Hands-on Cybersecurity Training for Real-World Experience
Cybersecurity is a field where practical experience is just as important as theoretical knowledge. Many organizations now offer immersive learning platforms where you can practice your skills through hands-on labs and simulations. These programs are designed to help job seekers build real-world expertise by working through live scenarios. Whether you're a beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, these platforms provide invaluable training for real-life cybersecurity challenges.
For companies, several of these platforms offer corporate training solutions designed to help train new hires and recent graduates. These programs provide tailored hands-on training that is specific to your company’s environment and role requirements, making them ideal for onboarding new talent.
Here’s a curated list of the best hands-on platforms:
1. TryHackMe
Overview: TryHackMe offers interactive labs covering a wide range of cybersecurity topics such as penetration testing, incident response, and digital forensics.
Why it's useful: It’s a beginner-friendly platform with guided learning paths that cater to various skill levels—from complete beginners to advanced professionals. Companies can utilize TryHackMe for Business to train teams and track employee progress.
2. Hack The Box
Overview: Hack The Box allows you to test your skills by hacking into simulated systems. It’s focused on offensive security with exercises ranging from beginner to expert levels.
Why it's useful: Ideal for building penetration testing and ethical hacking skills using real-world vulnerabilities. Hack The Box Enterprise is available for companies looking to train cybersecurity teams in a gamified, interactive environment.
3. RangeForce
Overview: RangeForce specializes in cyber defense, offering labs that train blue team (defensive) skills such as malware analysis, incident response, and threat hunting.
Why it's useful: It provides a well-rounded approach by covering both offensive and defensive roles, perfect for SOC analysts and incident responders. RangeForce’s corporate solutions help companies upskill their cybersecurity teams with scalable, cloud-based training.
4. Immersive Labs
Overview: Immersive Labs provides continuous learning through up-to-date real-world cyber scenarios, covering topics such as malware, cloud security, and network defense.
Why it's useful: It emphasizes real-world relevance by offering constantly updated labs. Immersive Labs for Enterprises provides real-time threat simulations and team-based exercises for corporate cybersecurity teams.
5. EC-Council iLabs
Overview: EC-Council’s iLabs are hands-on, cloud-based labs that accompany certifications such as CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker).
Why it's useful: It’s particularly useful for those pursuing certifications and a career in ethical hacking or penetration testing. Companies can integrate EC-Council iLabs into corporate training to provide employees with the practical skills needed in their roles.
Learn more at EC-Council iLabs
6. Cyberbit Range
Overview: Cyberbit offers a platform for training in real-world cyber incidents, specifically designed for SOC analysts and incident responders.
Why it's useful: Advanced simulations allow teams to practice real-world incident response in a controlled environment. Cyberbit Corporate Solutions are tailored for organizations looking to train cybersecurity teams through realistic cyber attack simulations.
7. INE Cybersecurity (formerly eLearnSecurity)
Overview: INE provides hands-on labs in penetration testing, threat detection, and other blue team skills.
Why it's useful: It’s a great option for those seeking affordable training and advanced certifications like OSCP. INE for Business offers scalable training programs that can be customized for your company’s needs.
Learn more at INE Cybersecurity
8. A Cloud Guru by Pluralsight
Overview: A Cloud Guru offers hands-on cloud security training through interactive labs and courses focused on AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. The platform provides practical, real-world cloud security scenarios to help learners build cloud-native skills.
Why it's useful: With the rise of cloud-based infrastructure, understanding cloud security is essential. A Cloud Guru’s hands-on labs allow users to practice securing cloud environments, managing identity and access controls, and ensuring compliance in multi-cloud setups. The platform is also ideal for certification preparation, including AWS Certified Security – Specialty, Azure Security Engineer, and Google Cloud Security Engineer.
The Bottom Line
These platforms not only provide essential hands-on experience for individuals, but are also designed to help organizations train and upskill their employees. By leveraging corporate training options, companies can onboard new hires, such as recent graduates or certification achievers, and ensure they are equipped with the practical skills needed to excel in their specific roles.
FAQs
1. Why should my company use hands-on cybersecurity training platforms?
The cybersecurity industry faces a skills gap paradox—companies want to hire job-ready experts, but there’s often not enough investment in training new talent. Hands-on platforms help bridge this gap by providing real-world simulations and practical exercises where employees can develop the necessary skills for their roles.
Solutions to this gap include:
Offering paid internships and apprenticeships to give candidates real-world experience while paying them fairly.
Mentorship programs that connect newcomers with experienced professionals.
Hands-on bootcamps and labs that complement formal education and certifications with practical, role-specific training.
