Proofpoint Security Awareness Training is the awareness module of a global enterprise email-security vendor — built for large security teams that already run Proofpoint email protection. The best Proofpoint alternative for Australian SMBs and mid-market teams that want training as the whole product 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 Proofpoint itself stays a strong choice where email security and awareness belong under one enterprise roof.
TL;DR
- Cyber Aware is the 2026 pick for organisations buying a standalone training platform with Australian framework reporting.
- Proofpoint's awareness training is strongest inside a wider Proofpoint email-security deployment.
- 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
Enterprise awareness suites are priced and shaped for organisations with dedicated security administrators — licence tiers, implementation scoping and admin consoles all assume that capacity. An Australian SMB buying the same suite typically pays for enterprise surface area it will never use, while the reporting it actually needs — evidence mapped to the Essential Eight for an audit or an insurer — is not the product's centre of gravity.
The decision usually comes down to one question: is training the purchase, or one module of a wider security relationship?
What makes the best Proofpoint alternative
- Training as the product — a platform whose whole roadmap is awareness, not a module of an email suite
- Essential Eight mapping — completion evidence aligned to the framework Australian audits name first
- Self-serve phishing simulations — launch campaigns any time, no implementation project required
- Local scam content — simulations modelled on ATO impersonation, invoice fraud and Scamwatch tactics
- Per-seat pricing — cost that tracks headcount, not an enterprise licence tier
At a glance
| Dimension | Cyber Aware | Proofpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Australian SMBs and mid-market teams | Large enterprises with dedicated security staff |
| Product focus | Awareness training only | Email security suite with training attached |
| Phishing simulations | Core feature, launch any time | Enterprise simulation suite within the platform |
| Framework reporting | Essential Eight mapping built in | Aligned to global enterprise frameworks |
| Admin effort | Built for small teams | Assumes a dedicated security administrator |
| Cost driver | Per seat | Enterprise licence tiers |
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 email-security suite to buy first and no implementation project 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 enterprise 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 email gateway, threat intelligence or enterprise security tooling alongside the training
- Smaller template library than global enterprise incumbents
Best for: organisations that want training evidence produced continuously without an enterprise platform underneath. Verdict: Buy.
2. Proofpoint: best when email security and awareness live together
Proofpoint built its name on enterprise email security, and its Security Awareness Training extends that relationship to the human layer — phishing simulations, vishing and USB assessment options, and deep integration with Proofpoint's threat intelligence. For a large enterprise already running Proofpoint's email protection, adding awareness training under the same roof is genuinely efficient: one vendor, one procurement line, one security operations context. The tradeoff mirrors Fortinet's: the training's value depends on the wider relationship, and the platform assumes security admin capacity an SMB rarely has.
Proofpoint pros:
- Awareness training integrated with enterprise-grade threat intelligence
- Mature simulation options including vishing and USB drop assessments
- One vendor covering email security and human risk for large deployments
Proofpoint cons:
- Enterprise licence tiers and implementation overhead disproportionate for SMBs
- Australian framework mapping is not the platform's focus
- Overkill when training is the only requirement
Best for: enterprises already running Proofpoint email security. Verdict: Hold if the wider platform 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 Proofpoint
The switch usually happens when the enterprise suite is repriced or right-sized and training was never the reason for the relationship. 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 an email-security renewal.
When staying with Proofpoint is the right call
If your organisation already runs Proofpoint's email protection across thousands of seats and your security team manages human risk in the same console, splitting the training out adds a vendor for little gain. The switch earns its keep when training becomes an independently evidenced obligation — Essential Eight assessments, cyber insurance renewals or client security questionnaires, often surfaced first by a gap assessment.
FAQ
Which is better in 2026, Cyberaware or Proofpoint? 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. Proofpoint is better when its email-security platform is already in place and awareness training belongs under the same enterprise roof.
Does Proofpoint include phishing simulations? Yes. Proofpoint's Security Awareness Training includes a phishing simulation suite, with options such as vishing and USB assessments. Cyber Aware's simulations are launched directly from the training platform with no enterprise prerequisites.
Is Proofpoint suitable for small business? Proofpoint's awareness suite is built and priced for large organisations with dedicated security staff. Small businesses typically find the licence tiers, implementation and admin overhead exceed what the training alone justifies.
Does Cyberaware include email security like Proofpoint? No. Cyberaware focuses entirely on training, simulations and reporting. Email gateway security stays with your existing provider — which is the point of a dedicated training platform.