What Is It Really Like to Work at KnowBe4?
An inside look at the culture, pay, benefits, and career growth at KnowBe4. Explore what makes it a Most Loved Workplace® and decide if it's for you.
Working at KnowBe4 means joining a mission-driven cybersecurity company focused on strengthening the 'human firewall.' Employees describe a unique, high-energy culture built on principles of 'radical transparency' and fun, which has earned the company consistent recognition as a Most Loved Workplace®. The compensation and benefits packages are competitive, often featuring unlimited PTO, comprehensive health coverage, and 401(k) matching. While the environment is fast-paced and metrics-driven, particularly within sales, the company invests in career growth and professional development to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
- Founded
- 2010
- HQ
- Clearwater, Florida
- Employees
- 2000
- Industry
- Cybersecurity, SaaS
- Ownership
- Private
- KnowBe4's culture is a key differentiator, built on 'radical transparency', accountability, and fun, leading to its multi-year certification as a Most Loved Workplace®.
- The company offers robust benefits, including unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, and a 401(k) match, which are competitive for the tech industry.
- KnowBe4's core mission is to enable employees at other companies to make smarter security decisions, providing a strong sense of purpose for its staff.
- Following its 2023 acquisition by Vista Equity Partners, the company operates as a private entity, a factor candidates should consider regarding future strategy and culture.
- Career development is a priority, with a focus on continuous learning to keep pace with emerging AI-powered cyber threats.
Working at KnowBe4 means joining a mission-driven cybersecurity company focused on strengthening the 'human firewall.' Employees describe a unique, high-energy culture built on principles of 'radical transparency' and fun, which has earned the company consistent recognition as a Most Loved Workplace®. The compensation and benefits packages are competitive, often featuring unlimited PTO, comprehensive health coverage, and 401(k) matching. While the environment is fast-paced and metrics-driven, particularly within sales, the company invests in career growth and professional development to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
What is it actually like to work at KnowBe4?
Working at KnowBe4 is defined by two core elements: a critical mission and an unconventional culture. The company's mission is to combat the growing threat of AI-powered cyberattacks by focusing on the human element. Instead of just building technological walls, KnowBe4's platform uses security awareness training and simulated phishing to empower employees at client organizations to become a proactive line of defense. This creates a strong sense of purpose for employees, or "KB4sters" as they're known internally, who are contributing to making the digital world safer.
The culture is famously built on pillars of radical transparency, accountability, and fun. Leadership holds regular meetings to share detailed company performance data with all employees, fostering a sense of ownership and trust. This transparency is a frequently cited positive in employee reviews. The 'fun' element is not just a buzzword; it's integrated into the workplace with team-building events, games, and an energetic office environment designed to encourage collaboration and counterbalance the serious nature of their work. This unique blend has resulted in KnowBe4 being certified as a Most Loved Workplace®, a testament to its employee-centric approach. Source: KnowBe4 Careers
How does KnowBe4 pay compare?
KnowBe4 aims to provide competitive compensation packages that include base salary and, for many roles, performance-based bonuses or commissions. Pay scales are benchmarked against the software and cybersecurity industries and are adjusted based on geographic location.
For technical roles, compensation is competitive with other tech hubs. In sales roles, which constitute a significant portion of the workforce, compensation is heavily based on a commission structure that rewards high performance. The company's rapid growth has historically created significant earning opportunities for its top sales representatives.
Here’s how reported salaries for key roles at the company's Florida headquarters compare to the local industry medians:
| Role | Typical KnowBe4 Pay (Tampa, FL) | Median Pay (Tampa-St. Pete-Clearwater) | Source Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | ~$121,000/year | ~$119,770/year | KnowBe4 data is based on self-reported salaries on Glassdoor (disclosed). Median data from U.S. BLS for 'Software Developers', May 2023. |
| Business Development Rep | ~$58,000/year (base) | ~$63,390/year (total) | KnowBe4 data is based on self-reported salaries on Glassdoor (disclosed). Median data from U.S. BLS for 'Sales Representatives, Services', May 2023. |
It's important to note that total compensation can vary significantly based on experience, performance, and stock options (when the company was public). Candidates should discuss specific compensation structures and performance expectations during the interview process. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Source: Glassdoor (KnowBe4)
What benefits and time-off does KnowBe4 offer?
KnowBe4 offers a comprehensive and modern benefits package designed to attract and retain top talent in the competitive tech industry. The company stands out by offering perks often associated with Silicon Valley firms at its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, and other global offices.
Key benefits include:
- Health and Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and their families.
- Retirement Savings: A 401(k) retirement plan with a company match, helping employees invest in their future.
- Time Off: An unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) policy for salaried employees, providing flexibility to manage work-life balance. This is a significant perk that demonstrates a high level of trust in employees.
- Parental Leave: Paid parental leave is available for new parents to bond with their children.
- Onsite Perks (HQ): The Clearwater headquarters is known for its extensive amenities, which have included free breakfast and lunch, snacks and drinks, a fitness center, and wellness rooms.
These benefits reflect a philosophy of caring for the whole employee. The unlimited PTO, in particular, aligns with the culture of accountability, trusting employees to take the time they need while still meeting their goals. Source: KnowBe4 Benefits
Culture, leadership, and DEI at KnowBe4
The culture at KnowBe4 is its most prominent and celebrated attribute. Beyond the fun and transparency, the company emphasizes extreme ownership and constantkanen (a philosophy of continuous improvement). Employees are expected to be proactive and accountable. This high-energy, high-accountability environment is not for everyone, but it powers the company's rapid growth and innovation.
Leadership has historically been very visible and accessible, maintaining an open-door policy and communicating frequently about the company's direction and performance. This approach has been central to building the trust required for a policy of radical transparency.