Using training platforms, companies can ensure that employees gain hands-on experience in scenarios that mimic real-world threats.
2. Which platforms offer corporate training solutions?
Several cybersecurity training platforms offer corporate packages that are tailored for team-based learning and skill development:
Cyberbit: Specializes in advanced cyber range simulations for SOC teams, allowing them to train on real-world incidents and practice incident response in controlled environments.
RangeForce: Provides hands-on, cloud-based cyber defense training that covers both red team and blue team skills.
TryHackMe (Business): Offers customizable learning paths and team management tools, making it easy for companies to track employee progress.
Hack The Box (Enterprise): Focuses on interactive, gamified learning environments that are ideal for team-based offensive security exercises.
Immersive Labs: Provides real-time threat simulations and hands-on labs, with a focus on continuous learning and skill development.
These platforms offer key features like progress tracking, customizable training modules, and team-based exercises to help companies scale their cybersecurity training.
3. How can these platforms be used for onboarding new hires?
For new hires—especially recent graduates and certification achievers—hands-on platforms like RangeForce and Cyberbit provide a smooth transition from theoretical knowledge to real-world application. Cyberbit offers customizable cyber range exercises that simulate real-world incidents, allowing new hires to gain practical experience from day one. RangeForce provides interactive training modules that focus on both offensive and defensive cybersecurity skills, making it easier for new employees to contribute to their roles quickly.
These platforms allow companies to tailor training to the specific tools and challenges their employees will encounter on the job.
4. Can I track my employees' progress on these platforms?
Yes, most platforms, including Cyberbit, TryHackMe, and Hack The Box, offer detailed progress tracking and performance analytics:
Cyberbit provides analytics that measure how employees perform in simulated incident response scenarios, making it easy to assess readiness.
TryHackMe and Hack The Box allow managers to track progress through dashboards, identify skills gaps, and create custom learning paths for team members.
This data-driven approach ensures that companies can monitor employee growth and identify areas for improvement.
5. How do these platforms address the cybersecurity skills gap?
Training platforms tackle the skills gap by providing hands-on experience that allows employees to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. By hiring and training employees with a strong educational foundation in cybersecurity, you can cultivate talent to meet your specific requirements, rather than solely relying on hiring experts.
6. Can these platforms be customized to focus on specific skills our team needs?
Yes, many platforms offer customizable learning paths to focus on the specific needs of your team:
Cyberbit: Allows for tailored incident response scenarios, SOC exercises, and threat simulations to match your company’s security tools and processes.
RangeForce: Provides both red and blue team exercises, so companies can focus on the areas most relevant to their teams, such as malware analysis or threat hunting.
Immersive Labs: Offers up-to-date scenarios covering a wide range of cybersecurity skills, ensuring that the training reflects real-world conditions and your company’s focus areas.
7. Are these platforms suitable for non-technical employees?
Yes and no. For non-technical or "less technical" roles such as Sales, Marketing, or Customer Success, the best platforms focus on cybersecurity awareness rather than technical skills. These employees need to understand security basics and communicate confidently about cybersecurity without needing deep technical knowledge.
Discover the best options for Cybersecurity Training for Non-Technical Roles
8. How do these platforms compare to traditional classroom training?
Hands-on platforms offer a more interactive, real-world learning experience compared to traditional classroom training:
Employees are placed in simulated environments where they can practice responding to cyber threats in real time.
The immersive experience ensures that they retain more information and gain practical skills that can be applied immediately on the job.
Traditional classroom training is often more passive and lacks the real-world applicability that hands-on platforms provide.
9. How do I choose the right platform for my team?
Choosing the right platform depends on your company’s needs:
Cyberbit is ideal if your team needs SOC training or incident response readiness. Its simulations are perfect for blue team exercises and are designed for SOC analysts and incident responders.
RangeForce offers a comprehensive solution that covers both offensive and defensive skills, making it suitable for teams that need well-rounded training.
Hack The Box is a great option for companies focused on penetration testing and offensive security, offering interactive and gamified learning environments.
TryHackMe is a cost-effective option for smaller teams looking for scalable learning paths and tracking features.
10. Can these platforms help prepare employees for certifications?
Yes, many platforms are aligned with certification preparation. By providing practical, real-world experience, these platforms help employees apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios and increase their chances of passing certification exams.
11. Do these platforms support ongoing learning for my team?
Yes, platforms like Cyberbit, Immersive Labs, and Pluralsight (A Cloud Guru) are designed for continuous learning. They regularly update their training scenarios to reflect the latest cybersecurity threats, ensuring that your employees are always learning and staying current with industry trends.
