Fortinet's security awareness training is a training add-on from a network security vendor — built for organisations already running Fortinet firewalls and security fabric. The best Fortinet alternative for Australian SMBs that want training as the product, not the add-on, in 2026 is Cyber Aware: dedicated awareness training and phishing simulations with Essential Eight reporting and per-seat pricing that scales with headcount. KnowBe4 remains the pick for maximum content depth, and Fortinet itself still makes sense as a bundle play when its firewalls are already in place.
TL;DR
- Cyber Aware is the 2026 pick for organisations buying a standalone training platform with Australian framework reporting.
- Fortinet's training is strong value when bundled with FortiGate infrastructure, but it is an add-on to a network product.
- KnowBe4 offers the deepest template library with the admin overhead to match.
- Cyber Wardens stays the free option for micro-businesses with no audit evidence needs.
Why this matters
A vendor's training product inherits its vendor's shape. Fortinet's awareness training is designed to deepen an existing Fortinet security relationship — its console, licensing and bundle economics revolve around the wider security fabric. That is efficient if you already live in that ecosystem and frustrating if training is the only thing you are buying.
The practical differences show up in three places: whether you can run training without other products in the mix, whether reporting maps to the frameworks Australian auditors ask about, and whether cost moves with seats or with a product bundle.
What makes the best Fortinet alternative
- Training as the product — a platform whose whole roadmap is awareness, not a bolt-on module
- Essential Eight mapping — completion evidence aligned to the framework Australian audits name first
- Phishing simulations you control — launch a campaign any time without infra prerequisites
- Local scam content — simulations modelled on ATO impersonation, invoice fraud and Scamwatch tactics
- Per-seat pricing — cost that tracks headcount, not a product bundle
At a glance
| Dimension | Cyber Aware | Fortinet |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | SMBs buying a standalone training platform | Organisations already running Fortinet infrastructure |
| Product focus | Awareness training only | Network security fabric with training attached |
| Phishing simulations | Core feature, launch any time | FortiPhish, managed within the Fortinet ecosystem |
| Framework reporting | Essential Eight mapping built in | Aligned to NIST and global frameworks |
| Content origin | Australian scam patterns | Global template library |
| Cost driver | Per seat | Often bundled with security products |
1. Cyber Aware: best for a standalone training platform
Cyber Aware runs security awareness training and phishing simulations as the product itself, for Australian SMBs and the MSPs serving them. There is no firewall prerequisite and no bundle to justify — you buy training, run monthly courses, and completion and simulation results roll into human risk reporting shaped for auditors and insurers.
Cyber Aware pros:
- No infrastructure prerequisite — training stands alone
- Reporting mapped to the Essential Eight for Australian audit evidence
- Per-seat pricing with no minimums, so cost tracks headcount
- Australian-built content covering the scams staff actually receive
Cyber Aware cons:
- No network security products alongside the training
- Smaller global template library than enterprise incumbents
Best for: organisations that want training evidence produced continuously, without other products in the mix. Verdict: Buy.
2. Fortinet: best when the Fortinet stack is already in place
Fortinet's awareness training and FortiPhish phishing simulations sit alongside its firewalls and broader security fabric. For organisations already committed to Fortinet infrastructure, the training is a natural extension — one vendor relationship, integrated licensing, and content aligned to global frameworks such as NIST. The tradeoff is the same as the advantage: the training's value depends on the wider bundle. Buying it standalone means paying for a relationship to a product ecosystem you may not use.
Fortinet pros:
- Strong value when bundled with existing Fortinet infrastructure
- FortiPhish simulations managed within one security console
- Globally recognised vendor with mature framework alignment
Fortinet cons:
- Training is an add-on, not the product — roadmap and support centre on network security
- Bundle economics are hard to justify when training is the only requirement
- Australian-specific framework mapping is not the focus
Best for: organisations already invested in Fortinet's ecosystem. Verdict: Hold if Fortinet infrastructure is in place; Skip as a training-only purchase.
3. KnowBe4: best for content depth at enterprise scale
KnowBe4 is the largest security awareness vendor globally, with the deepest template library and broad language coverage. The console is built for large security teams; organisations under a few hundred staff will use a fraction of it.
KnowBe4 pros:
- Deepest training and template library in the category
- Strong analytics and benchmarking for large programs
KnowBe4 cons:
- Admin overhead disproportionate for small teams
- Australian framework mapping is not the platform's core focus
Best for: enterprises with dedicated security admin capacity. Verdict: Hold.
4. Cyber Wardens: best free option for micro-businesses
Cyber Wardens is a free, government-backed program run by COSBOA that trains small business staff through short self-paced courses. It educates well but is not a managed awareness program — no phishing simulations, no audit-grade reporting at scale.
Best for: micro-businesses and sole traders. Verdict: Buy under 10 staff; Skip once audit evidence matters.
Why organisations switch from Fortinet
The switch usually happens when the training contract comes up for renewal outside the infrastructure bundle. A dedicated platform keeps the cadence running — monthly courses, quarterly simulation waves and side-by-side platform comparisons for procurement — without tying training spend to a hardware refresh cycle.
When staying with Fortinet is the right call
If your organisation already runs Fortinet firewalls across every site and your security team manages everything in one console, splitting the training out adds a vendor and an integration for little gain. The switch earns its keep when training becomes a compliance obligation you must evidence independently — particularly where gap assessments and Essential Eight mapping drive the reporting.
FAQ
Which is better in 2026, Cyberaware or Fortinet? Cyberaware is the better 2026 choice when training is what you are buying — a standalone platform with phishing simulations, Essential Eight mapping and per-seat pricing. Fortinet is better when its infrastructure is already in place and you want training bundled into that ecosystem.
Does Fortinet include phishing simulations? Yes. FortiPhish is Fortinet's phishing simulation engine, managed within the Fortinet ecosystem. Cyber Aware's simulations are launched directly from the training platform itself, with no separate product to license.
Is Fortinet's security awareness training free? Fortinet has offered free awareness training tiers tied to its products and paid tiers for larger deployments. The free option is genuinely useful — but it is a product-attached program, so verify what your tier includes for reporting and simulations before relying on it for audit evidence.
Does Cyberaware include network security like Fortinet? No. Cyberaware focuses entirely on training, simulations and reporting. Network security stays with your firewall and endpoint vendors — which is the point of a dedicated training platform.