 cause of data breaches globally, accounting for 19% of all incidents and costing businesses an average of $4.45 million per breach.

2. Social engineering launchpads from dark web forums

Beyond logins, the dark web is also home to detailed personal information that can be used to manipulate employees.

In some forums, threat actors share leaked databases that include phone numbers, job titles, office locations, and even coworkers’ names. This kind of context is gold for phishing attempts. Imagine an employee getting a text that says:

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“Hey Maria, this is Kevin from IT. Need to verify your VPN access before 2PM. Can you send your login link real quick?”

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If “Kevin” happens to be a real coworker and the attacker knows Maria’s department and schedule—it’s game over.

This is where dark web training for employees becomes crucial. When people understand how their data is being used against them, they’re far more likely to stay alert and ask the right questions before reacting.

3. Insider leaks: when personal data becomes a corporate problem

It’s not just hackers you need to worry about. Sometimes the threat is closer to home.

Disgruntled or departing employees can sell access or data on the dark web. Other times, it’s not malicious at all—someone loses a phone with company data, and that device ends up compromised. Either way, the outcome is the same: private company data now lives in a public, untraceable space.

A 2023 Ponemon Institute study found that 59% of employees who left or were terminated took sensitive information with them. And once it leaks, it doesn’t just put the company at risk—it puts their former coworkers’ identities at risk too.

What a Dark‑Web awareness training must include

Cybersecurity training isn’t new. But most standard programs focus on phishing and password best practices—without addressing how attackers actually use the dark web to exploit employees. That’s where dark-web-specific education comes in.

Dark web training can be integrated into existing compliance training programs to ensure risk management and regulatory adherence, making it an essential part of organizational ethics and cybersecurity efforts.

To truly protect your people (and by extension, your business), dark web training should build on basic cybersecurity awareness with modules tailored to real-world dark-web threats.

Here’s what a strong training program should include:

Understanding the Dark Web landscape

Before employees can protect themselves, they need to understand what the dark web actually is—and what it isn’t.

• Not the deep web: The deep web refers to any content not indexed by search engines (like your email inbox). The dark web is much smaller and only accessible through specialized software like Tor (The Onion Router) or I2P.
• What’s on it: Marketplaces for stolen credentials, ransomware-as-a-service shops, forums for hacking tips, and databases full of leaked personal data. Technology plays a dual role here: it enables anonymous access and illegal activities on the dark web, but also provides organizations with advanced tools to monitor, detect, and defend against these threats.
• Why it matters: Many attacks start with data bought or found on the dark web—from email logins to employee rosters.

Training Tip: Use visuals or short animated videos to illustrate how Tor works and how dark web marketplaces function.

According to NordLayer and Acronis, threat actors can buy access to a business email for as little as $120, and credentials with administrator rights often fetch higher prices.

Exposure vectors: how employees data ends up on the dark web

Understanding how employees’ sensitive information finds its way onto the dark web is essential for any organization aiming to prevent data breaches and comply with key data privacy laws like the UK GDPR and California Consumer Privacy Act. The most common exposure vectors include:

• Stolen credentials from breaches (often outside the workplace).
• PII (Personally Identifiable Information) leaks via social media oversharing, phishing, or compromised third-party tools.
• Phishing attacks that harvest logins and upload them to forums or credential stuffing lists.
• Malware that installs keyloggers or exfiltrates browser-stored passwords.

Human error is another significant risk factor. Simple mistakes—such as using weak or repeated passwords, accidentally sharing confidential information, or falling for social engineering tactics—can open the door to attackers. Insecure communication channels, like public Wi-Fi networks or unencrypted emails, also provide opportunities for hackers to intercept and steal data.

Security awareness training is crucial in empowering employees to recognize and avoid these threats. By developing a basic understanding of how data can be exposed and the importance of protecting sensitive information, employees become the first line of defense against attacks. Organizations that invest in ongoing security awareness training not only reduce their risk of data breaches but also demonstrate a commitment to data privacy and regulatory compliance.

Ultimately, understanding these exposure vectors allows organizations to develop targeted strategies to mitigate risks, protect sensitive information, and ensure compliance with essential data privacy regulations.

