AEO for phishing simulation software: AI search visibility ranking
How AI search engines rank phishing simulation software by visibility and citations. 20 brands measured quarterly across Google AI Mode: which brands the AI names in answers, which domains it cites as sources, and how the leaders compare. Phishing simulation platforms used to train employees, run realistic attack drills, and reduce human risk across email-driven security programs. Composite score: 70% visibility (% of AI answers naming the brand) + 30% citation rate (% citing the brand's domain). Full methodology →
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When buyers ask AI engines about phishing simulation software, Ironscales frequently tops the list. Known for its comprehensive features, Ironscales boasts a visibility of 25% among AI-generated responses. KnowBe4 and Wizer also emerge as strong contenders. This suggests a pattern where AI models pick these brands as leaders in the phishing simulation space.
The presence of brands like Ironscales and KnowBe4 in the rankings can be attributed to top cited sources such as ironscales.com, knowbe4.com, and wizer-training.com. These sources are often referenced by AI engines, indicating that these brands maintain a strong online presence. This visibility on well-regarded domain names, often aggregator and review sites, significantly influences brand rankings.
For buyers evaluating this list, consider the brand's digital footprint as AI engines value current reviews and third-party validations. A brand consistently mentioned in authoritative sources not only shows topical authority but also indicates trustworthiness in the phishing simulation software subcategory. Look for recent reviews and endorsements to make an informed decision.
At a glance
What we observed in this category
Ironscales and KnowBe4 share the top position with identical visibility scores of 25.0% and citation rates of 62.5%, both producing composite scores of 36.2. This is a significant gap above the category average visibility of 6.2% and average citation rate of 12.5%. Ironscales is the more notable story, rising from rank 7 to rank 1 with a visibility delta of +12.5 and a citation delta of +37.5, suggesting a sharp recent shift in how Google AI Mode surfaces this brand.
Proofpoint and Hoxhunt both hold 25.0% visibility, matching the top two brands, yet their citation rates sit at only 12.5%, the category average. This divergence means they are named frequently in AI responses but are not being cited as trusted sources. Living Security presents the inverse case, with 0.0% visibility but a 37.5% citation rate, indicating the AI references its content as a source even when not directly naming it as a product recommendation.
Google AI Mode is the top engine for every brand in this dataset. The top cited sources list includes brand-owned domains such as ironscales.com, knowbe4.com, and wizer-training.com alongside third-party authorities including gartner.com, reddit.com, and cloudsek.com. The presence of reddit.com and adaptivesecurity.com in the cited sources list suggests Google AI Mode is drawing on community and comparison-style content to construct its phishing simulation software responses.
Movers & shakers since last refresh
Biggest visibility risers
-
Ironscales 12% → 25% · rank #7 → #1+12pp
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Hoxhunt 12% → 25% · rank #3 → #5+12pp
-
Phished 0% → 12% · rank #13 → #7+12pp
Biggest visibility fallers
-
KnowBe4 50% → 25% · rank #1 → #2-25pp
-
Cofense 25% → 0% · rank #6 → #19-25pp
-
Proofpoint 38% → 25% · rank #2 → #4-12pp
The AEO ranking
| # | Brand | Visibility | Citation | Top engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
ironscales.com
|
25% | 62% | Google AI Mode |
Ironscales co-leads with a 25.0% visibility and 62.5% citation rate, having risen 6 rank positions and gained +37.5 citation points since the previous period. |
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| 2 |
knowbe4.com
|
25% | 62% | Google AI Mode |
KnowBe4 matches Ironscales on visibility (25.0%) and citation (62.5%) but has fallen from rank 1 after losing 25.0 visibility points since the prior period. |
||||
| 3 |
wizer-training.com
|
12% | 62% | Google AI Mode |
Wizer holds a composite score of 27.5 with 12.5% visibility but a citation rate of 62.5%, well above the 12.5% category average, and appears in the top cited sources list. |
||||
| 4 |
proofpoint.com
|
25% | 12% | Google AI Mode |
Proofpoint has 25.0% visibility but only a 12.5% citation rate, matching the category average citation despite its high visibility, and has dropped 2 ranks from its prior position. |
||||
| 5 |
hoxhunt.com
|
25% | 12% | Google AI Mode |
