Understanding Awareness Level: What the Numbers Really Mean

Nimblr's "Awareness Level" reflects a user's current understanding of Cyber Security and related topics. Like other attention-demanding processes, this focus can change over time. The Awareness Level isn't a direct measure of knowledge, but there is a correlation between knowledge and awareness.

When reviewing a Nimblr user report, it may be tempting to assess awareness levels based solely on metrics such as clicks or course completions. However, awareness level reflects overall engagement over time, not isolated actions. Two users with similar activity, or even a user with more clicks, can have different awareness levels.

Importantly, awareness level is dynamic. Positive actions can outweigh earlier negative activity, so every user has the possibility to improve their level.

Factors Influencing Awareness Level:

Timing of actions: More recent actions carry greater weight than older ones.
Historical activity and program tenure: Users with longer participation have accumulated activity, such as course completions, sent simulations, and past clicks - that influences their current awareness level.
Positive and negative influences: Completing courses contributes positively, while clicks without completing the course during the month have a negative impact.

In summary, awareness level reflect a combination of historical activity, engagement, and learning progress, not single actions.

Note on Improvement Potential

Every user has the ability to improve their awareness level through positive actions such as completing courses and staying engaged. Past mistakes do not prevent progress.

Example 1: Same Amount of Clicks and Reminders, Different Awareness Levels

User X – Critical awareness level

Course invitations: 1
Reminders: 10
Clicks: 1
Completed courses: 0

User Y – Low awareness level

Course invitations: 1
Reminders: 10
Clicks: 1
Completed courses: 0

Although both users have the same clicks and reminders, the difference is timing:

User Y’s click occurred one month earlier.
User X’s click occurred last month, making it more influential in the current awareness score.

This demonstrates that awareness levels are affected not just by totals, but also by when actions occur.

Example 2: More Clicks but a Higher Awareness Level

User X - Critical Awareness Level

Course invitations: 3
Reminders: 36
Clicks: 1
Completed courses: 1

User Y - Low Awareness Level

Course invitations: 3
Reminders: 33
Clicks: 3
Completed courses: 2

Even though the Low user clicked more, their completed courses and consistent engagement over time reduce their risk level. Positive actions and timing outweigh earlier negative actions.

Understanding Awareness Level: What the Numbers Really Mean

Nimblr's "Awareness Level" reflects a user's current understanding of Cyber Security and related topics. Like other attention-demanding processes, this focus can change over time. The Awareness Level isn't a direct measure of knowledge, but there is a correlation between knowledge and awareness.

Importantly, awareness level is dynamic. Positive actions can outweigh earlier negative activity, so every user has the possibility to improve their level.

Factors Influencing Awareness Level:

Timing of actions: More recent actions carry greater weight than older ones.

Historical activity and program tenure: Users with longer participation have accumulated activity, such as course completions, sent simulations, and past clicks - that influences their current awareness level.

Positive and negative influences: Completing courses contributes positively, while clicks without completing the course during the month have a negative impact.

In summary, awareness level reflect a combination of historical activity, engagement, and learning progress, not single actions.

Note on Improvement Potential

Example 1: Same Amount of Clicks and Reminders, Different Awareness Levels

User X – Critical awareness level

Course invitations: 1

Reminders: 10

Clicks: 1

Completed courses: 0

User Y – Low awareness level

Course invitations: 1

Reminders: 10

Clicks: 1

Completed courses: 0

Although both users have the same clicks and reminders, the difference is timing:

User Y’s click occurred one month earlier.

User X’s click occurred last month, making it more influential in the current awareness score.

This demonstrates that awareness levels are affected not just by totals, but also by when actions occur.

Example 2: More Clicks but a Higher Awareness Level

User X - Critical Awareness Level

Course invitations: 3

Reminders: 36

Clicks: 1

Completed courses: 1

User Y - Low Awareness Level

Course invitations: 3

Reminders: 33

Clicks: 3

Completed courses: 2

Even though the Low user clicked more, their completed courses and consistent engagement over time reduce their risk level. Positive actions and timing outweigh earlier negative actions.