Mastercard Cybersecurity Virtual Experience Program
Security awareness, phishing simulation design, and risk-based training analysis in a global enterprise context.
Overview
This project is based on the Mastercard Cybersecurity Virtual Experience Program delivered through Forage (January 2026).
The simulation mirrors the responsibilities of a Security Awareness Analyst working within a global financial organization.
The work focused on phishing threat identification, human-centric security risk, and designing targeted awareness and training programs to reduce organizational exposure to social engineering attacks.
Key Activities
- Designed a realistic phishing email simulation aligned with common enterprise attack patterns
- Applied social engineering techniques to increase realism and user engagement
- Analyzed phishing campaign results to identify departments with higher failure rates
- Identified high-risk business units requiring additional security awareness
- Designed and delivered targeted phishing awareness training tailored to vulnerable teams
Skills Applied
- Security awareness and phishing risk analysis
- Social engineering threat modeling
- Data analysis and interpretation of campaign results
- Risk-based security training design
- Clear communication for non-technical audiences
Industry Relevance
This project reflects real-world work performed by:
- Security Awareness & Human Risk teams
- GRC and Cyber Risk functions
- Blue Team / Preventive Security roles
- Enterprise cybersecurity consulting engagements
It demonstrates how human behavior, not just technology, is a critical factor in organizational security—and how targeted education can significantly reduce risk in large enterprises like Mastercard.