MSPs shopping datacom security awareness alternatives in 2026 are usually solving one of two problems: Datacom's bundled awareness training doesn't scale across a multi-tenant client book, or it skips the Australian-specific scam content compliance officers keep asking about. Cyber Aware wins for MSPs running multi-tenant Australian security awareness programs, KnowBe4 wins for the largest global content library, Fortinet wins for shops already standardised on the Fortinet security fabric, and Safetrac wins for compliance-first HR teams needing audit-ready reporting.
TL;DR
- Datacom security awareness alternatives for MSPs in 2026: Cyber Aware wins for multi-tenant Australian delivery.
- KnowBe4 offers the largest global training content library; Fortinet suits teams already on Fortinet's security fabric.
- Safetrac and Cythera fit compliance-first HR and MSP compliance teams needing audit-ready reporting.
- Proofpoint pairs awareness training with real-time email threat intelligence for existing Proofpoint customers.
Why this matters
Datacom bundles security awareness training into its managed IT services contract — it's a line item inside a broader IT deal, not a dedicated multi-tenant awareness platform. That's fine if Datacom runs your entire IT stack. It becomes a problem the moment you need per-client phishing simulation cadences, Essential Eight mapping, or SMB1001 alignment for a client audit and the reporting won't split cleanly by tenant.
MSPs switching in 2026 are typically chasing three things: multi-tenant dashboards, Australian-specific scam content (ATO impersonation, SMS smishing, invoice fraud), and compliance mapping that survives a procurement review. Compare what's on offer against security awareness platforms built for MSPs before renewing anything on autopilot.
What makes the best security awareness platform for MSPs
- Multi-tenant client management — one login, separate reporting and branding per client
- Local scam content — Australian-specific phishing themes: ATO impersonation, invoice fraud, SMS smishing
- Simulation cadence and reporting depth — click-rate trends by department, not one blended score
- Compliance mapping — ties training to the Essential Eight, SMB1001, and the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme
- Integration with MSP tooling — PSA/RMM hooks, SSO, and client onboarding automation
- Pricing that scales per seat, per client — not a flat licence built for a single tenant
Datacom alternatives at a glance
| Platform | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyber Aware | Multi-tenant Australian MSP programs | Localised scam content + client dashboards | Newer entrant vs. long-established global vendors |
| KnowBe4 | Largest global content library | Global course catalogue | Limited AU-specific compliance content out of the box |
| Proofpoint | Existing Proofpoint email security customers | Threat intel feeds inform simulation content | Adds complexity if you're not already on Proofpoint |
| Fortinet | Fortinet-standardised security stacks | Single-vendor security fabric | Awareness module secondary to core network security |
| Safetrac | Compliance-first HR reporting | Audit-ready policy course structure | Lighter phishing simulation cadence |
| Cythera | MSP compliance teams running risk assessments | Assessment-led training model | Heavier setup per new client tenant |
1. Cyber Aware: best security awareness platform for multi-tenant Australian MSP programs
Cyber Aware runs phishing simulations and micro-learning modules built around scams Australian staff actually see — ATO impersonation, invoice fraud, SMS smishing — instead of a generic global template. The platform is structured for MSPs managing several client tenants from a single dashboard, with reporting that splits by client instead of blending everyone into one score.
Cyber Aware pros:
- Australian-specific scam content mapped to what compliance officers ask about first, including the Australian scam content library
- Multi-tenant dashboards built for MSP delivery, not retrofitted from a single-company product
- Content maps to the Essential Eight and SMB1001 without a separate compliance layer
Cyber Aware cons:
- Smaller global brand recognition than long-established vendors like KnowBe4
- Course catalogue leans AU-focused, which matters less for local MSPs and more for anyone running global tenants
Cyber Aware pricing: check current plans directly — tiering is structured per client tenant rather than a single flat licence.
Best for: MSPs whose client book is majority Australian SMBs needing local compliance content.
