When it comes to outbound email security, every organization operates under different operational constraints and security requirements. Some security teams prioritize in-app nudges and coaching to catch risky behavior the moment an email is drafted. Others want to avoid friction, particularly for executives, sales teams or mobile-first employees who rarely interact with desktop add-ins.

Historically, security admins were forced into a binary choice: enforce real-time nudges for everyone, or forego compose-time protection altogether.

KnowBe4 Prevent eliminates that trade-off with Hybrid Mode: a flexible delivery configuration designed to give security teams complete control over their outbound email security posture.

The Challenge: Why One-Size-Fits-All Email Security Fails

No two organizations share the exact same workflow or risk tolerance. Applying blanket outbound email controls often leads to friction points:

• Send-Time Friction for High-Priority Users: Executives, colleagues in low-network scenarios and time-sensitive teams cannot afford processing delays or send-time interruptions.
• Mobile Coverage Blind Spots: Standard desktop add-ins offer zero coverage on mobile devices, leaving phone-based email sends unguided.
• Rigid Vendor Pricing: Competing solutions frequently lock configuration flexibility behind separate license tiers, specialized SKUs, or costly professional services engagements.

Security teams shouldn't have to compromise protection or pay extra fees just to tailor security controls to different user groups.

What is Hybrid Mode?

Hybrid Mode natively blends Prevent’s two primary delivery states into a single, cohesive experience inside the existing Outlook add-in:

1. Compose-Time Side-Panel Advice: Real-time recipient, attachment and content risk checks remain visible in the add-in side panel as the user drafts an email.
2. Post-Send Teachable Moments: If a risky email is sent, Hybrid Mode delivers a redesigned, actionable email notification to the sender.

This configurable approach lets admins balance real-time user coaching with the needs of their organization.

Core Capabilities of Hybrid Mode

In-App Mode vs. Hybrid Mode: At a Glance

Admins can evaluate both delivery modes to align with their organization's workflow needs:

In-App Prompting: Catch risky behavior directly in the moment before the email leaves the draft stage. Best for teams requiring immediate intervention on desktop clients.

Hybrid Mode (Post-Send & Side-Panel Coaching): Surfaces real-time side-panel guidance and post-send teachable moment emails. Promotes primary actions like "Edit email before sending", "Cancel" and "Release" alongside explicit explanations of policy triggers.

Included in Prevent Standard: No Upsells, No Extra Fees

Flexibility shouldn't come with a price tag. Like DLP Rule Builder and Misdirected Content Analysis, Hybrid Mode is built directly into the Prevent Standard offering.

Getting Started

Admins can enable Hybrid Mode today directly within the KnowBe4 Security Console under Prevent configuration settings. Existing tenant settings remain unchanged until an admin chooses to update them.