In this guide, we will review the best security awareness training platforms on the market. Each of these platforms helps organizations to improve their overall cybersecurity posture, reduce risk of human error, and build security habits that actually stick.
The harsh reality for businesses is that even if you have the best firewalls and cybersecurity tools money can buy, they won’t count for much if one of your employees falls for a routine phishing scam and hands over their credentials.
The training platforms we share in this guide are for companies that want their security training to be more than just a compliance box-ticking exercise. They are for organizations that truly want to educate their workforce, help them recognize threats, and play a more active role in protecting the business.
What We’ll Cover
- Mapping out the market leaders in security awareness training
- A side-by-side comparison of the top security awareness training platforms, what types of organizations they’re for, and their most useful functionalities
- Advice on how to choose the right training platform for your business
Hoxhunt
Hoxhunt is one of the major players in the space, providing high quality security security awareness training, specializing in building up your team’s phishing resilience while providing measurable behavior changes.
Key strengths
One of the standout aspects of Hoxhunt is how personalized the training feels. Unlike some of the more generic programs on the market, Hoxhunt provides highly accurate phishing simulations that can adjust based on how someone performs. This means that people with stronger security knowhow remain engaged while others can get the extra support they need.
The training moments within the programs are short and feel plausible, showing up naturally in emails (which is where employees are likely to face the most threats). Hoxhunt also gamifies many elements, such as encouraging users to report suspicious emails, where they can earn stars, streaks, and gain visibility on a shared leaderboard.
Hoxhunt also updates its simulations on a dynamic basis, serving up the latest lures, including personalized deepfakes, SVG attachments and suspicious QR codes.
Best fit for
Hoxhunt is best for mid-sized and enterprise companies that want to see real, measurable reductions in risky user behavior. The company also offers a partner program for MSPs.
Why it made the list
Hoxhunt provides truly personalized, dynamic and gamified cybersecurity training, making it a valuable tool for human risk management and maximizing engagement for measurable behavior change.
Keepnet Labs
Keepnet Labs is a human risk management platform that combines phishing simulation, incident reporting, and awareness training across a variety of attack vectors.
Key strengths
Keepnet goes beyond simply focusing on email for its simulations by focusing on a wide range of potential attack routes, such as SMS, voice, QR codes, and more.
All of these simulations are designed to mimic how real threats happen today.
The platform mixes training with reporting capabilities and response workflows, which helps security teams act quickly to any issues that employees flag.
Best fit for
Businesses that want to have response, reporting, and phishing training all in one place.
Why it made the list
Keepnet Labs is one of the more established names on our list, making it a solid choice for any team that wants their security training linked to real incident handling.
Defendify
Defendify is an all-in-one cybersecurity platform that gives companies access to a wide range of tools for improving their protections across people, tech, and processes. As for security awareness training, Defendify delivers automated microlearning videos to employees, covering topics like security hygiene, 2FA, phishing, and ransomware.
Key strengths
Defendify is a one-stop-shop for your cybersecurity needs, offering 13 different tools, such as awareness training, phishing simulation, and human risk management. One of their main strengths is their focus in making training videos short, entertaining, and engaging.
New content is released monthly, focusing on current threats and techniques that are used presently.
Phishing simulations run automatically and use point-of-failure training. So if a user fails to spot a test email, they are immediately run through relevant training.
Best fit for
Defendify is best for small and medium sized businesses that don’t have a dedicated security team. It provides an integrated security approach to security awareness that doesn’t need much overhead to manage.
Why it made the list
Defendify pulls together automated phishing training with detailed reporting, all within one easy to use platform.
CybSafe
CybSafe uses AI and behavioral science to detect, measure, and reduce human risk across your organization. It does this by providing real-time, adaptive interventions as your employees go about their day to day work.
Key strengths
The platform gives users bite-sized learning modules that target the specific risks that your business may face. These can also be tailored to an employee’s job role, making it more personalized and engaging.
CybSafe’s approach is backed by SebDB, which is one of the largest and most comprehensive security behavior databases. Using this data, CybSafe maps over 70 unique security behaviors to various risks and threats.
This helps them to create training modules that are focused specifically on the dangers that your teams are likely to face in the real world.
Best fit for
CybSafe is ideal for any organization that wants its team to be well-versed in modern threats, backed by a data-driven, scientific approach.
Why it made the list
CybSafe stands out for its methodical and data-led approach, with a keen focus on behavior and function to help companies highlight what risk they currently face on an individual basis.
Hook Security
Hook Security takes a unique approach to cybersecurity training by focusing on Psychological Security (PsySec), which is a combination of humor, repetition, and a more positive approach than you might expect from other providers.
