Phishing simulations are a practical method of testing employees' abilities to recognize and respond to social engineering attacks. This type of simulation provides actionable insights by creating realistic scenarios similar to actual phishing attempts, without the associated risk. This helps measure the effectiveness of the training and identifies areas where additional training may be necessary. Answer options like 'Unannounced network scans' and 'Publishing quarterly newsletters' are less direct and less effective methods of assessing the specific understanding of recognizing social engineering attacks. Although helpful in a broader security context, they do not directly test the application of the training content. 'Including a quiz at the end of the training session' can validate immediate retention but does not measure long-term understanding or practical application in an actual work environment.