Attributes 2164 Percent Revenue Growth to New School Security Awareness Training
( Tampa Bay, FL ) November 16, 2016 — KnowBe4, provider of the world’s most popular platform for security awareness training and simulated phishing attacks, today announced it ranked 50 on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. KnowBe4 grew 2,164 percent during this period.
Ransomware, phishing and other rapidly rising social engineering threats including Business Email Compromise or CEO Fraud have helped propel the need for a better way to manage threat to businesses. KnowBe4’s chief executive officer, Stu Sjouwerman, credits the Company’s approach to offering new-school security awareness training with the company’s more than 2,000 percent revenue growth. He said, “We are pleased to receive such a high ranking. This is a testimony to the dedication of our team and our approach to new school security awareness training. Many companies have found that old school annual training using a 15 minute PowerPoint presentation with coffee and donuts doesn’t work. IT managers and CISOs are increasingly choosing KnowBe4 because we get results by educating and engaging employees, keeping the company’s first line of defense protected.”
KnowBe4’s new school approach to security awareness training offers web-based interactive trainings designed to engage users and provide them with opportunities to continually test their knowledge. Simulated phishing attacks, case studies, demonstration videos and tests are combined with real-world scenarios to help employees understand the mechanics of spam, phishing, malware and social engineering including CEO fraud. The service is launched quickly through KnowBe4’s cloud-based infrastructure with little expense and low risk.
“Today, when every organization can be a tech company, the most effective businesses not only foster the courage to explore change, but also encourage creativity in using and applying existing assets in new ways, as resourcefully as possible,” said Sandra Shirai, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications industry leader. “This ingenious approach to innovation calls for the encouragement of curiosity and collaboration both within and outside the office walls.”
“This year’s Fast 500 winners showcase that when organizations are open to diverse perspectives and insights, they are able to create an environment for their employees and customers to see the possibilities and ingenious solutions that might lie ahead,” added Jim Atwell, national managing partner of the emerging growth company practice, Deloitte & Touche LLP. “Entrepreneurial environments foster change and innovation within businesses, and we look forward to watching these companies continue to drive change across all sectors.”
Overall, 2016 Technology Fast 500™ companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 121 percent to 66,661 percent from 2012 to 2015, with median growth of 290 percent.
About Deloitte’s 2016 Technology Fast 500™
Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies – both public and private – in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2012 to 2015.
In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.
As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.
About KnowBe4
KnowBe4, the provider of the world’s most popular integrated new school security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 6,500 organizations worldwide. Founded by data and IT security expert Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness of ransomware, CEO Fraud and other social engineering tactics through a new school approach to security awareness training. Kevin Mitnick, internationally recognized computer security expert and KnowBe4’s Chief Hacking Officer, helped design KnowBe4’s trainings based on his well-documented social engineering tactics. Thousands of organizations trust KnowBe4 to mobilize their end-users as a first line of corporate IT defense.
Number 139 on the 2016 Inc 500 list, KnowBe4 is based in Tampa Bay, Florida. For more information, visit www.knowbe4.com and follow Stu on Twitter at @StuAllard.
