The 4 Best Mimecast Alternatives for Security Awareness Training

Mimecast has built an incredible reputation as an enterprise-grade email security powerhouse. Its ability to protect large organizations from complex threats is undeniable. But when it comes to the crucial task of Security Awareness Training (SAT), a one-size-fits-all solution rarely works. Many organizations find themselves searching for Mimecast alternatives for this very reason.

Perhaps you’re finding the platform’s costs prohibitive for your team, or its complexity is simply overkill for your needs. If you’re a Managed Service Provider (MSP), you might be frustrated by the lack of a true multi-tenant platform built for resale. These are common challenges that lead smart IT leaders to look for a more focused, effective, and valuable solution.

This guide is here to help you achieve that goal. We will break down the 4 best Mimecast alternatives for security awareness training, detailing their unique strengths, potential limitations, and ideal use cases. Whether you’re an MSP, a growing SMB, or a large enterprise, you’ll find an option here to help you build a powerful human firewall and make an informed decision for your organization's success.

A Quick Comparison of Top Mimecast Alternatives

Let's dive deeper into what makes each of these platforms a worthy alternative to Mimecast, starting with our top recommendation for MSPs and SMBs.

1. Symbol Security

Symbol Security emerges as a modern, human-centric security platform designed from the ground up to be simple, effective and affordable. It directly addresses the common pain points of enterprise-focused tools by offering a solution that is purpose-built for Managed Service Providers and perfectly suited for small-to-medium businesses. This is the clear choice for organizations that value ease of use and transparent value over unnecessary complexity.

Key Features of Symbol Security

• Comprehensive Managed Program Services: For organizations lacking dedicated resources or specialized expertise, Symbol delivers managed security awareness services that fully administer the program. This provides a clear advantage by lowering operational burden, ensuring best-practice execution by subject-matter experts, and allowing internal teams to concentrate on core business functions.
• MSP-Centric Multi-Tenant Platform: This is a core differentiator. Symbol offers MSPs purpose-built tools can manage all their clients from a single, intuitive dashboard with separate reporting, billing, and campaign management for each one.
• Integrated Policy Management & Training: The platform seamlessly combines phishing simulations with a library of micro-learning training modules and a policy management tool. This allows you to distribute, track, and get employee sign-off on key security policies, centralizing a critical compliance task.
• Threat-Intel-Driven Phishing Simulations: Symbol moves beyond generic templates by using real-world threat intelligence. This allows you to run phishing campaigns based on actual, trending attacks, making the training far more relevant and effective.

Strengths: Where Symbol Security Shines

• Exceptional MSP Focus: The multi-tenant dashboard, co-branding options, and reseller-friendly pricing make it incredibly easy for an MSP to add a profitable, high-value security service to their stack.
• Simplicity and Ease of Use: The user interface is clean and intuitive. You don’t need a dedicated administrator to get value from the platform. Launching a campaign or enrolling users takes just a few minutes.
• Competitive Pricing: Symbol offers clear, public pricing on its website, including a generous free-forever plan. This is a major advantage over competitors that hide costs behind sales calls.
• Proactive Threat Monitoring: Symbol provides services that continuously monitor the dark web for compromised employee credentials and track newly registered lookalike domains that could be leveraged in spoofing or impersonation attacks.

Limitations to Consider

• Less Extensive Content Library: Compared to legacy players like Knowbe4, Symbol’s training library is more focused on quality over quantity and may have fewer options for niche compliance topics or a wide range of languages.
• Fewer Advanced Enterprise Features: The platform prioritizes simplicity for its target audience, meaning it lacks some of the complex, granular features required by global enterprises, such as deep API workflows or intricate access controls.

Best Use Cases:

Ideal for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) looking to resell security awareness training and for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs) who need an affordable, effective, and easy-to-manage platform.

2. KnowBe4

KnowBe4 is the undisputed market leader in terms of brand recognition and the sheer volume of its content. Founded with the help of the legendary Kevin Mitnick, its platform is built around the concept of strengthening the "human firewall." It's a powerful tool for organizations that need an exhaustive library of training materials to keep their programs fresh and engaging across diverse teams.

Key Features of KnowBe4

• Massive Content Library: KnowBe4 offers the world's largest library of security awareness training content, including videos, games, interactive modules, and newsletters in dozens of languages.
• Advanced Phishing & Vishing Simulations: The platform provides thousands of realistic phishing templates and the unique ability to conduct "vishing" (voice phishing) campaigns to test employees against phone-based attacks.
• PhishER Incident Response: A standout feature is the PhishER platform, a light SOAR tool that helps security teams automatically analyze and prioritize user-reported emails, turning your employees into an active threat detection network.
• Comprehensive Risk Scoring: KnowBe4 tracks an organization's "Phish-prone Percentage"™ over time and assigns individual risk scores to users, helping identify and focus on the most vulnerable employees.

Strengths: Where KnowBe4 Shines

• Unparalleled Content Variety: No competitor can match the scale and diversity of KnowBe4's training library, making it ideal for large, global organizations.
• Integrated Incident Response: The PhishER tool closes the loop between user reporting and security team response, a capability many alternatives lack.
• Effective, Realistic Simulations: The phishing templates are frequently updated based on current events and real-world scams, making them highly effective.

