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Bay County approves renewal and expansion of KnowBe4 security and HR training platform
Summary
The Board approved a contract renewal and expansion for the KnowBe4 security awareness and HR compliance training platform; staff said security modules address phishing and AI-enabled threats and HR plans to add mandatory compliance modules enforced by elected officials' offices.
The Bay County Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole on Oct. 14 approved a renewal and expansion of the county's KnowBe4 training platform to continue security awareness training and add HR compliance modules.
A personnel office representative introduced the item as a renewal and expansion of the KnowBe4 platform; staff said the county has used KnowBe4 for about six years and that the expanded package will let other department directors enroll employees in additional modules. "One of the biggest things with our phishing tests... when you click on the phishing test and you fail, it tells you that you failed and you're automatically enrolled in clicker training," the personnel representative said, summarizing how the platform trains employees after simulated phishing events.
Commissioners discussed the training's length and content. One commissioner who completed the training said it covers artificial intelligence attack methods and recommended completion: "it's a useful tool to learn how to protect yourself not just in terms of in the county but also in your personal lives as well." Another commissioner noted completion rates "are about 30%" and said making modules mandatory and adding enforcement would improve compliance.
Personnel and HR staff said the platform will be used in phases: Phase 1 continues security awareness and adds HR compliance modules; Phase 2 would allow other departments to enroll employees in topic-specific training. HR told the board that security training is currently mandatory but that, at present, there are no formal penalties for noncompliance; HR will reach out to elected officials' offices to confirm whether they intend to require the HR compliance modules for their employees and said that enforcement will depend on each elected official's decision.
A commissioner moved to approve the renewal and expansion; the motion was supported and approved on a voice vote recorded in the transcript as "Aye" with the chair declaring the motion carries. The transcript did not contain a roll-call tally.
