Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT department concern. For banks, it’s a business priority. Every employee, from customer service representatives to senior executives, plays a role in protecting sensitive financial data. Unfortunately, cybercriminals know that people are often the weakest link, which is why phishing and social engineering attacks continue to target financial institutions.
This is where security awareness training becomes essential. Two of the biggest names in this space are KnowBe4 and Proofpoint Security Awareness Training. Both platforms help banks educate employees, reduce human risk, and meet compliance requirements. However, one question usually comes up before making a decision:
How much does each platform actually cost per employee?
The answer isn’t as straightforward as a simple price list because both vendors offer customized pricing. Still, understanding what affects pricing—and what value each platform delivers—can help banks make a smarter investment.
Why Banks Invest in Security Awareness Training
Banks are among the most targeted industries worldwide. They handle large amounts of money, confidential customer information, and highly regulated financial records.
One employee clicking a fake email can lead to:
- Financial fraud
- Customer data breaches
- Ransomware attacks
- Regulatory penalties
- Reputation damage
Modern security awareness programs are designed to reduce these risks by teaching employees how to recognize suspicious emails, malicious websites, fake login pages, and other social engineering techniques.
Instead of relying solely on firewalls and antivirus software, banks create a human firewall.
How KnowBe4 Pricing Works
KnowBe4 doesn’t publish fixed pricing on its website. Instead, pricing depends on several factors, including:
- Number of employees
- Selected subscription tier
- Training content library
- Advanced phishing simulations
- Compliance reporting
- Additional security modules
Generally, larger organizations receive lower per-user pricing because enterprise agreements typically include volume discounts.
For a community bank with around 100 employees, the annual cost per employee may be noticeably higher than for a national bank with several thousand users.
The more employees a bank licenses, the lower the average cost per person often becomes.
How Proofpoint Pricing Works
Proofpoint follows a similar pricing model.
Instead of selling a one-size-fits-all subscription, Proofpoint builds custom quotes based on:
- Organization size
- Required training modules
- Threat simulation features
- Reporting capabilities
- Integration with existing Proofpoint security products
- Multi-year agreements
Banks already using Proofpoint Email Protection sometimes receive better pricing when bundling multiple cybersecurity services together.
Typical Cost Per Employee
Although exact pricing varies by contract, industry discussions and customer reports generally place annual security awareness training costs within these approximate ranges:
| Platform | Estimated Annual Cost Per Employee |
|---|---|
| KnowBe4 | Approximately $15–$40 |
| Proofpoint | Approximately $20–$50 |
Actual pricing can be lower for very large banking organizations and higher for smaller deployments or premium feature packages.
It’s important to view these numbers as estimates rather than official pricing.
What Affects Cost Per Employee?
Several factors influence how much a bank ultimately pays.
Number of Employees
Volume licensing has a significant impact.
A bank with:
- 75 employees
- 250 employees
- 2,000 employees
- 15,000 employees
will almost certainly receive different pricing levels.
Enterprise customers generally enjoy much lower per-user costs.
Subscription Level
Both vendors offer multiple product tiers.
Basic packages usually include:
- Security awareness training
- Phishing simulations
- Progress tracking
Premium subscriptions often add:
- AI-powered risk scoring
- Advanced reporting
- Adaptive learning paths
- Compliance training
- Insider threat education
- Executive dashboards
More features naturally increase the per-employee cost.
Training Content
Some organizations only need phishing awareness.
Banks often require additional topics such as:
- Financial compliance
- Data privacy
- Password security
- Business email compromise
- Mobile device security
- Remote work security
- Insider threats
A larger content library typically comes with a higher subscription price.
Support and Services
Some banks prefer a self-managed platform.
Others require:
- Dedicated account managers
- Professional onboarding
- Custom phishing campaigns
- Strategic consulting
- Managed training services
These optional services also affect pricing.
Comparing Features Beyond Price
Looking only at cost per employee can be misleading. The overall value depends on the capabilities included.
KnowBe4 Strengths
KnowBe4 is widely recognized for its extensive training library.
Key advantages include:
- Large collection of awareness videos
- Frequent content updates
- Easy administration
- Extensive phishing templates
- Strong compliance reporting
- User-friendly interface
Many organizations appreciate how quickly they can launch new campaigns without extensive technical expertise.
Proofpoint Strengths
Proofpoint focuses heavily on threat intelligence.
Its platform is particularly attractive for banks already using Proofpoint’s email security ecosystem.
Advantages include:
- Integration with Proofpoint email protection
- Sophisticated threat simulations
- Behavior-based risk analysis
- Strong enterprise reporting
- Adaptive training recommendations
Organizations looking for a unified security platform often find this integration valuable.
Which Platform Offers Better Value?
The answer depends on your bank’s priorities.
KnowBe4 may be a better choice if your organization wants:
- Easy deployment
- Extensive educational content
- Frequent phishing simulations
- Strong user engagement
- Straightforward administration
Proofpoint may provide better value if your bank already uses Proofpoint security products or wants deeper integration between employee behavior and email threat intelligence.
Sometimes the lower-priced option isn’t necessarily the better investment if another platform reduces phishing incidents more effectively.
Cost vs. Return on Investment
Security awareness training shouldn’t be viewed as another software expense.
Instead, think about the cost of a successful phishing attack.
A single incident may involve:
- Regulatory investigations
- Customer notification costs
- Legal expenses
- Recovery efforts
- Lost productivity
- Reputational damage
Compared with those potential losses, investing even $30 to $40 per employee annually can represent a relatively small cost.
Many banks find that preventing just one major security incident justifies the entire training budget.
Questions to Ask Before Requesting a Quote
Before contacting either vendor, it’s helpful to prepare answers to several questions:
- How many employees need training?
- Will contractors be included?
- Which compliance standards apply?
- Is multilingual training required?
- How often should phishing simulations run?
- Does the bank need custom reporting?
- Will training integrate with existing security tools?
- Are multiple years of licensing preferred?
Having these details ready helps vendors provide more accurate pricing.
Hidden Costs to Consider
The subscription price isn’t always the only expense.
Banks should also evaluate:
- Implementation time
- Internal administration
- Employee training hours
- Custom content creation
- Annual renewals
- Additional compliance modules
- Premium technical support
Considering the total cost of ownership provides a more realistic comparison than focusing solely on the license fee.
Final Thoughts
When comparing KnowBe4 vs Proofpoint Security Awareness for Banks, the annual cost per employee is usually only one part of the decision. While estimated pricing often falls between $15 and $50 per employee per year, the actual investment depends on organization size, subscription tier, training requirements, and negotiated contracts.
For many banks, the better platform is the one that fits their existing security environment, supports regulatory compliance, and successfully changes employee behavior over time. A solution that consistently reduces phishing clicks and improves security awareness can deliver far greater value than simply choosing the lowest-priced option.