In terms of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), KnowBe4 has established several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support a diverse workforce, including groups for women, Black and African American employees, LGBTQ+ individuals, and veterans. The company publishes diversity statistics and outlines its commitment to creating an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive. These initiatives are crucial in an industry that has historically struggled with representation.
The most significant recent event impacting the company was its acquisition by private equity firm Vista Equity Partners for $4.6 billion in early 2023. This took the company private after a period on the public market. While leadership has stressed a commitment to maintaining the core culture, such transitions often bring a renewed focus on financial metrics and operational efficiency, a factor that prospective employees should be aware of. Source: KnowBe4 Diversity & Inclusion Report Source: Vista Equity Partners Completes Acquisition of KnowBe4
The hiring and interview process at KnowBe4
The hiring process at KnowBe4 is designed to assess skills, experience, and, crucially, cultural alignment. The company looks for candidates who are not only qualified for the role but who will also thrive in its unique environment of transparency, fun, and high accountability.
The typical process follows these steps:
- Application: Candidates apply online through the company's careers portal.
- Recruiter Screening: A member of the talent acquisition team conducts an initial phone or video call to discuss the role, the candidate's background, and assess basic alignment with the company's values.
- Hiring Manager Interview: The candidate meets with the hiring manager to dive deeper into role-specific skills, experience, and team dynamics.
- Skills Assessment: Depending on the role, candidates may be asked to complete a technical assessment (for engineering), a presentation (for sales or marketing), or another practical exercise to demonstrate their capabilities.
- Panel or Team Interview: Candidates often meet with several team members. This stage is critical for assessing collaboration skills and giving the candidate a feel for the team they might join.
- Final Decision and Offer: The hiring team makes a final decision, and an offer is extended to the successful candidate.
Throughout the process, interviewers consistently probe for examples of ownership, adaptability, and a proactive attitude. Candidates are encouraged to be authentic and ask direct questions, reflecting the company's value of transparency. Source: KnowBe4 Interview Reviews on Glassdoor
Career growth and learning at KnowBe4
Given its mission, KnowBe4 places a strong emphasis on continuous learning and professional development. The company operates in a rapidly evolving field where AI-powered threats constantly change the landscape, requiring employees to be perpetual learners.
Opportunities for growth include:
- Internal Mobility: With its history of rapid growth, KnowBe4 frequently promotes from within and encourages employees to explore different roles and departments.
- Professional Development: The company provides resources for employees to grow their skills, including access to its own library of security awareness and professional development training modules. This allows employees to 'drink their own champagne' and become experts on the product they support.
- Cutting-Edge Work: Employees, particularly in product development and threat research, are on the front lines of cybersecurity. They analyze new AI-driven attack vectors and help develop the training and simulations to counter them, ensuring their skills remain highly relevant.
The culture of innovation and the necessity of staying ahead of cybercriminals create a dynamic environment for career advancement. Employees who demonstrate initiative and a commitment to learning have clear pathways to grow their careers within the organization. Source: KnowBe4 Careers Page
Risks, criticisms, and what to watch
No workplace is perfect, and candidates should consider a full picture of KnowBe4. Common themes in employee feedback and market analysis highlight a few areas to watch.
The primary risk factor is the recent transition to private equity ownership under Vista Equity Partners. PE ownership typically involves a multi-year strategy focused on increasing enterprise value for an eventual sale or IPO. This can lead to cultural shifts, increased pressure on performance metrics, and changes in long-term strategy. Candidates should ask thoughtful questions during interviews about how the acquisition has impacted the company's famous culture and day-to-day work.
Secondly, the fast-paced, high-growth environment, particularly in sales, can be a pressure cooker. While this creates opportunity, some past and present employees have noted the risk of burnout. The 'work hard, play hard' mentality requires high energy levels and resilience.
Finally, as with any large, successful company, there are risks of bureaucracy creeping in as processes become more formalized. While KnowBe4 has fought to maintain its startup-like agility, navigating a company of over 2,000 employees is different from its early days. Being aware of these challenges allows a candidate to go into the process with open eyes and ask targeted questions to determine if KnowBe4 is the right fit for their career goals. Source: KnowBe4 Employee Reviews on Glassdoor
Most Loved Workplaces® context
KnowBe4 is a multi-year certified Most Loved Workplace®, a recognition based on rigorous analysis of employee sentiment and company data. This certification is part of a broader network of over 1,800 certified companies representing 2.8 million employees. Research from the Best Practice Institute shows that companies earning this distinction often exhibit tangible business results, including 4× higher revenue growth compared to industry peers and 48% higher employee retention. The framework for this analysis is SPARK: Systemic Collaboration, a Positive Vision of the Future, Alignment of Values, Respect, and Kindness. The data also shows that 92% of employees at Most Loved Workplaces® apply for roles when openings arise, indicating high internal engagement.
How we researched this report
This article was researched and written by the Best Practice Institute Editorial Staff. Our analysis is based on publicly available information, including the company’s official careers site, diversity reports, press releases, and financial news, as well as aggregated, self-reported employee data from third-party sites. Our goal is to provide a balanced overview for prospective candidates. For more on our process, see our methodology.
Sources
- KnowBe4 Careers — KnowBe4
- KnowBe4 Benefits — KnowBe4
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — U.S. Department of Labor
- Glassdoor (KnowBe4) — Glassdoor
- KnowBe4 Diversity & Inclusion Report — KnowBe4
- Vista Equity Partners Completes Acquisition of KnowBe4 — Vista Equity Partners
- KnowBe4 Interview Reviews on Glassdoor — Glassdoor
- KnowBe4 Employee Reviews on Glassdoor — Glassdoor
Quick answers
Researched and edited by Best Practice Institute Editorial Staff. See our methodology.