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Exclusive: Anagram takes a gamified approach to employee cybersecurity training

Feb 26, 2025 - techcrunch.com
Anagram, formerly known as Cipher, is a New York-based company that has developed a new approach to employee cybersecurity training. The company offers a platform with hands-on security training for enterprises, featuring bite-sized videos and interactive puzzles to teach employees how to identify suspicious emails and communications. This approach is designed to be more engaging and frequent than traditional annual training sessions. Anagram's CEO, Harley Sugarman, drew inspiration from platforms like TikTok and Duolingo to create a more effective training experience. The company pivoted from its original focus on upskilling cybersecurity professionals to addressing the broader issue of non-security employees being the weakest link in cybersecurity.

Since its pivot, Anagram has gained traction with clients such as Thomson Reuters, MassMutual, and Disney, and recently raised a $10 million Series A round led by Madrona. The company aims to use the funds to expand its sales team and enhance its product. Anagram has successfully reduced phishing failure rates from 20% to 6% among its clients and is working on developing an AI agent to further safeguard against cybersecurity threats. Sugarman emphasizes the importance of adapting to the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, particularly with the rise of generative AI, which makes social engineering campaigns more personalized and harder to detect.

Key takeaways:

  • Anagram, formerly known as Cipher, has pivoted to focus on gamified cybersecurity training for non-security employees to address human-driven cybersecurity breaches.
  • The company uses lessons from platforms like TikTok, Duolingo, and Khan Academy to create engaging, frequent, and personalized training experiences.
  • Anagram has seen success in reducing phishing failure rates and has secured significant customers and a $10 million Series A funding round.
  • The company is developing an AI agent to assist employees in identifying potential cybersecurity risks in real-time.
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