CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Broadcom vs KnowBe4

Broadcom provides semiconductors and infrastructure software for global organizations' complex, mission-critical needs. KnowBe4 sells attack simulation and training, email and collaboration security, and agent security through the KnowBe4 Platform. CISO Tribune files both under Email security. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

Change the companies

Up to four companies side by side.

  • Broadcom
  • KnowBe4
Broadcom vs KnowBe4: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
BroadcomBroadcom provides semiconductors and infrastructure software for global organizations' complex, mission-critical needs.broadcom.comKnowBe4KnowBe4 sells attack simulation and training, email and collaboration security, and agent security through the KnowBe4 Platform.knowbe4.com
What it sells
  • Symantec Endpoint Security[5][11]A single-agent endpoint security platform for traditional and mobile devices.
  • Symantec Email Threat Detection Response and IsolationAn add-on module for Symantec Email Security.cloud that adds detection and post-delivery controls.
  • Security Awareness Training[4][5][7]Education on recognizing threats, reinforced with phishing and vishing simulations.
  • Cloud Email Security[10]A suite of AI-driven products for inbound and outbound email.
  • Defend[1][4][5][6][10][11]Inbound email protection against phishing, ransomware and business email compromise.
  • Prevent[5][10][12]Outbound email protection and data loss prevention.
  • Compliance Plus[13]Compliance training platform.
  • Student Edition[5]Security awareness training for academic institutions.
  • BreachSim[14]A free tool to identify network vulnerabilities.
  • Weak Password Test[15]A free tool that finds users with weak passwords.
Categories
Headquarters
San Jose, United States[2]Clearwater, United States
Founded
Not stated on its pages2010[1]
Ownership and funding
Public (NASDAQ: AVGO)[2][3][10][17]Owned by Vista Equity Partners since 2023[2][4][8][9]
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • October 13, 2026Broadcom introduced VMware HyperArmor, a software solution intended to further protect the VMware ESX hypervisor component of VMware Cloud Foundation.[16]
  • May 5, 2026KnowBe4 launched a two-tier Security Awareness Training offering and a new AI defense agent for custom content creation.[7]
  • April 6, 2026Dashlane announced an integration with KnowBe4 that links credential risk detection to security training for at-risk users.[18]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: listed, seen November 4, 2026[8]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: listed, seen November 4, 2026[9]
Who it fits
From its own pages, Broadcom sells semiconductors and infrastructure software to global organizations with complex, mission-critical needs. Its infrastructure software serves markets including private cloud, mainframe software, and cybersecurity. Symantec Endpoint Security can be on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based. ETDR is described as giving SecOps teams and security architects context to prioritize incidents. For organizations that rely on Email Security.cloud, ETDR is presented as a path to advanced detection and response.Not written yet
Last verified
September 27, 2026September 27, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Broadcom and KnowBe4 are both filed under Email security.
  • Both are headquartered in the United States.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Broadcom's primary category is EDR and XDR; KnowBe4's is Security awareness training.
  • Broadcom is also filed under Data loss prevention. KnowBe4 is also filed under Human risk management and AI model and agent security.
  • Broadcom lists Symantec Endpoint Security and Symantec Email Threat Detection Response and Isolation. KnowBe4 lists Security Awareness Training, Cloud Email Security, Defend, Prevent, Compliance Plus and 3 more.
  • Broadcom is headquartered in San Jose, United States. KnowBe4 is headquartered in Clearwater, United States.
  • KnowBe4 was founded in 2010.
  • Broadcom is a public company listed on NASDAQ as AVGO. KnowBe4 is owned by Vista Equity Partners, since 2023.

What it sells: Broadcom

What Symantec Endpoint Security does[5][11]
Symantec Endpoint Security is a single-agent platform that protects traditional and mobile endpoint devices. It can be on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based. Integrated Cyber Defense Manager (ICDm) is a single cloud management console for endpoint security.
What Symantec Email Threat Detection Response and Isolation does
Symantec Email Threat Detection Response and Isolation (ETDR) is an add-on module for Symantec Email Security.cloud. ETDR adds sandboxing, click-time URL protection, clawback, and threat isolation. ETDR provides threat intelligence, indicators of compromise, and integration with SOC, SIEM, and SOAR processes.