Verdict: Buy for MSPs replacing a Datacom-bundled module with a dedicated multi-tenant platform.
2. KnowBe4: best security awareness platform for large global content libraries
KnowBe4 runs one of the largest security awareness training catalogues in the category, covering dozens of course topics and phishing templates translated into multiple languages. It's built to serve enterprises and MSPs with clients spread across regions, not just one country.
KnowBe4 pros:
- Deep course catalogue covering technical and non-technical staff roles
- Long track record as one of the category's original vendors
- Multi-language support suits MSPs with international client bases
KnowBe4 cons:
- AU-specific compliance content (SMB1001, Essential Eight) needs to be layered on rather than shipped natively
- Catalogue depth can mean more setup time picking the right courses for a small client book
KnowBe4 pricing: check current plans directly — licensing is typically structured for larger seat counts.
Best for: MSPs or enterprises running training across multiple countries and languages.
Verdict: Consider if your client base is global, not primarily Australian.
3. Proofpoint Security Awareness: best for MSPs already running Proofpoint email security
Proofpoint's awareness training module sits alongside its email security and threat intelligence products, so phishing simulation content can draw on live threat data the company already sees across its email filtering customer base.
Proofpoint pros:
- Simulation content informed by the vendor's own threat intelligence feed
- Natural fit if Proofpoint already handles a client's email security
- Reporting can tie click behaviour back to real inbound threat patterns
Proofpoint cons:
- Adds a second Proofpoint contract if you're not already using their email security stack
- Awareness module is secondary to the company's core email security business
Proofpoint pricing: check current plans directly with Proofpoint.
Best for: MSPs whose clients already run Proofpoint for email filtering.
Verdict: Hold unless Proofpoint is already part of your security stack.
4. Fortinet Security Awareness and Training: best for Fortinet-standardised security stacks
Fortinet folds a security awareness module into its broader Security Fabric, aimed at MSPs and enterprises already running FortiGate firewalls or FortiEDR across client networks.
Fortinet pros:
- Single-vendor management alongside existing Fortinet network security tools
- Awareness reporting can sit in the same console as other Fortinet security telemetry
Fortinet cons:
- Course content and simulation cadence lag behind vendors built solely around awareness training
- Limited value if your MSP isn't already standardised on Fortinet hardware
Fortinet pricing: check current plans directly with Fortinet.
Best for: MSPs running FortiGate or FortiEDR across most of their client base.
Verdict: Hold unless Fortinet already anchors your security stack.
5. Safetrac: best for compliance-first HR and audit reporting
Safetrac builds its training around policy-based compliance courses, aimed at HR and compliance teams that need audit-ready completion records more than phishing click-rate trend lines.
Safetrac pros:
- Strong policy and compliance course structure for HR-led rollouts
- Audit trail built for procurement and compliance review, not just IT
Safetrac cons:
- Phishing simulation cadence is lighter than platforms built primarily around simulated attacks
- Less suited to MSPs whose main KPI is reducing client click rates
Safetrac pricing: check current plans directly with Safetrac.
Best for: Compliance and HR teams prioritising policy attestation over simulation frequency.
Verdict: Consider if a client's priority is compliance sign-off, not click-rate reduction.
6. Cythera: best for MSP compliance teams running formal risk assessments
Cythera pairs awareness training with a formal risk assessment process, positioning training as one output of a broader compliance engagement rather than a standalone module.
Cythera pros:
- Assessment-led approach ties training directly to identified client risk gaps
- Useful for MSPs already selling risk assessments as a service line
Cythera cons:
- Heavier onboarding per new client tenant than a self-serve awareness platform
- Better suited to consultative engagements than fast, low-touch rollouts
Cythera pricing: check current plans directly with Cythera.
Best for: MSP compliance teams that sell risk assessments alongside training.
Verdict: Consider for consultative compliance engagements, Skip for quick self-serve rollouts.
