It’s that exhilarating time of year again! Summer is winding down, and the back-to-school season is in full swing—a truly fantastic time to focus on the power of education, not just in the traditional sense, but especially in the ever-evolving digital world.
At KnowBe4, recognized as the #1 Security Product and #2 Overall Software Product in G2’s 2025 Best Software Awards, we are passionately committed to transforming human risk and championing cutting-edge cybersecurity education for everyone, from our youngest digital explorers to seasoned college students and beyond. We fundamentally believe that this people-centric approach goes beyond just checking a box, focusing instead on real, measurable behavior change to build a strong security culture against cyber threats.
For older students transitioning into the workforce or higher education, we’re proud to announce a significant milestone for our KnowBe4 Student Edition! We now have over 200 academic institutions offering our student-specific security awareness training to more than a million students! This initiative was born from heartbreaking stories of students falling victim to phishing attacks and employment scams, and a clear need expressed by employers for more cyber-prepared graduates. For the past year, we’ve collaborated with a steering committee of esteemed institutions worldwide, including Bournemouth University, Nelson Mandela University, the University of Oklahoma, Hood College, and Nova Southeastern University, to develop highly relevant, customized, and actionable content for students aged 16 and over.
The impact goes beyond just training; it builds a true security culture. As Tina Rebello, an information security analyst at Bridgewater State University, shared with us, “The students were teaching each other the red flags of phishing messages and had a lot of fun picking them apart. It also brought our students together a little more, which was really exciting to see.” The Student Edition tackles crucial topics like social engineering red flags, sextortion, secure online behavior, and avoiding online scams, preparing students to be cyber-ready in their future careers while also protecting them and their institutions from current attacks. The pricing is to be pennies on the dollar of standard licenses, ensuring all students can access this essential content and contribute to building a future workforce of security champions within their communities.
For our youngest learners, we’re thrilled to once again highlight and expand our FREE KnowBe4 Children’s Interactive Cybersecurity Activity Kit! Designed for children aged 5 to 15 years old, this kit offers a fun and interactive approach for parents and educators to teach the basics of online safety. It includes a variety of engaging activities, popular games like Password Zapper and Spot the Phish: Kid’s Edition, and videos that cover everything from creating strong passwords to recognizing phishing attempts. We’ve also introduced our “AI Safety for Students” module, a timely resource that we are proud to see acclaimed in the prestigious 2024 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report | Cybersecurity and Privacy Edition. The kit is not only freely available on our website but also downloadable in SCORM format for seamless integration into your own Learning Management Systems (LMS) or Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), making it an invaluable and accessible resource for families and schools around the world.
Our unwavering commitment to education truly extends far beyond our industry-leading products, because we passionately believe in transforming human risk and empowering everyone to be cyber-ready in an increasingly complex digital world. This year, we’re absolutely thrilled to massively deepen our impact by actively participating in the Great American Teach-In! Dozens of our dedicated “Knowsters”—our very own cybersecurity experts—will be visiting local schools. They’re not just lecturing; they’ll be sharing real-world, actionable insights and critical expertise on cybersecurity directly with students. This hands-on, behavior-based approach emphasizes the crucial importance of online safety, helping young people confidently navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape securely from an early age. More than that, our Knowsters will provide inspiring, invaluable insights into the exciting and desperately needed career opportunities in the cybersecurity field, working to spark the interest of the next generation and help address the critical talent gap in our industry. We fundamentally believe that by engaging directly and personally with students, we can truly inspire a new wave of cybersecurity professionals, turning them into proactive defenders, and collectively build a culture of security awareness for a safer digital future for everyone. Click here to see our video “KnowBe4 Experts Teach Kids Cybersecurity: Great American Teach-In.”
At KnowBe4, we profoundly believe that education is the single most powerful and essential weapon we have in the ongoing fight against cybercrime! With millions of learners educated globally and trusted by over 70,000 organizations worldwide, we are unwaveringly dedicated to empowering individuals of all ages to stay safe and secure online. Whether it’s through our fantastic, free, and incredibly engaging resources for children, our comprehensive and cutting-edge training tailored for college students, or these vital community outreach programs, we are consistently working to reduce human risk and strengthen security culture. We’re all in this together, and we wholeheartedly encourage everyone to share our mission and join us in championing cybersecurity education within your own communities! As we head into this new school year, let’s turn our shared mission into action. We invite you to explore these resources for your community:
- For Parents & Educators: Download our FREE KnowBe4 Children’s Interactive Cybersecurity Activity Kit to make online safety a fun and engaging part of learning for your youngest learners.
- For Academic Institutions: Learn how the KnowBe4 Student Edition can help you join hundreds of other schools in building a stronger, more resilient security culture on your campus.