Key strengths
When an employee accidently clicks on a link from a phishing simulation, they are immediately taken to a landing page where they are given immediate, targeted training.
Many users report that these training sessions are engaging, relatable, and even entertaining in a way that’s unique to the rest of the cybersecurity training industry.
This is due to Hook Security’s approach of leading with fun and encouragement rather than fear and negativity.
Best fit for
Hook Security is best for companies that want to move away from the standard, fear-based training that many platforms adopt.
Why it made the list
Hook Security is unique in its positive, psychosocial security approach. Using elements of fun and humor may resonate with some teams better than more typical methods.
Security Mentor
Security Mentor is one of the pioneers in the cybersecurity training and phishing simulation space. Since 2008, they’ve been continually refining their approach, adapting how they create and deliver training material to ensure employees retain the learnings, improving human risk management.
Key strengths
Security Mentor is known for its “Brief, Frequent, Focused” training model. These are short, 10-minute educational modules that are provided on a monthly basis, each focusing on a single topic.
Their training also used gamification (such as points, leaderboards, badges, etc) to help increase uptake and engagement.
The focus is on getting employees to learn by doing rather than just reading theory or sitting through tedious presentations.
Best fit for
Organizations looking for a proven, well-established cyber security training vendor that provides engaging monthly material.
Why it made the list
Security Mentor has been one of the trailblazers in the space, revolutionizing how cybersecurity and phishing training is delivered. Their Brief, Frequent, Focused model has become widely adopted across the industry.
AwareGO
AwareGO combines behavioral science and cybersecurity expertise to help businesses carry out human risk management at scale. Their platform focuses on delivering very short (1-2 min) high quality videos that can be sent out regularly, rather than relying on longer, annual programs.
Key strengths
AwareGO focuses on user empowerment rather than lecturing, scaring, or even shaming users into adopting cybersecurity best practices.
The goal is to create more positive learning experiences that encourage users to properly engage and adopt the practices from the material.
To make the learning more integrated, AwareGo’s training material can be delivered via Slack, Teams, and email, with more than 80 training modules available across 18 languages.
Best fit for
AwareGO is best for busy teams that need a more integrated approach to cybersecurity training, such as those operating in fast-paced industries like healthcare or finance.
Why it made the list
AwareGO has successfully trained millions of users with its no-blame approach, making it a great fit for companies that value user empowerment over a shame/blame culture.
The Bottom Line
Each of the security awareness training providers in this list can help you transform your biggest cyber vulnerability into your biggest strength.
It’s done through empowering users to take ownership of their security hygiene by adopting learning into their everyday life and running them through real scenarios that they could encounter. While all of the platforms in this list can help you reach your goals, here is a short rundown of the areas where each excels:
- Choose Hoxhunt if you want a platform that provides measurable behavior change through personalized, adaptive phishing simulation.
- Choose Keepnet Labs if you want to run phishing simulations across multiple channels, such as email, SMS, voice, and QR codes.
- Choose Defendify if you’re an SMB that wants a one-stop-shop for your security needs, without the overhead.
- Choose CybSafe if you want to have a data-driven, science-based approach to human risk management.
- Choose Hook Security if you want training that focuses more on positivity and humor than fear-based tactics.
- Choose Security Mentor if you want to partner with a well-established and proven vendor that provides bite-sized monthly modules.
- Choose AwareGO if you want ultra-short microleanings that can be delivered across your existing messaging tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find security awareness training programs for my company?
Start with trusted vendors like Hoxhunt, Keepnet Labs, Defendify, CybSafe, Hook Security, Security Mentor, and AwareGO. Do some research into how each of these providers approaches cybersecurity training, and then make a shortlist based on your company’s specific needs, budget, and compliance requirements.
What are the best security awareness training options available?
There is no one-size fits all for every company. If you want personalized phishing training with measurable outcomes, then Hoxhunt is one of the strongest options on the market. For those that want a data-driven approach backed by one of the world’s largest behavioral databases, CybSafe is likely your best bet.
Hook Security brings a fresh change of pace from the more negative, fear-based programs by focusing on humour and encouragement instead. Consider what’s most important to your business and assess which program would best fit with your current company culture and style of work.
Where can I get security awareness training that meets compliance requirements?
All of the providers mentioned in this list are great for meeting compliance requirements. All of them provide structured learning modules that companies can use to demonstrate employee training in audits.
How often should employees complete security awareness training?
The answer depends, but most would agree that annual training alone isn't enough. The most effective programs deliver brief, frequent content. This could be in the form of monthly microlearning videos, ongoing phishing simulations, or real-time nudges. Regular reinforcement keeps security top of mind and helps employees retain what they've learned.
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