Limitations to Consider

• Inconsistent Content Quality: With such a vast library, the quality can be inconsistent. Some modules may feel dated or "cheesy," which can disengage users.
• Complexity and High Cost: KnowBe4 is a premium solution with a premium price tag. Its extensive feature set can also create significant administrative overhead for smaller IT teams.
• Opaque Pricing: Pricing is quote-based and not publicly listed. The most valuable features are often locked behind the highest, most expensive tiers.

Best Use Cases:

Best for mid-market to large enterprises that need a vast, multi-language content library and have the budget and personnel to manage a feature-rich, premium platform.

3. Infosec IQ

Infosec IQ positions itself as the premium choice for organizations that prioritize content quality and user engagement above all else. It goes beyond simple compliance training to foster a genuine security-first culture. By leveraging behavioral science and high-production content, it aims to make security awareness training something employees actually want to do.

Key Features of Infosec IQ

• "Hollywood-Style" Content: Infosec IQ is known for its library of high-production, narrative-driven training videos and series that make security concepts relatable and memorable.
• "Choose Your Own Adventure®" Games: A unique feature is its immersive, story-based security games that boost engagement and knowledge retention by putting employees in realistic decision-making scenarios.
• Personalized Learning Paths: The platform can automate training campaigns and assign personalized content to employees based on their role, risk score, or performance in phishing simulations.
• Program Automation: The intuitive Program Planner tool simplifies the process of managing a year-long awareness campaign, reducing the administrative burden on IT teams.

Strengths: Where Infosec IQ Shines

• Exceptional User Engagement: The focus on high-quality, entertaining content effectively combats training fatigue and leads to better learning outcomes.
• Focus on Culture Change: The platform is strategically designed to move beyond awareness and instill lasting secure behaviors, building a stronger security culture over time.
• Ease of Use: Despite its powerful features, the administrator dashboard is widely praised for being intuitive and easy to navigate.

Limitations to Consider

• Premium Pricing: The investment in high-quality content is reflected in its price. It is positioned in the upper tier of the market and can be costly for smaller organizations.
• Curated Content Library: While the quality is a major strength, competitors like KnowBe4 may offer a larger quantity of training modules. The library is comprehensive but focuses on quality over sheer volume.

Best Use Cases:

Best for companies willing to invest in a premium solution to drive deep, long-term behavioral change and build a lasting, positive security culture.

4. SANS Security Awareness

SANS Security Awareness is the training arm of the SANS Institute, arguably the most respected and authoritative organization in the entire cybersecurity industry. This program is built on a foundation of unmatched expertise, behavioral science, and strategic risk management. It is the gold standard for enterprises that need an unimpeachable, expert-driven training solution.

Key Features of SANS Security Awareness

• Expert-Authored Content: All training content is developed and curated by world-class SANS instructors and cybersecurity researchers, ensuring it is accurate, relevant, and effective.
• Security Awareness Maturity Model: SANS provides a strategic framework to help organizations assess their current program, set goals, and measure progress in a structured way, elevating training from a task to a strategic function.
• Threat-Intel-Informed Phishing: Phishing simulation templates are based on real-world attacks identified by SANS's global threat intelligence network.
• Comprehensive Reinforcement Materials: The program includes a rich library of newsletters, posters, and other materials designed to keep security top-of-mind all year long.

Strengths: Where SANS Security Shines

• Unmatched Authority and Quality: The SANS brand signifies excellence. Deploying this program demonstrates a serious commitment to security and provides credibility with auditors and regulators.
• Focus on Measurable Risk Reduction: The program is designed to drive and measure genuine behavioral change, providing clear metrics to demonstrate a reduction in human-layer risk.
• Direct Link to SANS Research: Training is continuously updated based on the latest threat intelligence from the forefront of cybersecurity research.

Limitations to Consider

• Very High-End Pricing: SANS is one of the most expensive security awareness training options on the market, making it inaccessible for most SMBs.
• More Formal Tone: The program's tone is professional and expert-driven. Organizations looking for a more lighthearted or heavily gamified experience might find it too formal.
• Quality Over Quantity: While the content is best-in-class, the overall size of the library is smaller than some mass-market competitors.

Best Use Cases:

Best for large, highly regulated enterprises in sectors like finance, defense, or healthcare where the brand prestige, defensibility, and expert authority of the training program are paramount.

Choosing the Right Mimecast Alternative

While Mimecast is a broad security suite, the most effective security awareness training comes from specialized platforms. The best choice depends on your primary goal:

• For MSPs and SMBs seeking value and simplicity, Symbol Security is the standout choice with its purpose-built, multi-tenant platform.
• For large enterprises needing the largest content library, KnowBe4 remains the market leader.
• For building a strong security culture through highly engaging content, Infosec IQ is the premium option.
• For regulated industries requiring unmatched expert authority, SANS is the gold standard.

Ultimately, for organizations frustrated by enterprise cost and complexity, Symbol Security offers a direct, powerful, and easy-to-manage solution that delivers exceptional value.