Fortinet's Security Awareness and Training service lives inside its NSE certification track, not in a standalone console built for running phishing campaigns across a client roster. This guide ranks the fortinet security awareness alternative platforms MSPs are actually switching to in 2026, with a verdict on each.
TL;DR
- Cyber Aware wins for MSPs running 10+ client tenants as a fortinet security awareness alternative in 2026 — buy it.
- Fortinet Security Awareness and Training has no dedicated multi-tenant MSP console — skip if you manage multiple clients.
- KnowBe4 has the deepest content library but an admin-heavy console — hold if you lack dedicated headcount.
- Proofpoint Security Awareness only makes sense as an add-on if you already run Proofpoint email security.
- DIY and free phishing simulators cost more in technician hours than any platform subscription within two or three clients.
Why this matters
Fortinet built its awareness modules for internal security teams working through the NSE 1 through NSE 8 certification path, not for an MSP running fifteen client tenants on fifteen different renewal dates. There's one login, one org, one set of results — no per-client billing, no separated reporting, no MSP tier as of 2026. Australian MSPs serving financial services, government contractors, and healthcare clients also need training content mapped to the Essential Eight and APRA CPS 234, something Fortinet's program was never scoped to handle.
If you're exporting spreadsheets by hand to prove compliance to five different clients every quarter in 2026, the tool has already outgrown its job. Cyber Aware and a handful of other platforms exist specifically to close that gap, and the ranking below shows where each one actually earns its place in an MSP stack.
How these fortinet security awareness alternatives were ranked
Six criteria decide the order below, pulled from the patterns MSPs already running Essential Eight-aligned programs report in 2026:
- Multi-tenant admin console — can one login manage fifty client rosters without cross-contamination between them
- Compliance mapping — does the content library tie back to the Essential Eight and APRA CPS 234 without manual work on your end
- Per-client reporting — can you export a single client's results in one click for their board pack
- MSP pricing model — per-seat, per-client, or flat, and whether the vendor actually publishes the number
- PSA/RMM integration — does onboarding a new client take minutes or a support ticket
- Migration effort — how much training history you lose moving off the incumbent platform
Platforms that fail the first two criteria get capped at Hold regardless of everything else, because a security awareness platform an MSP can't report on to clients isn't doing the job it was bought for.
The 2026 ranked list
Six platforms and categories cover most of the field an MSP actually compares before switching off Fortinet.
1. Cyber Aware — the built-for-MSP pick
Cyber Aware runs client rosters from five seats to five hundred inside one console, with each tenant's phishing simulation results, training completion, and risk scores kept separate by default. The content library ships mapped to the Essential Eight and built for handing a client their own numbers without a spreadsheet in between. For an MSP already running client-facing security programs in 2026, that separation is the difference between a two-minute onboarding and a two-hour one, and it's the reason it sits ahead of every other security awareness platform on this list. Verdict: Buy — the closest match to what MSPs actually need instead of Fortinet's single-org login.
2. Fortinet Security Awareness and Training — what you're likely leaving
Fortinet folds its awareness content into the NSE 1 through NSE 8 certification track, which was built to train a security team's own staff, not run branded phishing campaigns for external clients. There's no per-client billing, no multi-tenant reporting split, and no dedicated MSP tier as of 2026 — you get one org, one login, one set of results. It works fine for an internal SOC team chasing NSE certifications, which is exactly the audience it was designed for. Verdict: Skip — if you manage more than one client, the product wasn't scoped for the job.
3. KnowBe4 — the enterprise-scale hold
KnowBe4 carries the largest training content library in the category and remains the default enterprise pick heading into 2026, but its admin model is built around one large organisation, not dozens of small client tenants. MSPs report needing a dedicated technician just to manage tenant switching and licence renewals across dozens of client accounts. Moving off it is possible without losing training history if the migration is planned properly — see migrating client accounts from KnowBe4 before you commit to a switch. Verdict: Hold — fine if you already have the admin headcount, expensive if you don't.
4. Proofpoint Security Awareness — the email-security add-on
Proofpoint's awareness module makes the most sense as a bolt-on for MSPs already running Proofpoint's email security stack for clients, since the two products share threat intelligence feeds. Standalone, the multi-tenant reporting requires more manual mapping to frameworks like the Essential Eight than a purpose-built MSP platform, which erases most of the time savings a security awareness platform is supposed to deliver. Verdict: Consider — only if Proofpoint email security already sits in your stack.
