Why students need real world cybersecurity experience

Students are entering a world where every profession interacts with digital systems, sensitive data and social engineering risks. From vocational programs to applied sciences and university degrees, learners must understand how attackers think and how everyday decisions create impact. Traditional theory based courses do not prepare them for the pressure and manipulation used in real attacks.

Phantom’sLab gives students a safe environment to explore cyber threats through cinematic storytelling and interactive challenges. They see how attackers exploit trust, urgency and human behavior, helping them build confidence before entering internships, traineeships or full time roles.

Cybersecurity awareness, behavior change and culture | Phantom'sLab

The power of entertainment:

90% of cyberattacks

Start with human behavior. Strengthening student awareness builds a stronger foundation for future professionals.

60% engagement increase

Gamified learning keeps learners active, curious and motivated in ways lectures alone cannot achieve.

70% risk reduction

When awareness becomes behavior and culture, organizations and institutions see fewer incidents.

The numbers prove it. Gamified learning turns attention into action. Give students cybersecurity training that is fun, engaging and built to create real, lasting behavior change.

Learning that builds digital confidence

Students learn best through experience. With Phantom’sLab, cybersecurity becomes practical, memorable and enjoyable. Through short cinematic episodes, interactive challenges and microlearning, students understand how threats behave and how to respond with clarity. It is the ideal kick off for a course, a hands on case study or a recurring component in any curriculum.

  • Awareness: The training begins with Phantom’s Game where employees step into the shoes of a hacker and hack their own company, preparing them to respond to real-world cyber threats.
  • Behavior change: Gamified modules reinforce essential security habits that become natural responses under pressure.
  • Culture: Group challenges, discussions and shared learning moments keep cybersecurity visible across classrooms and teams.

What makes our training different?

Our approach turns students into active defenders. They learn to pause, verify and respond under pressure, and when learning feels like entertainment, behavior becomes instinctive.

Critical cybersecurity training topics, fully covered

AI powered attacks

Learners explore how AI generated phishing and synthetic voices work through clear, realistic examples.

Deepfake driven CEO fraud

Students understand how to verify identity and avoid manipulation when urgent messages appear from leaders or supervisors.

Advanced phishing

They practice spotting subtle red flags in emails, messages and platforms they use daily.

Psychological manipulation

Students see how attackers use emotion, authority and pressure to influence decisions, helping them stay critical and confident.

Resilience and response

They learn how to escalate concerns, communicate clearly and take action when something feels wrong.

Social engineering mastery

Understanding manipulation patterns strengthens their instincts, preparing them for internships, traineeships and early careers.

Designed for education. Personalized for your program.

Phantom’sLab adapts each learning experience to your educational environment. Content aligns with ICT and cybersecurity programs, vocational studies, applied sciences and university level curricula. It is flexible enough to act as a course introduction, a capstone case study or a recurring learning component.

When students see themselves and their future industry reflected in the scenarios, engagement rises and learning becomes meaningful. That is the Phantom’sLab promise.

What our clients say

“The game created the kind of lasting awareness that traditional training simply can’t match. Our team is now genuinely vigilant, not just compliant. What stood out most was the high level of engagement from every participant. The competitive element didn’t just make it more fun – it made it more effective.”

Visma Amili

Kevin Sheikh Workplace Experience & IT Specialist Continue reading

“The interactive approach and competitive element suddenly made cybersecurity very tangible and relevant for everyone. The game has transformed cybersecurity from an IT topic to an organization-wide responsibility. And that’s exactly what we needed.”

BAM Infra Netherlands

Christy Mohamedhoesein Cybersecurity and Machine Safety Specialist Continue reading

“At the Municipality of Meierijstad, we wanted cybersecurity to be both fun and meaningful, something that truly resonates with people. Phantom’s Game delivered exactly that. It turned abstract risks into engaging, relatable experiences that got everyone involved and talking. The balance of competition, humor, and genuine insight made the topic accessible and left a lasting impact across the entire organization.”

Municipality of Meierijstad

Kees van Rooij Cyber Mayor of the Netherlands Continue reading

“Phantom’s Game transformed our students from confident learners into genuinely aware security professionals who understand their own vulnerabilities. The game uniquely blends excitement and education. Our students didn’t just understand cyber threats — they experienced them.”

Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

Michael Drent Cybersecurity Coordinator and Lecturer Continue reading

“At Fransen Gerrits, we believe it’s important that our people know how to deal with digital risks, especially since our insurer also emphasizes this. Joris convinced me that Phantam’s Game is not a standard awareness training, but rather something that truly sticks. And I haven’t regretted it for a second. Fun and educational. A must for any organization that wants more than just a dry presentation about cybersecurity.”

Fransen Gerrits

Huub Fransen Owner Continue reading

“At Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, we wanted to kick off the academic year with something that would truly grab attention and set the tone. Phantom’s Game did exactly that, turning cybersecurity from abstract theory into an engaging, hands-on experience. It was interactive, surprising, and sparked valuable discussions among students. A powerful and memorable way to build awareness from day one.”