What it sells: KnowBe4

What Security Awareness Training does[4][5][7]
KnowBe4 says it delivers timely, personalized education that helps people recognize threats. Lessons are reinforced with realistic phishing and vishing simulations.
What Cloud Email Security does[10]
KnowBe4 Cloud Email Security is a suite of AI-driven products designed to detect and prevent advanced email threats across inbound and outbound communication. Contextual banners and prompts are delivered at the point of risk.
What Defend does[1][4][5][6][10][11]
Defend detects and blocks phishing, ransomware and business email compromise with behavioral AI and self-learning threat models. Defend inserts color-coded banners on flagged email and rewrites links, checking them at time of click. Defend integrates with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 through API-based connectivity.
What Prevent does[5][10][12]
Prevent monitors outbound email in real time and alerts users to risky behavior, such as accidental sends or misdirected emails. Prevent is integrated with Microsoft Outlook and Office 365. Prevent Enterprise adds misdirected content detection and custom DLP policies.
What Compliance Plus does[13]
Compliance Plus has a training library of 1000+ items of compliance training content. Compliance Plus offers targeted training for requirements such as HIPAA, PCI and GDPR. Organizations can upload SCORM-compliant content to the KnowBe4 LMS.
What Student Edition does[5]
The KnowBe4 Student Edition enables academic institutions to prepare students to identify and prevent modern cyberattacks. Its training content covers phishing, BYOD risks, password hygiene, social media risks and campus scams.
What BreachSim does[14]
BreachSim is a free tool from KnowBe4 to identify network vulnerabilities. BreachSim tests over 12 realistic data exfiltration scenarios following the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
What Weak Password Test does[15]
The Weak Password Test is a free tool to help IT Administrators know which users have passwords that are easily guessed. It checks the Active Directory and generates a report of users with weak passwords.

Questions about Broadcom and KnowBe4

What do Broadcom and KnowBe4 sell?
Broadcom sells Symantec Endpoint Security and Symantec Email Threat Detection Response and Isolation. KnowBe4 sells Security Awareness Training, Cloud Email Security, Defend, Prevent, Compliance Plus and 3 more.
Are Broadcom and KnowBe4 in the same category?
They share Email security. Broadcom's primary category is EDR and XDR and KnowBe4's is Security awareness training.
Where are Broadcom and KnowBe4 headquartered?
Broadcom is headquartered in San Jose, United States. KnowBe4 is headquartered in Clearwater, United States.
When were Broadcom and KnowBe4 founded?
KnowBe4 was founded in 2010.
Who owns Broadcom and KnowBe4?
Broadcom is a public company listed on NASDAQ as AVGO. KnowBe4 is owned by Vista Equity Partners, since 2023.
Who are Broadcom and KnowBe4 sold to?
From its own pages, Broadcom sells semiconductors and infrastructure software to global organizations with complex, mission-critical needs.
What have Broadcom and KnowBe4 announced recently?
October 13, 2026: Broadcom introduced VMware HyperArmor, a software solution intended to further protect the VMware ESX hypervisor component of VMware Cloud Foundation. May 5, 2026: KnowBe4 launched a two-tier Security Awareness Training offering and a new AI defense agent for custom content creation.

About Broadcom

Broadcom provides semiconductors and infrastructure software for global organizations' complex, mission-critical needs. Broadcom says its infrastructure software solutions serve markets including private cloud, mainframe software, cybersecurity, enterprise software, and Fibre Channel storage area network management. Broadcom says its semiconductor and semiconductor-based solutions serve markets across networking connectivity, wireless device connectivity, servers and storage systems, broadband, and industrial.

Broadcom invested $11 billion in R&D in fiscal year 2025. Broadcom dedicates 74% of the workforce to R&D and operations. Broadcom has approximately 19K patents in a broad IP portfolio. Broadcom says privacy is built into everything the company does.[11][12]

Symantec Endpoint Security is a single-agent platform that protects traditional and mobile endpoint devices. Symantec Endpoint Security can be delivered as an on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based solution. Integrated Cyber Defense Manager (ICDm) is a single cloud management console that strengthens overall endpoint security posture. Symantec says intelligent automation and AI-guided policy management enhance administrator productivity. Broadcom says Symantec Endpoint Security predicts cyber attacks, quickly stops them and maintains cyber resilience.[1][5][11]

Symantec Email Threat Detection Response and Isolation (ETDR) is an add-on module for Symantec Email Security.cloud. ETDR adds sandboxing, click-time URL protection, clawback, and threat isolation, which give security teams more ways to uncover sophisticated threats, reduce user exposure, and contain risky content before it reaches endpoints. ETDR provides threat intelligence, indicators of compromise, and integration with SOC, SIEM, and SOAR processes. Web browser and email threat isolation keep users away from potentially dangerous sites, attachments, and downloads. Organizations that see users repeatedly targeted by phishing and credential theft can use awareness training, phishing simulations, and user risk profiling with ETDR. For organizations that rely on Email Security.cloud, ETDR offers a path to advanced detection and response without changing the underlying email security foundation. Symantec says it brings together core email prevention and advanced detection and response in a single cloud-delivered architecture.[13]

