CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Defendify vs KnowBe4

Defendify sells a cybersecurity platform designed for IT teams. KnowBe4 sells attack simulation and training, email and collaboration security, and agent security through the KnowBe4 Platform. CISO Tribune files both under Security awareness training. 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.

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  • Defendify
  • KnowBe4
Defendify vs KnowBe4: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
DefendifyDefendify sells a cybersecurity platform designed for IT teams.defendify.comKnowBe4KnowBe4 sells attack simulation and training, email and collaboration security, and agent security through the KnowBe4 Platform.knowbe4.com
What it sells
  • Phishing Simulations[1][5]Ongoing, automated, unannounced phishing email campaigns that test a team's reflexes.
  • Cybersecurity Service Warranty[1]Up to $1,000,000 in financial assistance for qualified cyber events.
  • 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
Not stated on its pagesClearwater, United States
Founded
Not stated on its pages2010[1]
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesOwned by Vista Equity Partners since 2023[2][4][8][9]
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • August 11, 2026Defendify was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies for the third consecutive year.[12]
  • 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: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: listed, seen November 4, 2026[8]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: listed, seen November 4, 2026[9]
Who it fits
Defendify states that it makes stronger cybersecurity possible for all organizations. Its partner program is designed for MSPs, MSSPs, VARs, GRC, security integrators, systems contractors, consultants, and industry associations and organizations. Defendify is a software as a service product, and discounts may be available for certain groups, such as non-profit organizations and associations. Defendify states that some customers continue to use products from other providers while some aim to streamline vendors and transition more fully to Defendify.Not written yet
Last verified
November 11, 2026September 27, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Defendify and KnowBe4 are both filed under Security awareness training.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Defendify's primary category is Managed security service providers; KnowBe4's is Security awareness training.
  • Defendify is also filed under Vulnerability management and MDR and managed SOC. KnowBe4 is also filed under Human risk management, Email security and AI model and agent security.
  • Defendify lists Phishing Simulations and Cybersecurity Service Warranty. KnowBe4 lists Security Awareness Training, Cloud Email Security, Defend, Prevent, Compliance Plus and 3 more.
  • KnowBe4 is headquartered in Clearwater, United States.
  • KnowBe4 was founded in 2010.
  • KnowBe4 is owned by Vista Equity Partners, since 2023.

What it sells: Defendify

What Phishing Simulations does[1][5]
Defendify runs ongoing, automated, unannounced phishing email campaigns to test teams' reflexes. Those who take the bait are spot trained at the point of failure, and regular reporting helps to gauge retention and monitor training performance.
What Cybersecurity Service Warranty does[1]
The Defendify Cybersecurity Service Warranty provides up to $1,000,000 in financial assistance for qualified cyber events. The Defendify Cybersecurity Service Warranty is subject to terms and qualifying customers.

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 Defendify and KnowBe4

What do Defendify and KnowBe4 sell?
Defendify sells Phishing Simulations and Cybersecurity Service Warranty. KnowBe4 sells Security Awareness Training, Cloud Email Security, Defend, Prevent, Compliance Plus and 3 more.
Are Defendify and KnowBe4 in the same category?
They share Security awareness training. Defendify's primary category is Managed security service providers and KnowBe4's is Security awareness training.
Where are Defendify and KnowBe4 headquartered?
KnowBe4 is headquartered in Clearwater, United States.
When were Defendify and KnowBe4 founded?
KnowBe4 was founded in 2010.
Who owns Defendify and KnowBe4?
KnowBe4 is owned by Vista Equity Partners, since 2023.
Who are Defendify and KnowBe4 sold to?
Defendify states that it makes stronger cybersecurity possible for all organizations.
What have Defendify and KnowBe4 announced recently?
August 11, 2026: Defendify was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies for the third consecutive year. May 5, 2026: KnowBe4 launched a two-tier Security Awareness Training offering and a new AI defense agent for custom content creation.

About Defendify

Defendify sells a cybersecurity platform designed for IT teams. The Defendify layered cybersecurity solution covers people, process, and technology with 3 layers of protection and 13 modules in 1 platform. Defendify sells an All-In-One Cybersecurity® package with 13 modules across three layers of security.[1][2][3][4][5]

Defendify offers a solution for active monitoring, detection, containment, and response to cybersecurity threats and incidents. Defendify offers a solution for setting clear expectations and delivering ongoing cybersecurity education. Defendify offers a solution for identifying and addressing vulnerabilities across people, process, and technology. Defendify sells a package for 24/7 active monitoring and response, plus containment, by cybersecurity experts.[2][5]

On the detection and response side, Defendify provides managed security operations for active cybersecurity monitoring, detection, containment, and response. Defendify uses cybersecurity experts to identify suspicious activity and respond in real-time to contain attacks. Defendify provides a way to define and know roles, responsibilities, and next steps in the case of a cyberattack, breach, or incident. Defendify sends curated email alerts and notifications about critical vulnerabilities, important software patches, recent security incidents, and new and evolving attack methods.[1][4][6]

On the policies and training side, Defendify runs ongoing, automated, unannounced phishing email campaigns to test teams' reflexes, and spot trains those who take the bait at the point of failure. Defendify lets organizations customize that policy according to their legal, insurance, and compliance objectives. Defendify provides classroom-style cybersecurity video content covering cybersecurity fundamentals for current and new team members. Defendify provides cybersecurity microlearning videos and quizzes. Defendify has a library of graphics to promote cybersecurity awareness in physical and digital workspaces.[1][3][7]

On the assessments and testing side, Defendify provides a way to assess cyber strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement. Defendify runs simulated cyberattacks to uncover and prioritize network and security weaknesses for remediation. Defendify scans automatically to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities in an organization's network and systems. Defendify notifies teams when passwords for team members have been stolen and found listed in the dark web. Defendify runs automated website scanning to monitor website issues, vulnerabilities, and risks. The Defendify Cybersecurity Service Warranty provides up to $1,000,000 in financial assistance for qualified cyber events, and it is subject to terms and qualifying customers.[4][5][9]

Defendify is a software as a service (SaaS) product. Defendify pricing is based on the number of Defendify modules purchased, along with the number of associated assets to be protected. Defendify will customize a package to meet a customer's needs and budget. Defendify provides every customer a dedicated Customer Success Manager, initially to assist with onboarding and activation. Defendify's Success Manager conducts regular security meetings to review cybersecurity reports, recommendations, and opportunities for ongoing improvement.[5][10]

Defendify has a partner program for reselling cybersecurity and adding recurring revenue. Defendify designed the partner program for MSPs, MSSPs, VARs, GRC, Security Integrators, Systems Contractors, consultants, industry associations and organizations, and more. Defendify bills partners monthly for the number of organizations they protect and licenses their customers are using. Defendify is SOC 2 compliant. Defendify rebranded from Launch Security.[1][3][5][6][7][8][10][11]

Defendify on the record

Sources

Defendify full record

  1. [1]defendify.comDefendify · defendify.com · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]All-In-One Cybersecurity® Platform | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Company | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Layered Security | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Pricing | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Stay Ahead of a Cyber Attack with Detection & Response | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Reinforce Cybersecurity Awareness with Policies & Training | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Defendify Essentials Package | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Cybersecurity Service Warranty | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Partner Program | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Security | DefendifyDefendify · undated page, accessed November 11, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Defendify Earns Third Straight Inc. 5000 Honor by Making Enterprise-Grade Cybersecurity Accessible to All OrganizationsDefendify · published August 11, 2026 · Tier A

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

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