KnowBe4 launches Google Workspace email security Defend. Tue, 1st Sep 2026 (Today) KnowBe4 has launched email and collaboration security protection for Google Workspace through its Defend product, extending its existing email security offering to Google's workplace platform. The product targets phishing, business email compromise and artificial intelligence-driven attacks in Gmail and related collaboration tools. For organisations using Google Workspace, it adds threat detection, AI-based verdicts and employee coaching. According to KnowBe4, Google Workspace has more than three billion users worldwide, and the new release is designed for small businesses, mid-market customers and large enterprises. At the centre of the product is a behavioural AI model trained on more than 1.15 billion daily event signals and 16 years of behavioural data. It analyses messages across several intent signals simultaneously to identify threats such as business email compromise, zero-payload phishing and prompt injection attacks. The service also sends immediate warnings to intended recipients when it detects a risky email. The notices are intended to turn live incidents into training moments for employees at the point of risk. If a malicious variant is confirmed, the product links with KnowBe4's PhishER Plus system to search for and remove matching threats across Gmail inboxes. KnowBe4 said that process can be completed in under two minutes. Early results Before the launch, the company ran an early adopter programme to test the software in customer environments. Across those deployments, Defend for Google Workspace processed 539,384 emails, according to KnowBe4. Of those messages, 810 were classified as dangerous threats, or one in every 666 emails. The system also identified 5,491 suspicious threats that had passed Google's native protections, the company said. In the same trial environments, the system categorised 361,070 productivity-related emails. According to KnowBe4, that saved early adopters an average of 10.96 hours a week. Greg Kras, Chief Product Officer at KnowBe4, said the launch combined protection and user education in a single layer for Google customers. "Google empowers productivity and collaboration. KnowBe4 protects the digital workforce," Kras said. "Together, this new release enhances the email and collaboration security that IT and security professionals need to better protect their organisations. We are bringing explainable, multi-engine AI detection and real-time coaching together in a single, API-native layer, so every blocked threat also becomes a teachable moment. Our deep collaboration with Google enables us to offer a unified platform that delivers trust and a strong security culture," he added. Wider market The launch adds to growing competition in email and collaboration security, as vendors increasingly seek to supplement built-in protections from major platform providers. A key focus has been business email compromise, which often relies on socially engineered messages rather than malware and can therefore evade conventional detection methods. Security suppliers have also placed greater emphasis on training users during live incidents instead of relying only on periodic awareness courses. The approach reflects a broader shift towards embedding security prompts into day-to-day workflows. KnowBe4 said the Google Workspace release builds on its broader digital workforce security business. The company says it is used by more than 70,000 organisations worldwide and provides training, attack simulation, email security and tools related to AI agents. An existing customer cited by the company pointed to the Defend system's daily operational value. "Defend's value is proven every day in the statistics shown in its threat intelligence dashboard. The banners have also dramatically increased employees' everyday vigilance to phishing attacks," Burtenshaw said.

KnowBe4 launches Google Workspace email security Defend. Tue, 1st Sep 2026 (Today) KnowBe4 has launched email and collaboration security protection for Google Workspace through its Defend product, extending its existing email security offering to Google's workplace platform. The product targets phishing, business email compromise and artificial intelligence-driven attacks in Gmail and related collaboration tools. For organisations using Google Workspace, it adds threat detection, AI-based verdicts and employee coaching. According to KnowBe4, Google Workspace has more than three billion users worldwide, and the new release is designed for small businesses, mid-market customers and large enterprises. At the centre of the product is a behavioural AI model trained on more than 1.15 billion daily event signals and 16 years of behavioural data. It analyses messages across several intent signals simultaneously to identify threats such as business email compromise, zero-payload phishing and prompt injection attacks. The service also sends immediate warnings to intended recipients when it detects a risky email. The notices are intended to turn live incidents into training moments for employees at the point of risk. If a malicious variant is confirmed, the product links with KnowBe4's PhishER Plus system to search for and remove matching threats across Gmail inboxes. KnowBe4 said that process can be completed in under two minutes. Early results Before the launch, the company ran an early adopter programme to test the software in customer environments. Across those deployments, Defend for Google Workspace processed 539,384 emails, according to KnowBe4. Of those messages, 810 were classified as dangerous threats, or one in every 666 emails. The system also identified 5,491 suspicious threats that had passed Google's native protections, the company said. In the same trial environments, the system categorised 361,070 productivity-related emails. According to KnowBe4, that saved early adopters an average of 10.96 hours a week. Greg Kras, Chief Product Officer at KnowBe4, said the launch combined protection and user education in a single layer for Google customers. "Google empowers productivity and collaboration. KnowBe4 protects the digital workforce," Kras said. "Together, this new release enhances the email and collaboration security that IT and security professionals need to better protect their organisations. We are bringing explainable, multi-engine AI detection and real-time coaching together in a single, API-native layer, so every blocked threat also becomes a teachable moment. Our deep collaboration with Google enables us to offer a unified platform that delivers trust and a strong security culture," he added. Wider market The launch adds to growing competition in email and collaboration security, as vendors increasingly seek to supplement built-in protections from major platform providers. A key focus has been business email compromise, which often relies on socially engineered messages rather than malware and can therefore evade conventional detection methods. Security suppliers have also placed greater emphasis on training users during live incidents instead of relying only on periodic awareness courses. The approach reflects a broader shift towards embedding security prompts into day-to-day workflows. KnowBe4 said the Google Workspace release builds on its broader digital workforce security business. The company says it is used by more than 70,000 organisations worldwide and provides training, attack simulation, email security and tools related to AI agents. An existing customer cited by the company pointed to the Defend system's daily operational value. "Defend's value is proven every day in the statistics shown in its threat intelligence dashboard. The banners have also dramatically increased employees' everyday vigilance to phishing attacks," Burtenshaw said.