Identity-protection tactics every employee should master

Here’s where training gets practical. It’s not enough to say “be careful online”—employees need concrete steps they can take to stay secure.

Focus on:

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Explain how and why it works.
• Strong, unique passwords: Teach employees to avoid reusing credentials—even across “harmless” accounts.
• Data minimization: Encourage mindful data sharing on personal devices and platforms.
• Dark web monitoring tools: Introduce systems that alert employees (and IT teams) if their info is exposed.

According to TrainingCamp, businesses that adopted MFA and credential hygiene policies reduced dark web exposure events by over 60% within one year.

Training Tip: Offer a security checklist employees can follow. Even better—turn it into a quiz or mini-game.

Hands-on exercises: turn awareness into action

People retain more when they practice. Simulated exercises make training stick:

• Simulated phishing campaigns with customized dark web scenarios (e.g., emails that mimic real threats).
• Credential breach lookups where employees can check if their email has ever been exposed.
• Tabletop exercises to rehearse how teams would respond to a credential leak.

Platforms like HaveIBeenPwned or SOCRadar’s Credential Exposure tool can make these exercises feel real—and urgent.

Training Tip: Follow up simulations with short group discussions to reinforce lessons and answer questions.

Structuring an effective “Dark‑Web Training for Employees” program

Building awareness is one thing. Embedding it into your company’s culture is another. The most successful dark web training programs aren’t one-off presentations—they’re recurring, role-specific, and fully supported from the top down.

Providing ongoing support and assistance to employees throughout the training process is essential to enhance learning outcomes and address any questions or challenges that may arise.

Here’s how to structure a program that actually changes behavior:

Role-based training tracks

One-size-fits-all doesn’t work when it comes to cybersecurity. The threats facing your HR coordinator are different from those your IT manager might encounter. That’s why training should be tailored to employee roles.

Authentic8 and CrowdStrike recommend splitting cyber training by role to maximize retention and minimize alert fatigue. Prey’s own experience shows that tailoring content to team responsibilities keeps employees more engaged and proactive. Students benefit from role-specific training through improved understanding of relevant threats and increased engagement with the material.

Implementation Tip: Use Prey’s device groups or user roles to assign training paths inside your MDM or learning platform.

Frequency and reinforcement

Let’s be honest: even the best training wears off without reminders. That’s why frequency—and repetition—is key.

• Quarterly refreshers: Short, targeted follow-ups help employees retain core concepts.
• Gamified simulations: Adding interactive elements boosts engagement and recall. Companies that gamify their security training see a 60% increase in participation rates, according to Cox Blue.
• Just-in-time training: If Prey flags an employee’s credentials on the dark web, trigger a brief refresher module immediately. This turns training into action—not just theory.

Wikipedia’s research on the “Ebbinghaus forgetting curve” shows that without reinforcement, people forget up to 90% of what they learn within a week. Training that’s short, repeated, and timely helps combat this effect.

Implementation Tip: Integrate dark web training milestones into employee onboarding and annual review cycles.

Leadership buy-in & security culture

Training won't stick if employees think no one at the top cares. Security needs to be seen as a shared responsibility—not just an IT problem.

Here’s how to build that culture:

• Zero-blame reporting: Make it safe for employees to speak up when they click the wrong link or spot something suspicious. Mistakes should lead to coaching, not punishment.
• Lead by example: Executives should complete training publicly, talk about it at town halls, and reinforce good habits in everyday conversations.
• Celebrate wins: Recognize employees who report phishing attempts or alert the team to suspicious activity. Recognition encourages repetition.

Prey’s experience with enterprise clients has shown that companies with executive-level champions for cybersecurity experience stronger program adoption and faster breach response times.

Implementation Tip: Create a short video message from leadership emphasizing the importance of dark web awareness and identity protection. It sets the tone and boosts buy-in.

Policy & compliance integration

Even the best training won’t hold much weight if it isn’t baked into your company’s security policies and compliance workflows. Integrating information security principles into these policies and workflows strengthens your organization’s overall security posture by ensuring employees are educated on protecting sensitive data and complying with data privacy laws. To make dark web awareness stick—and scale—it needs to be part of how your business operates every day.

Let’s look at how to turn training into real-world policy and compliance value.