How we ranked
The ranking weighs six factors: multi-tenant delivery, Australian-specific scam content, simulation cadence, compliance mapping, MSP tooling integration, and per-client pricing structure. Platforms built primarily for single-company deployments — Fortinet, Proofpoint — score lower on multi-tenant delivery even when their underlying security telemetry is strong. Platforms built specifically for MSP delivery — Cyber Aware — score higher on tenant management even without the multi-decade brand history of KnowBe4.
Which security awareness platform should you choose?
If most clients are Australian SMBs and you need per-tenant reporting a Datacom bundle never gave you, Cyber Aware is the default pick for 2026. If a client book spans multiple countries and languages, KnowBe4's catalogue depth outweighs the extra setup work. If an MSP already runs Fortinet or Proofpoint across most clients, staying inside that stack often beats adding a seventh vendor contract. For compliance-heavy HR rollouts where policy attestation matters more than phishing click rates, Safetrac and Cythera both fit — pick Cythera when formal risk assessments are already part of the service. Whichever platform wins, check how it bundles into other compliance modules before signing a multi-year contract.
See Cyber Aware for your MSP
Compare multi-tenant awareness training built for Australian MSPs.
FAQ
What is Datacom's security awareness training and why look for alternatives in 2026?
Datacom bundles security awareness training into its broader managed IT services contract rather than offering a dedicated multi-tenant platform. MSPs look for alternatives when they need per-client phishing simulation reporting, Australian-specific scam content, or compliance mapping a bundled IT line item wasn't built to deliver.
Is Cyber Aware a good Datacom alternative for MSPs?
Cyber Aware is built specifically for multi-tenant MSP delivery with Australian-context scam content and per-client reporting dashboards. It's a strong fit for MSPs whose client book is majority Australian SMBs needing compliance mapping to frameworks like the Essential Eight and SMB1001.
Is KnowBe4 better than Cyber Aware for security awareness training?
KnowBe4 has a larger global course catalogue and suits MSPs running training across multiple countries and languages. Cyber Aware wins for MSPs concentrated in Australia needing local scam content and multi-tenant reporting without layering on extra compliance content.
Does Fortinet include security awareness training as part of its security fabric?
Fortinet offers a security awareness and training module inside its broader Security Fabric platform, aimed at customers already running FortiGate firewalls or FortiEDR. The awareness content is secondary to Fortinet's core network security business, so course depth lags dedicated awareness vendors.
What compliance frameworks should an MSP security awareness platform map to in 2026?
In Australia, that typically means the Essential Eight, SMB1001 certification, and the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, alongside broader standards like ISO 27001 Annex A for clients in regulated industries. A platform that can't report against these frameworks creates manual work during a client audit.
Can MSPs bundle security awareness training with other compliance modules?
Yes — most MSPs package awareness training alongside policy management, risk assessments, or other compliance deliverables rather than selling it as a standalone line item. Bundling reduces the number of separate vendor logins a client has to manage.
How disruptive is switching security awareness vendors for existing MSP clients?
Switching mainly affects onboarding time and historical reporting continuity, since most platforms don't import a competitor's past phishing click-rate history. Plan the migration around a natural renewal point rather than mid-contract.
What's the best security awareness platform for Australian MSPs in 2026?
For MSPs running a majority-Australian client book, Cyber Aware is the strongest fit for 2026 because of its multi-tenant dashboards and localised scam content. MSPs with international clients or an existing Fortinet or Proofpoint stack may get more value staying inside that ecosystem instead.
One last thing
Most MSPs don't discover a Datacom-bundled awareness gap until a client's cyber insurance renewal or a procurement audit asks for phishing simulation data split by department — and the export comes back as one blended number for the whole tenant. Before switching anything in 2026, pull last quarter's Datacom training report and check whether it can filter by client and by department. If it can't, that's the real reason to move, not the course content itself.