KnowBe4 names Kurt Mills as channel chief to lead next phase of partner-led growth. Appointment Underscores a Company-wide Commitment to Scaling Partner Programs, Teams, and Enablement Across the Global Channel KnowBe4, the global leader in digital workforce security, securing both AI agents and humans, today announced the appointment of Kurt Mills as channel chief. The appointment marks new investment in KnowBe4's partner ecosystem as Mills will head the evolution of KnowBe4's global partner programs, operations and channel routes to market. Mills built his career over 25 years helping organizations reimagine their channel strategy as a core driver of revenue, aligning partner programs with corporate vision and long-term growth goals. He previously held channel executive and leadership roles at Trellix, Check Point Software Technologies, Mimecast, FireMon, and Blue Coat Systems and is known for building high-performing teams and strategic partner networks through IPOs, acquisitions, and rapid market expansion. "Partner ecosystem growth is central to our mission, and Kurt's appointment reflects our continued investment in that strategy," said Bryan Palma, CEO of KnowBe4. "Kurt's deep channel expertise, proven ability to scale high-performing teams, and track record of building long-term partner value will be instrumental as we expand our market reach." The appointment builds on a series of recent appointments to strengthen KnowBe4's channel leadership, including the additions of Neill Burton and John Noha, both vice president of channel, supporting global initiatives. Together, this team reflects KnowBe4's commitment to equipping partners with the programs, tools, and resources they need to capture new opportunities and deliver greater value to customers as partners play an increasingly central role in the customer lifecycle. "Joining the KnowBe4 team at this critical point in the company's growth is an incredible opportunity," said Kurt Mills, newly appointed channel chief at KnowBe4. "I've built my career on creating focused, measurable, and engaged teams that drive mutual success for organizations and their partners. I am thrilled to team up with everyone at KnowBe4 to scale our partner programs, deepen our relationships across VARs, MSPs, SIs, distributors, and tech partners, and fuel our next phase of global growth." FAQs Q: Who is KnowBe4's new channel chief? Kurt Mills has been appointed as KnowBe4's new channel chief to lead the company's global partner-led growth strategy partner programs, operations, and channel routes to market. Q: What is Kurt Mills' professional background before joining KnowBe4? Kurt Mills has over 25 years of channel leadership experience. He previously held executive channel and partner sales roles at Check Point Software Technologies, Mimecast, FireMon, and Blue Coat Systems. Q: Who else was recently added to KnowBe4's channel leadership team? Alongside Kurt Mills, KnowBe4 recently appointed Neill Burton and John Noha both as vice presidents of channel to support global partner initiatives. Q: What is KnowBe4 and who is it for? KnowBe4 is a cybersecurity company focused on securing the digital workforce, securing both humans and AI agents through a single platform spanning attack simulation and training, email & collaboration security, and agent security, all powered by AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Defense Agents) and a proprietary Risk Score built from 316 unique indicators. Founded in 2010, KnowBe4 has been delivering AI-powered security since 2016, backed by 50+ patents, 70+ deep integrations, and 15+ years of behavioral data, and is trusted by more than 70,000 organizations worldwide, having trained over 100 million people, which includes 1 in 3 full-time workers in the U.S. The company is for CISOs and Compliance leaders who need visibility, automation, and metrics that speak to the board, SOC teams needing automation that cuts through alert noise, and security awareness admins who need to measure and change behavior. About KnowBe4. KnowBe4 empowers the modern workforce to make smarter security decisions every day. Trusted by more than 70,000 organizations worldwide, KnowBe4 is the pioneer of digital workforce security, securing both AI agents and humans. The KnowBe4 Platform provides attack simulation and training, email & collaboration security, and agent security powered by AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Defense Agents) and a proprietary Risk Score. The platform leverages 15 years of behavioral data to combat advanced threats including social engineering, prompt injection, and shadow AI. By securing humans and agents, KnowBe4 leads the industry in workforce trust and defense.