Hack The Box (HTB), a leader in gamified cybersecurity skills development, has acquired LetsDefend, a blue team upskilling platform. The acquisition aims to deliver a unified approach to cyber workforce development for enterprises, MSSPs, and other stakeholders through hands-on labs, real-world simulations, and cross-role training.
A ‘holistic’ approach to cybersecurity upskilling
According to HTB, the acquisition “unites two of cybersecurity’s most vibrant communities” into a single ecosystem, intending to deliver a full-spectrum cyber defense upskilling platform that benefits both red and blue teams.
The company framed the move as timely, noting that many organizations are seeking more cohesive cybersecurity workforce development options amid the rise of AI and a growing talent crisis in the industry.
“Today’s cyber threats demand that security professionals upskill in a holistic, predictive way,” said Haris Pylarinos, founder and chief executive officer at Hack The Box.
“Together with LetsDefend, we will provide a one-stop platform where aspiring penetration testers and SOC analysts can learn side by side, effectively gamifying the entire cyber kill chain. This collaboration delivers to our community and organizations an unparalleled environment to prepare for and overcome real-world cyber warfare,” he added.
Founded in 2021, LetsDefend is an interactive blue team upskilling platform known for its hands-on SOC simulations, which enable users to gain practical experience in cybersecurity defense.
On the other hand, HTB is a cybersecurity readiness and upskilling platform that specializes in gamified labs and challenges, teaching both offensive and defensive cybersecurity skills.
A growing community of practitioners expanded
In its official press release, HTB highlighted LetsDefend’s growing popularity in the cybersecurity community, with over 320,000 users across more than 150 countries, just four years after its launch.
Gerasimos Marketos, Chief Product Officer at HTB, said that Hack The Box’s in-house AI will “accelerate” LetsDefend’s vision of providing learners with a live environment to face AI-driven tactics in a safe, educational setting.
“The data backs it up: recent HTB competitions show AI agents and LLM-assisted operations can rival top human teams. This isn’t a threat to learners; it’s a head start,” Marketos said.
HTB also shared that the acquisition will introduce new cross-platform features and challenges, with plans already underway to expand community events, virtual meetups, and capture the flag competitions that blend both offensive and defensive elements.
To gain deeper insight into Hack The Box’s gamified cybersecurity training, watch this video featuring our conversation with Heather Hoddinott, Enterprise Account Executive at Hack the Box.