Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:
Phishing attacks are best mitigated through user education and training. The 50% reduction in phishing attempts suggests a strong awareness program that improved employee vigilance.
* Option A (Patching) helps prevent exploits but does not directly reduce phishing attempts.
* Option B (Configuration management) ensures proper system setup but does not address phishing prevention.
* Option D (Threat modeling) is useful for security planning but does not actively reduce phishing attempts.
Thus, C is the correct answer, as awareness training significantly decreases phishing success rates by educating employees on email-based threats.