Incorporating dark web monitoring into security policy

If dark web threats are on the rise, your policies need to acknowledge that reality.

Start by updating your security policies and incident response playbooks to reflect:

• How you monitor for exposed credentials (e.g., through tools like Prey or other breach detection platforms).
• What actions are taken when employee information is found on the dark web (e.g., forced password resets, MFA enforcement, training reassignment).
• Who’s responsible: Clarify who leads investigation, response, and follow-up training.

Authentic8 recommends including dark web visibility as a core requirement in acceptable use and device policies—especially for remote teams using personal devices to access work systems.

Implementation Tip: Build a flowchart into your incident response playbook that shows how a credential found on the dark web triggers both IT remediation and personalized employee retraining.

Regulatory tie-ins: aligning with GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS

Most major data privacy laws don’t specifically name the dark web—but they all expect you to protect user data, educate your employees, and act fast when a breach occurs. Increasingly, data protection is a core component of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) strategies, expanding beyond privacy to encompass organizational data security and regulatory adherence.

Here’s how dark web training supports your compliance posture:

• GDPR (Europe): Requires organizations to implement appropriate security awareness for all staff handling personal data. If that data ends up on the dark web and your team isn’t trained, you may be held liable for negligence.
• HIPAA (US healthcare): Demands safeguards against unauthorized access to health information. Regular, role-based training is required—and breaches involving credentials often lead to costly fines.
• PCI-DSS (Payment): Requires strict controls over access credentials, monitoring for unauthorized access, and employee security training. Dark web exposure events directly impact compliance with these standards.

Implementation Tip: Use training completion reports and dark web exposure logs to demonstrate compliance during audits. It’s one of the easiest ways to prove that your team isn’t just aware—but actively defending.

Customizable training solutions

No two organizations face exactly the same security challenges, which is why customizable training solutions are so valuable. By tailoring your training program to address your organization’s unique risks—whether it’s frequent phishing attacks, industry-specific data breaches, or compliance with regulations like PCI DSS and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act—you ensure that employees receive relevant, actionable guidance.

Customizable training solutions allow you to integrate your own security policies, procedures, and real-world scenarios into the curriculum. This not only helps employees understand the importance of security awareness but also clarifies their individual roles and responsibilities in protecting sensitive information. For example, you can develop modules that focus on the specific types of threats your organization faces, such as targeted phishing campaigns or insider risks, and provide clear instructions on how to respond.

By creating a training program that reflects your organization’s environment and compliance requirements, you empower employees to recognize and respond to threats more effectively. This proactive approach not only helps prevent data breaches but also supports ongoing compliance with key regulations, ultimately strengthening your organization’s overall security posture.

Tailoring content to your organization's needs

Effective security training isn’t one-size-fits-all. Tailoring content to your organization’s needs means developing training materials that are both relevant and engaging for your employees. This could involve creating scenarios that mirror real-world phishing attacks or data breaches your organization has faced, or incorporating your specific security policies and procedures into the training modules.

Applying adult learning principles ensures that the content resonates with employees of all backgrounds and learning preferences. By using a mix of storytelling, interactive exercises, and practical examples, you help employees understand not just what to do, but why it matters. This approach also makes it easier to address compliance requirements under regulations like the UK GDPR or California Consumer Privacy Act, ensuring that employees are aware of their responsibilities in maintaining data security.

When training is tailored to your organization’s unique environment, employees are more likely to engage with the material, retain key knowledge, and apply their skills to protect sensitive information from evolving threats.

Adapting to different learning styles and roles

Every organization is made up of individuals with different learning preferences and job responsibilities. Adapting your training program to accommodate these differences is crucial for building a culture of security and compliance. By offering a variety of training methods—such as interactive simulations, engaging videos, and knowledge quizzes—you can ensure that all employees, regardless of their preferred learning style, gain the knowledge and skills needed to protect sensitive information.

Role-specific training is equally important. IT staff, for example, may need in-depth modules on dark web investigations and advanced security protocols, while general employees benefit from practical guidance on recognizing phishing attacks and following security policies. By customizing content for different roles, you make sure that everyone understands how their actions impact data privacy and compliance with key data privacy laws.

