Over one million students complete global cyber safety training
Over one million students worldwide have completed cyber security awareness training through the KnowBe4 Student Edition programme.
The KnowBe4 Student Edition, designed for students aged 16 and older, covers security topics such as phishing and credential theft, sextortion and doxing, digital privacy, and various financial and campus scams. The training aims to prepare young people not only for their time as students but also for secure practices in their future professional lives.
This milestone comes at a time when Australia is preparing to introduce a ban on social media usage for under-16s. There are rising questions about whether these restrictions alone will be enough to ensure teens are prepared to navigate the digital landscape safely when they do reach the age of 16.
Programmeme reach
According to KnowBe4, more than 100 million learners in 70,000 organisations globally have accessed its educational material, and the Student Edition marks a significant extension of this reach. The programme's goal is to address not only technical threats but also to support the development of a robust security culture among younger digital users.
The impact of reaching this incredible milestone goes beyond just training students; it contributes toward building a true security culture at high school and university campuses across the world. Our unwavering commitment to education extends beyond our industry-leading platform, because we believe in empowering everyone to be cyber-ready. With over 100 million learners educated at 70,000 organisations worldwide, KnowBe4 is dedicated to empowering individuals of all ages to stay safe online.
The curriculum is designed to be comprehensive and directly relevant to emerging challenges that young adults face as internet usage becomes increasingly entwined with school, social, and professional activities. Among its modules are practical guides for identifying phishing attempts, understanding privacy risks, and recognising the tactics behind financial scams and doxing.
Participant feedback
Institutions that have adopted the Student Edition report positive outcomes in both engagement and understanding. Tina Rebello, Information Security Analyst at Bridgewater State University, described the programme's effects among students:
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.
These peer-led learning experiences are intended to foster a proactive mindset about cyber security and create lasting habits that extend beyond the classroom.
Supporting younger children
For younger children, aged five to 15, KnowBe4 offers an Interactive Cybersecurity Activity Kit. This resource is aimed at parents and educators, providing an accessible introduction to online safety in a format designed to be engaging for younger users.
Context of digital safety
Australia's forthcoming social media restrictions have enhanced interest in how teens are prepared for online engagement. Industry commentators highlight the necessity for education to move beyond simple enforcement and towards building skills and awareness that enable independent digital citizenship when restrictions are lifted at age 16.
The KnowBe4 Student Edition programme is positioned to contribute towards this preparedness by equipping students with the practical knowledge needed to identify privacy risks and protect themselves online.
Continued engagement
Discussion in the education and cybersecurity sectors continues about the most effective ways to ensure that students transition into digital adulthood with adequate skills and confidence. Programmemes such as KnowBe4's are being adopted by a growing number of institutions as part of their efforts to establish a campus culture centred on security awareness and proactive digital responsibility.
KnowBe4 also participates in industry conversations about the evolution of cybersecurity education, sharing strategies for maintaining student engagement and promoting a culture of learning around digital safety beyond minimum compliance requirements.
