KnowBe4(Security Awareness) Review 2025

KnowBe4(Security Awareness) Overview & 2025 Industry Position

In an age where cyber threats are becoming more intelligent and frequent, KnowBe4(Security Awareness) continues to establish itself as the market leader in human-centric cybersecurity education. By blending gamified training, behavioral analytics, and advanced phishing simulations, KnowBe4 empowers organizations to fortify their human firewall. In 2025, it remains a benchmark for measurable security behavior change at scale, with widespread adoption among Fortune 1000 companies and growing mid-market traction.

From Launch to 2025: KnowBe4(Security Awareness)’s Journey

Founded in 2010 by IT security entrepreneur Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 began as a phishing simulation platform aimed at combating escalating social engineering attacks. Over the next decade, it expanded into a full-fledged security awareness platform, integrating learning management systems, threat intelligence, and human risk quantification. Key moments in the company’s evolution include:

• 2015: Launch of Security Awareness Training modules with compliance mapping.
• 2018: Integration of AI-driven phishing simulations with Smart Groups.
• 2021: IPO on NASDAQ and rapid international expansion.
• 2023: Launch of SecurityCoach, a real-time intervention tool for risky behavior.
• 2024: Acquisition of CLTRe and expansion into European risk culture surveying.

For 2025, KnowBe4 is focused on deepening its AI-driven adaptive learning layers and enhancing compliance alignment across international frameworks, giving InfoSec teams ROI-backed transparency into human risk scores.

Key Features of KnowBe4(Security Awareness)

KnowBe4 is not just another LMS with security content—it’s a behavior-focused platform built for adaptive engagement, measurable outcomes, and flexible enterprise deployment. Top features for 2025 include:

• Phishing Simulation Engine: Smart Group targeting, A/B testing, and auto-generated spear-phishing templates based on trending threats.
• Security Awareness Training: Over 1,500 content assets in 35+ languages across modules, videos, and games.
• Behavioral Risk Scoring: Continuous employee risk evaluations based on click, report, and training behaviors.
• SecurityCoach Tool: Real-time nudges integrated with Microsoft 365 and Slack for risky behaviors.
• KMSAT Console: Unified dashboard with compliance mapping and ROI metrics for reporting to leadership.

Workflow & UX

From deployment to user onboarding, KnowBe4’s UX balances enterprise controls with employee clarity. Admins can tailor training flows by role risk-level, while employees receive nudges, notifications, and personalized dashboards. With MS Teams and Slack integrations built in, users engage inside daily tools—asynchronous, short-form training reinforces behavior flawlessly across workflows.

KnowBe4(Security Awareness) Pricing Analysis & Value Metrics

KnowBe4 adopts a tier-based pricing structure as of July 2025, scaled by user count and training depth. Base plans may span from SMB-friendly Basic to comprehensive Enterprise+:

Value Focus: Enterprise and heavily regulated firms can see measurable ROI on avoided breaches, verified via KnowBe4’s audit-grade reporting and protective behavior metrics.

Competitive Landscape

KnowBe4 leads its category, though several notable challengers target specific verticals or pricing segments:

Use Cases Where KnowBe4 Excels

• Heavily regulated industries (Finance, Healthcare): Strong compliance library + audit trails
• Remote/hybrid teams: Just-in-time nudges, language diversity support
• Fast-scaling mid-markets: Low-margin onboarding + prebuilt workflows

Third-Party Integrations

KnowBe4 effortlessly slots into existing security ecosystems. Popular integrations include:

• Active Directory and LDAP
• Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
• Slack & MS Teams messaging cues
• Palo Alto Networks, CrowdStrike (via API)
• ServiceNow ticketing triggers

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Broadest awareness training library, multilingual support, intelligent phishing engine, robust integrations
• Cons: Minor learning curve in console navigation; advanced features require Enterprise plan

Pro Tip: Run industry-specific phishing simulations first—KnowBe4’s scenario templates improve results when targeted by job role or compliance need.

Final Thoughts

KnowBe4(Security Awareness) remains an essential investment for cybersecurity-forward enterprises in 2025. Its layered approach to training, automation, and human risk data is ideal for CISOs seeking provable ROI. While smaller companies may lean toward lighter competitors, firms with regulatory risks or global footprints will benefit substantially from KnowBe4’s depth and credibility.

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