How Much Does Security Awareness Training Cost in 2025?

Budget season hits and every line item gets scrutiny—especially SAT. List prices look similar until you uncover tiers, add-ons, and services. This guide shows real numbers, common range by company size, and how to reduce spend without weakening outcomes.

Table of contents

• Cost snapshot (TL;DR)
• What drives price in 2025
• List prices: what vendors actually post
• Add-ons & hidden costs to watch
• Budget scenarios by company size
• Ways to lower SAT costs (without lowering impact)
• Compliance notes (NIST/ISO) & procurement checklist
• FAQs
  

Quick Snapshot 

• Core SAT platform (content + LMS): $0.95–$3.25 per user/month at 1–3 year terms; top-tier libraries $2–$3+
• Phishing simulations: Usually included; unlimited with many platforms
• Add-ons (coaching, risk scoring, AIDA/AI, PhishER, compliance libraries): $0.17–$1.50 per user/month
• Proofpoint SAT via partner (examples): $12–$24 per user/year
• Hook Security packages: $1.50–$2.00 per user/month (12-mo min)
• Microsoft 365 AST (Attack Simulation Training): Included with M365 E5 or Defender for Office 365 Plan 2
• All-in managed SAT (outsourced admin/reporting): Platform + services; varies by scope

(Prices below come from vendor pages and catalog listings noted in References.)

Our key takeaways: Plan for $1.50–$3+ per user/month for mainstream platforms, budget a little extra for AI-based add-ons, and check whether you already “own” phishing simulation in Microsoft 365 E5 to avoid duplicate spend. Fully managed programs may cost more.

What drives price in 2025

• Seat count & term length: Steeper discounts at 3-year terms (common MSRP tables). 
• Content depth: Larger libraries and micro-learning drive tier jumps; AI-recommended learning often sits in higher tiers.
• Human-risk features: Coaching, culture surveys, benchmarking, and orchestration add cost.
• Compliance scope: Regulated industries often need extra modules (HIPAA, PCI, etc.).
• Delivery model: Self-serve vs. managed service (campaigns, reporting, exec decks). (Vendor-specific; see ranges below.)

Our key takeaways: Pricing tracks the maturity you need: baseline awareness is cheapest, culture-change programs with AI guidance cost more, but often reduce click rates faster.

List prices: what vendors actually post

• KnowBe4 (MSRP, monthly/seat, billed annually, 3-year term):
  25–50 users: $1.90–$3.25 (Silver→Diamond)
  101–500 users: $1.50–$2.65; Add-ons like AIDA, SecurityCoach, Compliance Plus often $0.17–$1.50.
• Hook Security: public pricing shows $1.50–$2.00 per user/month; separate page lists $1.10–$2.00 across tiers. 
• Proofpoint SAT (via partner pages): examples at $12–$24 per user/year.
• Market ranges (comparative): round-ups show $0.45–$6 per user/month depending on scope; TitanHQ cites $0.45–$1.25 on the low end.

Our key takeaways: Public MSRPs cluster around $1–$3+ per user/month for mainstream tiers. Outliers occur with bundled services, industry-specific content, or premium AI features.

Add-ons & hidden costs to watch

• Coaching & “human risk” analytics (e.g., SecurityCoach, PhishER Plus).
• Compliance libraries (e.g., Compliance Plus). 
• Directory/SSO integrations & APIs—often included, but check seat-based gating.
• Admin time (internal or MSP) for setup, audience targeting, executive reporting.
• Contract minimums (user floors, annual true-ups).

Our key takeaways: Add-ons can add $0.20–$1.50+ per user/month; ensure you actually need them for your outcomes. 

Budget scenarios by company size (illustrative)

• 100 Employees
  ▪️ Baseline Platform: $3/user/month ≈ $3,600/year
  ▪️ Add-ons: +$0.30/user/month ≈ $360/year
  💰 Estimated Annual Budget: $3,960/year
• 500 Employees
  ▪️ Baseline Platform: $2.50/user/month ≈ $15,000/year
  ▪️ Add-ons: +$0.40/user/month ≈ $2,400/year
  💰 Estimated Annual Budget: $17,400/year
• 2,000 Employees
  ▪️ Baseline Platform: $1.50/user/month ≈ $36,000/year
  ▪️ Add-ons: +$0.50/user/month ≈ $12,000/year
  💰 Estimated Annual Budget: $48,000/year

(Based on mid-tier MSRPs and typical add-on ranges noted above; adjust to your exact tier/term.) 

Our key takeaways: Multi-year terms and seat bands matter. Ask vendors to model 12 vs. 36-month TCO before you sign.

Ways to lower SAT costs (without lowering impact)

1. Leverage what you already own: If you have Microsoft 365 E5 or Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, you already have Attack Simulation Training (AST) for phishing simulations. Pair it with lightweight awareness modules to avoid duplicate fees. 
2. Right-size content: Start with role-based essentials; expand libraries only if engagement plateaus. 
3. Choose weekly or monthly micro-trainings over long courses: Improves completion and retention, often available in lower tiers. 
4. Bundle with managed security/compliance: Packaging SAT within a broader program can reduce per-user rates and centralize reporting—see Consilien’s Security Awareness Training and Compliance programs.

Our key takeaways: Many organizations overspend by buying duplicative phishing tools or oversized content libraries.

Compliance notes & procurement checklist

• NIST SP 800-50 (updated 2024 Rev.1) emphasizes lifecycle programs (design→develop→implement→measure). Prefer platforms that support ongoing reinforcement and metrics. 
• NIST SP 800-53 r5 AT-2/AT-2(3) calls out literacy training and social-engineering awareness/reporting. Ensure phishing/vishing/smishing are covered with reporting workflows. 
• ISO/IEC 27001:2022, Annex A 6.3 & Clause 7.3 require awareness and periodic training; verify coverage and audit logs. 

Checklist: pricing by tier/term; content library depth; reporting/export; SSO/SCIM; phishing templates (BEC, QR, callback); coaching; culture metrics; SLAs; data residency; renewal caps.

Want precise pricing (including Microsoft 365 AST alignment) and a rollout plan? Talk to Consilien’s team about security awareness training packages.

Security Awareness Training Cost FAQs

1. Is phishing simulation included or extra?
   Most platforms include unlimited simulations; advanced add-ons (coaching, AI, PhishER) may cost more. 
2. Can Microsoft 365 replace a SAT platform?
   If you have E5/Defender for Office 365 P2, you already have Attack Simulation Training for phishing; you’ll still need awareness content and metrics to satisfy NIST/ISO.
3. What’s a reasonable budget per employee?
   A solid 2025 benchmark is $12–$36 per user/year for platform access; add services if you want “done-for-you” operations.
4. How often should training run?
   Continuous micro-learning with monthly/quarterly touches and periodic phishing exercises aligns with best practice and modern tool design.