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

Ruben Julen Lecturer-Researcher in Digital Business Continue reading

“At Snowminds, we wanted to boost cybersecurity awareness within our young, international team, without it feeling like another dull training. Phantom’s Game hit the mark perfectly. Competitive, fast-paced, and full of surprises, it kept everyone engaged from start to finish. It made digital risks feel real, sparked great conversations, and turned learning about cybersecurity into a fun and truly memorable experience.”

Snowminds

Yuri Bartels Owner Continue reading

“At the University of Antwerp, we wanted students to go beyond theory and feel what cyber risk really means. Phantom’s Game offers exactly that – an immersive, realistic experience that sparks reflection, curiosity, and genuine awareness. It encourages students to think critically about their own digital behavior and vulnerabilities. It turns learning about cybersecurity into something truly memorable.”

University of Antwerp

Tim Apers Coordinator & Teaching Assistant Continue reading

“At the Municipality of Hardenberg, we wanted our colleagues to really feel what a cyberattack looks like – not just hear about it. Phantom’s Game turned out to be the perfect way to do that. Realistic, engaging, and full of surprises, it made cybersecurity tangible and sparked great conversations across departments. Fun, eye-opening, and definitely worth repeating.”

Municipality of Hardenberg

Joanne Hoogeveen Privacy Officer/Security Officer Continue reading

“At Biemans Accountants, we face digital threats like phishing and malware every day, so we needed a solution that would truly make an impact. Phantom´s Game proved to be the perfect mix of fun and realism — not just another dry training, but an engaging experience that made everyone think. It sparked meaningful discussions and built lasting awareness across our entire team.”

Biemans Accountants

Desirée van der Wielen Secretarial Employee Continue reading

“Phantom’s Game normalized cybersecurity conversations across our organization. Our team now actively protects our clients’ sensitive data through collective vigilance. The game started conversations we normally wouldn’t have, and that’s exactly where true awareness begins.”

Janssen & Janssen

Sharon Tulp Inside sales representative Continue reading

“Phantom’s Game delivered exactly what we hoped for: a stronger team, increased awareness, and lasting behavioral change. The perfect investment in both culture and security. In our view, it’s a great way to highlight the risks of cybercrime through the right balance of fun and information. Highly recommended!”

PortXchange Products B.V.

Marian Maartense HR Manager Continue reading

“Phantom’s Game showed us how quickly a simple mistake can lead to serious consequences. That realization has made our team much more proactive about security. The game reinvigorated our approach to cybersecurity training. Our team is now actively engaged, sharing knowledge, and applying security awareness in everything they do.”

Synaxion B.V.

Andre Kuijt Manager R&D Continue reading

FAQ

Our training works as a course kick off, a practical assignment, a case based learning module or an integrated semester element. Short episodes and microlearning make it easy to fit into classes, labs or self study, while still delivering real world insight and hands on experience.

Research shows gamified training increases engagement by 60% and productivity by 43%. When you add storytelling, knowledge retention skyrockets. People remember stories and experiences, not bullet points. Our game-based approach means employees don’t just complete training. They actually learn, remember, and apply what they’ve experienced.

We’re not from the cybersecurity industry. We come from entertainment. Our roots are in escape rooms, VR experiences, and serious gaming. We’ve created over 100 games for more than 1 million players. We know how to captivate people. Traditional e-learning asks, “How do we make this compliant?” We ask, “How do we make this unforgettable?” That’s the difference. Curious? Just request a demo. You will feel the difference instantly.

Absolutely. In fact, that’s exactly who needs it most. Hackers don’t target your IT department. They target your HR manager, your finance team, your receptionist. Anyone who uses email or handles data. Our solutions are designed for everyone, regardless of technical background. We make complex threats understandable and relatable. No jargon. Just real scenarios people face every day.

Faster than you think. Our game is ready to deploy, and we can customize it to your organization within weeks. You’ll receive game tickets, personalized videos, and even popcorn buckets for your team. The experience starts before the training begins. From first contact to full implementation, we handle everything. You focus on your business. We’ll make your people cyber-ready.

Meet the team redefining cybersecurity awareness

Phantom’sLab is an award winning CyberLab with roots in storytelling, behavioral science and game design. With more than one hundred game based projects and over one million players, we make cybersecurity engaging for students across disciplines and learning levels.

“When students experience the pressure behind real threats, they do not just learn cybersecurity. They understand it.”

Joris van den Bergh, Founder & Game Architect

Joris van den Bergh - Cybersecurity Awareness | Phantom'sLab

Ready to prepare your students for the digital world?

When learning feels like an experience, behavior changes for real. Join 500 plus institutions and organizations choosing a smarter path with Phantom’sLab.