Synerlogic is a leading supplier of raw materials and ingredients for the food and chemical industries. In the chemical sector, the company must comply with the NIS2 directive. Christiaan Spikker is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Synerlogic and, after years of experience with other awareness platforms, was looking for a solution that would truly engage employees.
According to him, making digital resilience “fun” is no easy task. But he believes it’s important, because that’s what makes the lessons stick. Guardey offers the practical tools that make implementation simple, bringing all the puzzle pieces together at last.
Challenge: mandatory training
Synerlogic has tried several other programs in the past, but none were very successful. Even the well-known platforms failed to truly engage employees. Christiaan believes this is due to the format of the training, which often consists of video material. “Those videos were long and repetitive,” he explains. “People lost interest quickly.”
That’s a shame—and even dangerous. In the chemical industry, awareness is critical to preventing incidents. Not just because of the strict regulations, but also because of the company’s responsibility within the supply chain.
Solution: learning through play
Together with a team of employees, Christiaan decided to look for a better alternative for security awareness. Guardey was one of the four platforms they evaluated. They assessed each approach critically, and ultimately, Christiaan and his team unanimously chose Guardey. “The gamification aspect was the deciding factor for us. It really gets people engaged.”
The rollout of the program was carefully planned to generate as much enthusiasm as possible. An internal communication plan supported the launch. The introduction was featured on large screens throughout the building and included in internal email campaigns. Even the CEO mentioned it during his quarterly presentation.
"The gamification aspect of Guardey was the deciding factor. It really gets people engaged. Two departments are now in serious competition with each other."
To further motivate participation, a reward system was introduced: the team with the best performance wins a jar of candy. That sparked unexpected liveliness in the office. “Two departments are now in real competition with each other. It’s working well.”
Practical tools for implementation
When asked about the successful implementation, Christiaan highlights the practical tools. These make it easier to reach employees and get them excited.
Synerlogic, for example, uses Guardey’s phishing simulator. The ready-to-use templates make it easy to get started. “It works really well for us, especially since we also use AFAS. The templates are recognizable and up-to-date.”
Christiaan is also considering custom content, to make the questions even more relevant to employees’ day-to-day experience. What kind of content does he have in mind? “We have a page explaining what to do if you fall victim to ransomware. It would be great to integrate that directly into Guardey.”
Result: high participation and increased engagement
Employee participation at Synerlogic is exceptionally high. No less than 82% consistently take part in Guardey’s weekly challenges. Christiaan and his organization are, of course, proud of that.
He also notices that employees are enthusiastic and view Guardey as a big improvement over previous tools.
Christiaan believes the gamified element plays a major role in the learning process. “Scores vary a lot per topic. That helps us know where to adjust.” The competition between departments also boosts motivation. To support this, all teams’ scores are made visible to everyone.
"When security awareness training is fun, people stay engaged. And that's exactly what Guardey enables."
The security team also has access to the data, allowing them to improve policy and communication. As a result, the software delivers multiple benefits and supports further increases in participation.
Christiaan is convinced: security awareness shouldn’t feel too heavy. It’s a serious topic, but if you overdo it, it can miss the mark. That’s why he believes it’s better to keep things light. Guardey fits that philosophy perfectly. He concludes, “When it’s fun, people stay engaged. And that’s exactly what Guardey does.”
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