This inclusive approach not only helps employees comply with regulations but also empowers them to take an active role in protecting the organization’s data—making your training program more effective and impactful.

Engaging and always-current training content

Keeping employees engaged and informed is essential for any successful security awareness training program. Engaging and always-current training content ensures that employees not only pay attention but also retain the knowledge and skills needed to protect sensitive information. Using real-world scenarios—such as recent data breaches, phishing attacks, or incidents involving the dark web—helps illustrate the real consequences of human error and the importance of vigilance.

To stay ahead of evolving threats and technologies, training content should be regularly updated. This means incorporating the latest cybersecurity trends, new attack techniques, and emerging risks into your program. Interactive and immersive training methods, like gamified simulations and hands-on exercises, make learning more memorable and encourage employees to apply their knowledge in real situations.

By prioritizing engaging and up-to-date content, organizations can create a culture of security awareness that not only reduces the risk of data breaches but also ensures ongoing compliance with key data privacy laws. Ultimately, this approach helps protect sensitive information, build employee confidence, and strengthen your organization’s overall cybersecurity posture.

Choosing the right training approach and tools

There’s no single “correct” way to train employees on dark web threats—it depends on your company size, resources, risk level, and how hands-on your team wants to be.

That said, the best programs strike a balance between education and execution: teaching people what to look out for, and using tools that help them apply those lessons in the real world.

Let’s walk through your options.

In-house vs. third-party Dark Web training

If your organization has an internal security team or dedicated training department, you might consider building your own dark web awareness program. This approach allows you to:

• Customize content based on real incidents or your specific industry
• Tailor exercises to your systems (like showing a Prey alert in action)
• Integrate your policies, devices, and preferred terminology

But it also requires time, expertise, and upkeep. If you’re not quite there yet, third-party courses are a great way to get started fast.

Many third-party providers also offer a certificate upon completion of their dark web training courses, giving employees a credential to demonstrate their achievement.

Recommended Third-Party Providers

• SOCRadar Academy: Offers training that blends dark web exposure detection with threat intelligence fundamentals—great for both general employees and SOC teams.
• CACI: Known for their government-grade cyber training, CACI’s dark web security programs are well-suited for critical infrastructure and healthcare sectors.
• Searchlight Cyber: Offers dark web monitoring tools and accompanying training modules for companies that want real-time breach detection paired with role-based learning.

Most providers offer a mix of:

• Self-paced modules: Ideal for onboarding and remote teams
• Live virtual workshops: Good for security teams and cross-functional tabletop exercises
• In-person training: Best suited for high-stakes roles (e.g. finance, IT, executives)

Pro Tip: Whichever route you choose, make sure your training partner can provide reporting tools that help track completion rates, quiz scores, and behavior change over time.

Tools that reinforce training in real time

The most effective training isn’t just a one-and-done course—it’s reinforced by tools that turn awareness into action.

Here are some examples:

• Prey’s Breach Monitoring: Tracks if employee credentials surface on the dark web, sending real-time alerts you can act on.
• Defendify: Combines employee cyber awareness training with automated monitoring for exposed credentials and risky behavior.
• KnowBe4 or InfosecIQ: Great for simulating phishing attempts that mirror real-world attacks launched via dark web data.

These tools help identify high-risk employees (like those who frequently reuse passwords or fall for simulated attacks), then assign follow-up training automatically.

Implementation Tip: Use your MDM or endpoint management platform to trigger personalized reminders or security nudges based on risky behavior—like logging in from an unfamiliar location or device.

Measuring training effectiveness

Dark web training doesn’t stop at completion certificates. If you want your program to truly reduce risk, you need to know what’s working—and what’s not.

Tracking a few key performance indicators (KPIs) will help you continuously improve your approach, prove ROI to leadership, and spot potential issues before they become incidents.

Here’s what to measure:

Key metrics that show progress

1. Phishing Click Rates
   
   • Before training, many organizations see click-through rates of 20–35% on phishing simulations.
   • After consistent training and testing, this number should drop below 5%, with top performers hitting 2% or less.
   • Tools like KnowBe4 and InfosecIQ offer automatic phishing campaigns with built-in reporting.
2. Dark Web Breach Detections
   
   • How many employees are flagged with leaked credentials each quarter?
   • After implementing MFA, password refresh policies, and awareness training, these numbers should begin to trend downward.
   • Platforms like Prey or SOCRadar can help you track this over time and spot improvements (or new risk areas).
3. Training Completion & Knowledge Retention
   
   • Look beyond “did they finish the module?”
   • Review quiz scores, participation in simulations, and re-training rates for employees who continue to show risky behavior.

