Cybersecurity platform Hack The Box purchases LetsDefend for comprehensive cyber education and training
Hack The Box Acquires LetsDefend: A Unified Approach to Cybersecurity Training
In an exciting development for the cybersecurity industry, Hack The Box (HTB) has announced the acquisition of LetsDefend, a blue team upskilling platform known for its interactive SOC simulations. This move is part of a larger event, Fal.con 2025, a cybersecurity conference where HTB showcased its plans for new training ecosystems and innovations in cyber workforce skill development.
The acquisition aims to deliver a full-spectrum cyber defense upskilling platform, introducing new cross-platform features and challenges to both platforms. Gerasimos Marketos, Chief Product Officer at HTB, stated 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.
LetsDefend, founded in 2021, has seen significant engagement from the cybersecurity community, boasting over 320,000 users in more than 150 countries. The collaboration will gamify the entire cyber kill chain, providing an unparalleled environment to prepare for and overcome real-world cyber warfare.
Haris Pylarinos, founder and CEO of Hack The Box, stated that the acquisition unites two of cybersecurity's most vibrant communities. Plans are underway to expand community events, virtual meetups, and capture the flag competitions that blend offensive and defensive elements.
The unified platform is intended to benefit both red and blue teams in cybersecurity. Marketos also mentioned that recent HTB competitions show AI agents and LLM-assisted operations can rival top human teams, not as a threat but as a head start for learners.
This move is timely, as many organizations are seeking cohesive cybersecurity workforce development options amid the rise of AI and a growing talent crisis in the industry. The acquisition is intended to deliver a unified approach to cyber workforce development, showcasing new training ecosystems and innovations for cyber workforce skill development at Fal.con 2025.
