The Ultimate Guide to KnowBe4 Phishing Awareness in 2025

KnowBe4’s 2025 Phishing by Industry Benchmarking Report reveals that a third of employees click simulated phishing emails before training (33.1%) and that continuous Security Awareness Training (SAT) lowers this to just 4.1% after one year. Organizations can leverage KnowBe4’s cloud-based platform featuring interactive modules, AI-driven simulations, and robust reporting to build a resilient human firewall against evolving phishing threats.

Introduction

Phishing remains the leading vector for cyberattacks, with human error contributing to 68% of data breaches. As social engineers deploy AI-crafted, polymorphic lures and ransomware-laden campaigns, organizations need a dynamic defense. KnowBe4’s Security Awareness Training and simulated phishing platform empowers teams to transform employees from weak links into a human firewall. This guide explores why KnowBe4 matters in 2025 and how its latest features and benchmarking insights can help you stay ahead of the threat curve.

How KnowBe4 Works: From Baseline Testing to Lasting Behavior Change

1. Baseline Phishing Security Test

Upon deployment, KnowBe4 runs a free simulated phishing attack to establish your Phish-prone™ Percentage (PPP)—the share of users susceptible to phishing. In 2025, the global baseline PPP averaged 33.1%, indicating that one in three employees clicks on malicious simulations.

2. Customized, On-Demand Training Campaigns

KnowBe4 offers over 1,000 constantly updated training modules interactive videos, quizzes, games, posters, and newsletters accessible on demand. Automated campaigns, reminder emails, and Smart Groups let you tailor content based on user behavior and attributes for maximum relevance and engagement.

3. Automated Phishing Simulations

Thousands of phishing templates standard, spear-phishing, and AI-morphed variants can be sent at random intervals to reinforce vigilance. Customizable attachments (Word, Excel, PDF), branded landing pages, and point-of-failure education ensure simulations mirror real threats.

4. AI-Driven Personalization & Risk Scoring

KnowBe4’s Virtual Risk Officer and AI Defense Agents analyze user performance and threat trends to assign individualized risk scores. This enables targeted remedial training, focusing resources on high-risk individuals to accelerate improvement.

5. Enterprise-Grade Reporting & Benchmarking

With 60+ built-in reports and executive dashboards, you can track phishing click rates, training completion, and risk scores across your organization. KnowBe4’s 2025 benchmarking study covering 14.5 million users and 67.7 million simulations shows a 40% PPP reduction in just 90 days and an 86% drop after 12 months, lowering global PPP to 4.1%.

Key 2025 Phishing Trends & Their Implications

AI-Powered Polymorphic Campaigns

In 2025, 82.6% of phishing emails analyzed exhibited AI-generated variations randomized subject lines, invisible characters, and dynamic sender domains to evade detection.Implication: Training must emphasize pattern recognition of subtle anomalies and reinforce zero-trust principles.

Ransomware Payload Surge

Ransomware payloads increased by 22.6% in early 2025, often embedded in targeted phishing attacks that bypass email gateways.Implication: Simulations should include realistic ransomware lures to prepare users for high-risk scenarios.

Exploitation of Internal Communications

KnowBe4’s Q1 report found 60.7% of phishing clicks originated from emails posing as HR or IT messages.Implication: Educate employees on verifying internal requests and promote multi-factor authentication for sensitive workflows.

Best Practices for Maximizing KnowBe4’s Impact

• Start with a Phishing Risk Assessment: Use baseline testing to identify immediate vulnerabilities and set measurable goals.

• Leverage Smart Groups: Segment users by risk score and role to tailor training frequency and difficulty.

• Schedule Frequent, Randomized Simulations: Keep employees alert with unannounced tests that reflect current threat patterns.

• Incorporate Point-of-Failure Training: Provide on-the-spot learning when users click simulated phishing links.

• Review Reporting Regularly: Monitor trends, share executive reports, and adjust campaigns based on performance data.

  
  

Key Takeaways / Checklist

• Begin with a free baseline phishing security test to measure PPP.

• Deploy interactive SAT modules from a library of 1,000+ items.

• Automate diverse phishing simulations, including AI-morphed and ransomware variants.

• Use AI-driven risk scoring to tailor training to high-risk individuals.

• Track PPP reduction: expect ~40% improvement in 90 days and ~86% in one year.

• Address internal-communication spoofing with targeted education.

• Regularly review detailed reports and executive dashboards.

  
  

Conclusion

Empowering employees through continuous, data-driven security awareness training is the most effective way to mitigate phishing risk. With KnowBe4’s comprehensive platform and proven benchmarking results, organizations can achieve a resilient security culture in 2025 and beyond. Get started by running your baseline phishing test today and watch your human firewall strengthen.