Marco Muto, Senior Vice President of Strategy, KnowBe4

July 2026 — Invest: sat down with Marco Muto, senior vice president of strategy of KnowBe4, to discuss how the Tampa Bay–headquartered cybersecurity company is scaling its platform, integrating AI and email security, and positioning for its “KnowBe4 2.0” era. As attacks grow more targeted and sophisticated, Muto sees both risk and opportunity in new technologies, noting that “the threat environment is more pervasive and complex than it’s ever been, in my opinion, because of what AI brings to the table.”

Over the past year, what changes have had the greatest impact on KnowBe4, and how have they shaped the company’s direction?

It has been a transformative period for KnowBe4. I joined the company last year after more than 15 years in cybersecurity, and the opportunity to help steer its next chapter was incredibly appealing. On the “revolution” side, the most significant development was our acquisition of Egress, an email security company based in London. KnowBe4 has long been recognized as a leader in security awareness training, which evolved into what we now call digital workforce security. That work focuses on protecting both humans and AI agents which make up the overarching workforce.

What we lacked was a built-in email security solution connected to this platform, which is essential given email remains the biggest attack vector. Acquiring Egress closed that gap and accelerated both our technology roadmap and how we tell the digital workforce security story in the market.

We have also undergone a meaningful leadership evolution. Between late 2022 and early 2023, KnowBe4 became majority-owned by Vista Equity Partners. Longtime CEO and founder Stu Sjouwerman moved into an executive chairman role, and we welcomed a new CEO, Bryan Palma, as well as additional senior leaders, including a CIO and my role overseeing strategy and corporate development. Together, these shifts usher in what I describe as KnowBe4 2.0.

AI is reshaping the threat landscape quickly. Which trends stand out to you, and how is KnowBe4 adjusting its solutions?

AI is the defining theme in cybersecurity right now. The threat environment is more pervasive and complex than it’s ever been, in my opinion, because of what AI brings to the table. That is true on both sides. Cyber defenders are using AI to detect and mitigate attacks more effectively, but adversaries are adopting the same tools to scale their operations.

We are seeing everything from realistic deepfakes to hyper-targeted phishing messages crafted using personal details. These threats feel increasingly authentic, which raises the stakes for every organization.

KnowBe4’s response is to continue evolving from traditional training into a comprehensive platform aimed at addressing digital workforce security. For years, our focus has been security culture: helping people understand what to trust, what to ignore and how to maintain healthy digital habits. Our offerings extend into schools and homes as well, because cyber risk doesn’t stop at the workplace. In fact, we recently launched a new initiative called Cybersecurity Awareness Program for You (CAPY). It is a family hub that provides cyber safety training for children and adults. 

As AI becomes embedded in daily operations, the workforce includes both humans and AI agents. You hear the term “agentic,” meaning technology acting on behalf of a person. As that becomes more common, our goal is to help organizations establish a strong security culture for both people and the AI systems working alongside them.

Education and engagement play a major role in KnowBe4’s approach. How are you working with users and partners to strengthen cyber resilience?

KnowBe4 is unique in the security industry because our relationship with end users is direct and substantial. We serve roughly 70,000 customers and more than 100 million users globally. Most cybersecurity tools operate quietly in the background; users may see an icon but rarely interact with the product.

With KnowBe4, people recognize the brand and remember the training. I’ve had people outside the industry mention it because they just completed a compliance module. That level of awareness comes from producing engaging, high-quality content. A prime example is “The Inside Man,” our episodic training series that looks like something you’d find on a streaming platform. Season 7 premiered at our 2026 KB4-CON event in Orlando.

The purpose behind that investment is simple: when training is dull, people click through without retaining anything. When it’s entertaining, they engage with the material and internalize the lessons.

We also maintain a robust product community that offers continual feedback. Users help shape everything from UI improvements to new training formats. That collaboration strengthens our platform and helps organizations build resilience from the individual level up.

The cybersecurity talent market remains competitive. What approaches work best for KnowBe4 as you continue growing?

A strong entrepreneurial mindset is at the core of our hiring strategy. KnowBe4 has grown into a global business, but our culture encourages agility, fast decision-making and initiative. We look for people who can move projects forward without constant oversight and who want to solve problems in creative ways.

Communication skills are equally important. Cybersecurity touches technology, human behavior, risk management and regulation, so ideas must be articulated clearly across teams. We value individuals who can explain their reasoning, collaborate well and understand that not every idea can be prioritized at once.

We hire with a global lens, especially as our footprint expands beyond Tampa Bay. What unites the organization across regions is our shared focus on innovation, security culture and customer outcomes.

Looking ahead, what are your priorities for advancing KnowBe4’s mission and expanding its footprint in Tampa Bay and globally?

We intend to continue strengthening our leadership position in digital workforce security in the United States and abroad. We have strong penetration in North America and the UK, but there are meaningful opportunities globally. The need for a better security culture is universal.

Our investment priorities align with that growth. 

Strategically, we will keep focusing on how the workforce evolves. As AI agents become a normal part of operations, the concept of digital workforce security becomes even more important. We see a clear opportunity to lead in helping organizations build consistent security culture for both people and AI systems. Tampa Bay remains an essential part of that effort, offering talent, scale and a dynamic technology community that supports our trajectory.