Agentic AI
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Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
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Next-Generation Technologies & Secure Development

CEO Bryan Palma Says Automation Can Improve Simulations and Real-Time Coaching

Michael Novinson (MichaelNovinson) •
August 19, 2026    

Bryan Palma, president and CEO, KnowBe4 (Image: KnowBe4)

Some organizations have turned security awareness administration over to artificial intelligence, while others combine AI with human administrators or continue to rely primarily on people, said KnowBe4 CEO Bryan Palma.

See Also: Why Traditional DLP Can’t Keep Up With AI Data Growth

Customers using KnowBe4’s orchestration agent have risk scores about 10% lower than the rest of the company’s customer base, which Palma said indicates that AI-driven customization can improve training, simulations and real-time coaching. AI can ingest security signals more effectively than humans and prescribe training suited to an individual user at the appropriate level and time, Palma said (see: New KnowBe4 CEO Bryan Palma Combats Human Risk Via AI Agents).

“We’re the market leader, which means over 100 million users,” Palma said. “We have over 70,000 customers, so we get a lot of signals in. The AI is much more effective in ingesting all of those signals, and then prescribing a customized training for the particular end user that’s most appropriate for them, at the right level, at the right time period.”

In this video interview with ISMG, Palma also discussed:

How generative AI expands security training content options;
How attackers combine AI with other communication channels;
Why collaboration security must extend beyond email.

Palma previously led Trellix, which was created through the merger of FireEye and McAfee Enterprise. Prior to joining Trellix, he guided leading organizations through technology and business transformations including Cisco, Boeing, EDS, PepsiCo and the U.S. Secret Service. Palma serves on the President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee and CloudBees’ board of directors.