Hoxhunt shares Proofpoint's composite score of 21.2 with 25.0% visibility but a citation rate of only 12.5%, down 37.5 citation points from the previous period. |
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| 6 |
livingsecurity.com
|
0% | 38% | Google AI Mode |
| 7 |
phished.io
|
12% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 8 |
mimecast.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 9 |
usecure.io
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 10 |
sosafe-awareness.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 11 |
safetitan.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 12 |
microsoft.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 13 |
cyberhoot.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 14 |
metacompliance.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 15 |
keepnetlabs.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 16 |
infosecinstitute.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 17 |
barracuda.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 18 |
fortra.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 19 |
cofense.com
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
| 20 |
hooksecurity.co
|
0% | 0% | Google AI Mode |
Sources AI engines trust in this category
Across the 8 buyer-intent queries we ran on phishing simulation software, these are the domains Google AI Mode cited most often. If you're not on this list — or if your competitors are — that's a concrete PR / linkbuilding target.
How to read this AEO ranking
Four things worth knowing before you act on the numbers above. These are the same definitions across every industry page — for category-specific observations, see the What we observed section above (where available) and the per-brand insights inline in the ranking.
Visibility = being named
A brand's visibility % is the share of AI answers that mention it by name in the response prose. This is who AI engines actively recommend to the buyer. More on visibility →
Citation rate = being trusted
Citation rate is the share of AI answers that include the brand's domain as a clickable source link. This is what the AI treats as authoritative evidence, different from being named. More on citation rate →
Top engine differs by brand
The "top engine" column shows which AI surface each brand performs best on. Big gaps between a brand's score across engines usually points to specific content or schema gaps. How AI engines pick sources →
AEO rankings move month to month
AI engines re-crawl and re-rank on shorter cycles than classical search. We re-audit every brand on this list at least every 90 days and refresh this page automatically. How AI search ranking works →
Run an AEO audit on your own phishing simulation software brand
The brands above were curated from public market-leader lists. Want the same answer engine optimisation measurement against your own brand — including the queries you appear on, which competitors get named instead, and a prioritised fix list? Run a free preview.
Frequently asked about AEO for phishing simulation software
Who leads AI visibility in phishing simulation software?
Ironscales and KnowBe4 share the top position with identical visibility scores of 25.0% and citation rates of 62.5%, both scoring a composite of 36.2. Ironscales is the faster mover, having risen 6 rank positions in the most recent period.
What is the average AI visibility for brands in this category?
The category average visibility is 6.2% and the average citation rate is 12.5%, meaning most of the 20 brands tracked have very limited presence in Google AI Mode responses.
Which brands are cited by AI but not prominently named in responses?
Living Security has a 0.0% visibility score but a 37.5% citation rate, indicating Google AI Mode uses its content as a source without prominently surfacing it as a named product recommendation.
What sources does AI cite most for phishing simulation software research?
The top cited sources include brand-owned domains (ironscales.com, knowbe4.com, wizer-training.com) alongside third-party sources including gartner.com, reddit.com, and cloudsek.com. The presence of reddit.com suggests community content plays a role in how AI constructs these responses.
Which brands have seen the biggest recent shifts in AI visibility?
Ironscales gained the most, rising 6 ranks with a +12.5 visibility delta and +37.5 citation delta. Cofense experienced the sharpest decline, falling 13 ranks from position 6 to position 19 with a -25.0 visibility delta.
Which AI engine dominates visibility for phishing simulation software brands?
Google AI Mode is listed as the top engine for every brand in this dataset, with no other engine appearing as a primary driver of visibility or citations across the category.