Symantec ZTNA was formerly named Secure Access Cloud. CBX correlates security signals to drive prevention, detection and response. Broadcom says VMware Cloud Foundation 9 and Advanced Services help customers accelerate innovation, control cloud costs and enable sovereignty and security. Broadcom says Emulex Secure Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters meet government mandates to encrypt all data with a quantum-resistant, Zero Trust solution. Broadcom says it gives mainframe customers the tools, technologies, and partner to amplify the value of the mainframe.[4][11][14][15]

Service Desk Manager is an IT service management solution designed to streamline support operations and enhance user experiences across the enterprise. Service Desk Manager is a core component of the Broadcom Service Management portfolio. Service Desk Manager delivers collaborative, mobile-driven capabilities. The xFlow Analyst Experience provides contextual workspaces and personalized tools. Service Point is a self-service portal for access to support and knowledge. Integrated automation, NLP-driven ticket categorization, and a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) enable prioritization, assignment, and resolution of incidents.[1][4][5][6][7][8][9][13]

Broadcom on the record

Sources

Broadcom full record

  1. [1]CybersecurityBroadcom · broadcom.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Broadcom completes acquisition of symantec enterprise security business 300950721Broadcom Inc. via PR Newswire · prnewswire.com · published November 4, 2019 · Tier A
  3. [3]Broadcom Inc. | Connecting EverythingBroadcom · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]ProductsBroadcom · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Symantec™ Endpoint Security | End-User ProtectionBroadcom · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Carbon Black EDR | Endpoint Detection & ResponseBroadcom · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]ASMC-2WS0-00002 | 3835 PLCC-4 Addressable RGB SMD LEDBroadcom · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Automic | Workload AutomationBroadcom · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Faster issue resolution and proactive service managementBroadcom · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Broadcom Service Virtualization Reviews & Product Details - G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier C
  11. [11]About UsBroadcom · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Trust CenterBroadcom · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Advanced Email Threat Detection, Response and IsolationBroadcom · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Symantec ZTNA | Broadcom Service StatusBroadcom · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Mainframe Software SolutionsBroadcom · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Broadcom Introduces VMware HyperArmor, Expanding Hypervisor Security and Protections for VMware Cloud FoundationBroadcom Inc. · published October 13, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]Broadcom Reviews, Ratings & Features 2026 | Gartner Peer InsightsGartner Peer Insights · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier C

KnowBe4 full record

  1. [1]About usKnowBe4 · knowbe4.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Vista equity partners completes acquisition of knowbe4KnowBe4 · knowbe4.com · published February 1, 2023 · Tier A
  3. [3]Contact usKnowBe4 · knowbe4.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]KnowBe4 | Secure Your Digital Workforce: Human + AIKnowBe4 · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]KnowBe4 Student Edition | KnowBe4KnowBe4 · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Warning: Attackers Are Using Calendar Invite Files to Evade Security FiltersKnowBe4 · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]KnowBe4 Launches AI-Native Attack Simulation & Training Product and Twelfth AI AgentBusiness Wire · published May 5, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training Reviews 2026 - G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier C
  9. [9]KnowBe4 Reviews, Ratings & Features 2026 | Gartner Peer InsightsGartner Peer Insights · undated page, accessed October 26, 2026 · Tier C
  10. [10]Cloud Email Security for Microsoft 365 | KnowBe4KnowBe4 · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Pricing | DefendKnowBe4 · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Pricing | Prevent | KnowBe4KnowBe4 · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Compliance Plus: Compliance Training Platform | KnowBe4KnowBe4 · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]BreachSim | KnowBe4KnowBe4 · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Weak Password Test | KnowBe4KnowBe4 · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Security Culture Report Analysis Center | KnowBe4KnowBe4 · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]KnowBe4 Customer Success | KnowBe4KnowBe4 · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  18. [18]Dashlane Launches First-of-its-Kind Integration with KnowBe4 to Transform Security Awareness into Proactive DefensePR Newswire · published April 6, 2026 · Tier A

Spot a factual error? Request a correction.