Despite shift to remote workforce, cybersecurity firm sees big gains

CLEARWATER — KnowBe4, a Clearwater company that specializes in online security training intended to fend off phishing attacks, experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2020, with year-over-year sales up by 40%, according to a press release. 

“Despite these trying times, KnowBe4 is well positioned to remain the market leader for security awareness training and simulated phishing,” KnowBe4 CEO Stu Sjouwerman states in the release. “Cybersecurity is considered a critical function, especially given all of the phishing and other social engineering scams we’ve seen explode recently related to COVID-19. When it comes to growth, we continue to hire remotely during a time of extended hypergrowth and now have our entire workforce working from home.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, KnowBe4 has shifted its entire staff of 884 people to remote work, the release states. But the company continues to hire — some 130 open positions can be applied for via its website. 

Privately held KnowBe4 has been valued at $800 million. It reported $120 million in gross annual revenue in 2018, up from $62 million in 2017.