5. Category multi-tenant platforms — the comparison-shop pick
A handful of platforms marketed specifically as multi-tenant security awareness tools for MSPs sit between the enterprise players and Cyber Aware on price and feature depth. Worth a look before committing, since feature sets and compliance mapping vary widely between them — a side-by-side comparison beats a single demo call every time. See multi-tenant security awareness platforms for MSPs for the breakdown before you shortlist. Verdict: Consider — do the comparison before you sign anything in 2026.
6. DIY phishing simulators and free tools — the false economy
Free phishing simulation tools handle a single test campaign well enough, but none of them carry a multi-tenant console, compliance mapping, or client-facing reporting — which means a technician rebuilds the reporting layer by hand for every client, every quarter. That labour cost outpaces any platform's subscription fee within two or three client accounts, and it gets worse as the roster grows past 2026's typical MSP client count. Verdict: Skip — the free tool isn't free once you count technician hours.
Comparison table
| Platform | Multi-tenant console | Essential Eight / APRA CPS 234 mapping | Best for | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyber Aware | Yes | Built in | MSPs running 10+ client tenants | Buy |
| Fortinet Security Awareness and Training | No | Not mapped | In-house teams on the NSE track | Skip |
| KnowBe4 | Partial, admin-heavy | Manual | Enterprises with dedicated admin staff | Hold |
| Proofpoint Security Awareness | Partial | Manual | MSPs already on Proofpoint email security | Consider |
| Category multi-tenant platforms | Varies | Varies | MSPs comparing before signing | Consider |
| DIY / free simulators | No | None | Solo technicians testing before buying | Skip |
Where to buy
Three rules before signing anything in 2026:
- Ask for a live demo logged in as two separate "clients" at once. If the sales rep can't show tenant separation on the spot, it isn't actually built in — it's a filtered view of one shared database.
- Get the MSP-tier per-seat price in writing before the call ends. Fortinet and Proofpoint typically quote the enterprise rate card first and only reveal MSP pricing once you push back.
- Confirm the phishing simulation library maps to the Essential Eight and APRA CPS 234 out of the box. Building that mapping yourself, client by client, costs more technician time across a year than the subscription saves.
FAQ
What's the best Fortinet security awareness alternative for MSPs in 2026?
Cyber Aware is the strongest fortinet security awareness alternative for MSPs in 2026, because its console separates client rosters and phishing results by tenant instead of pooling everything into one org. Fortinet's Security Awareness and Training service has no dedicated MSP tier as of 2026.
Is KnowBe4 better than Fortinet Security Awareness and Training for MSPs?
KnowBe4 has a deeper training content library than Fortinet's program, but neither was built around a multi-tenant MSP console. MSPs managing more than a handful of clients typically outgrow both and move to a platform built for tenant separation.
Does Fortinet's security awareness training meet Essential Eight requirements?
Fortinet's Security Awareness and Training content isn't mapped to the Essential Eight out of the box, so MSPs serving Australian clients have to build that mapping manually. Platforms marketed specifically for MSP compliance reporting, including Cyber Aware, ship that mapping built in.
How much does a security awareness platform cost for an MSP with multiple clients?
MSP-tier security awareness platforms price per seat per month, with volume discounts kicking in as the client roster grows from a handful of seats into the hundreds. Get the MSP rate in writing before signing — vendors like Fortinet and Proofpoint often quote the enterprise rate card first.
Can I migrate client accounts from KnowBe4 to another platform without losing training history?
Yes, but only with a planned migration — exporting completion records and phishing results before cutover is what preserves the history. A rushed switch loses the audit trail clients expect to see in quarterly reports.
What should an MSP look for in a security awareness platform besides price?
Tenant separation, per-client reporting, and compliance mapping to frameworks like the Essential Eight matter more than the sticker price. A cheap platform that forces manual reporting for every client costs more in technician hours than a pricier one that automates it.
Is Proofpoint Security Awareness worth it if I'm not already a Proofpoint customer?
Not usually — Proofpoint Security Awareness makes the most sense as an add-on for MSPs already running Proofpoint's email security stack for clients. Standalone, a purpose-built multi-tenant security awareness platform gets you compliance mapping with less manual work.
How often should MSPs run phishing simulations for client teams?
Quarterly simulations, four campaigns a year, are the common baseline MSPs report running for client teams in 2026. Higher-risk clients in finance or government contracting typically get monthly campaigns instead.
One last thing
Fortinet's NSE certification path runs eight levels, NSE 1 through NSE 8, and the security awareness content sits at the entry tier — meaning what most MSPs get access to through Fortinet was scoped for onboarding a security team's own new hires, not running branded phishing campaigns for external clients. That's the actual gap driving the search for a fortinet security awareness alternative in 2026, not price. An MSP running quarterly simulations across a dozen client tenants needs a console that was built for that job from the start, not one retrofitted from a certification programme.