Pro Tip: Use your security dashboard (or Prey’s monitoring data) to correlate training engagement with exposure or incident frequency.

Signs of a cultural shift

Measuring culture is trickier—but not impossible. Here’s how to spot when security is becoming second nature:

• Uptick in Threat Reporting
  If employees are forwarding suspicious emails or flagging odd behavior more often, that’s a good thing—it means they’re paying attention.
• Proactive Questions
  When employees ask about suspicious apps, access requests, or data sharing practices, it’s a sign that awareness is working.
• Internal Surveys
  Ask questions like:
  “Would you know what to do if you found your email on the dark web?”
  “Do you feel confident recognizing phishing or credential-related scams?”
  Track responses over time and use feedback to shape future training.

Implementation Tip: Share wins with the team. Show how a reported phish or an avoided credential reuse protected the company. Storytelling boosts engagement far more than metrics alone.

Implementing at scale—checklist and timeline

Rolling out a company-wide dark web training program doesn’t have to be complicated—but it does need a plan. When you break it down into manageable steps, implementation becomes more than possible—it becomes repeatable.

Here’s a proven timeline to launch and sustain a scalable, high-impact program:

Step-by-Step Checklist

Step 1: Pulse Check & Internal Assessment (Week 1–2)

• Survey employees: How familiar are they with dark web threats?
• Identify high-risk roles (IT, HR, Finance, C-level).
• Audit recent dark web alerts or credential exposures using Prey or another monitoring tool.

Step 2: Run a Baseline Dark Web Exposure Scan (Week 1–2)

• Scan all company domains and known employee emails.
• Record how many unique credentials appear in breach datasets.
• Identify which departments or roles have the highest exposure.

Step 3: Design the Training Schedule (Week 3–4)

• Break content into bite-sized modules: general staff, managers, IT/security.
• Choose a mix of delivery formats (self-paced, live sessions, simulations).
• Schedule onboarding integration and quarterly refreshers.

Step 4: Launch & Track Engagement (Week 5–8)

• Start with onboarding new hires and high-risk roles.
• Assign modules with clear due dates and track completions.
• Introduce phishing simulations and dark web “lookup” drills.

Step 5: Establish a Simulation Cadence (Ongoing)

• Run phishing simulations quarterly (or monthly for high-risk roles).
• Use gamified elements to encourage participation and reward success.
• Trigger re-training if simulations are failed.

Step 6: Review & Report Results (Every Quarter)

• Measure phishing click rates, credential exposure changes, and training completion rates.
• Share findings with leadership—highlight reduced risk and cultural wins.
• Update training content based on new threats and feedback.

Step 7: Refresh Annually

• Reassess dark web exposure.
• Update training modules with new examples and tactics.
• Expand the program as needed (e.g., include vendors, remote workers, international teams).

Dark Web training rollout timeline

Conclusion

The dark web isn’t just a shadowy corner of the internet—it’s a growing threat to your employees’ identities and your organization’s security.

And while tools like breach monitoring and SIEMs play a critical role in detection and response, the first real line of defense is always your people.

Dark web training for employees isn’t just about checking a compliance box. It’s about empowering your team with the awareness, skills, and tools they need to stay safe—at work and at home. It’s about transforming passive users into informed defenders. And it’s one of the smartest, most scalable investments you can make in your identity protection strategy.

What’s next?

If you’re ready to take the next step:

• Explore how Prey’s Dark Web Monitoring helps organizations detect exposed credentials in real time—before they’re weaponized.
• Dive into our guides on SIEM integration, breach response, and endpoint visibility to complete your security stack.
• And if you haven’t already, start building your dark web training checklist today using the steps outlined in this article.

Remember: it only takes one exposed password to compromise a system. But it also only takes one well-trained employee to stop it.

Let’s make sure your team makes the difference.