Pentester Academy
Pentester Academy (now Skill Dive) is a hands-on cybersecurity, networking, and cloud training platform under INE that delivers VM-simulated lab environments to individual practitioners and enterprise teams globally via subscription.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersCary, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Pentester Academy does
Pentester Academy, rebranded as Skill Dive in 2024, is a hands-on technical training platform operating as a subsidiary of INE (Internetwork Expert). Originally founded in 2011 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, the business delivers on-demand, cloud-based cybersecurity training built around VM-simulated lab environments that allow practitioners to safely run offensive and defensive security exercises without real-world risk. Following the 2024 rebrand, the platform's scope was expanded from cybersecurity-only to also cover networking and cloud domains, organized into hundreds of hands-on labs and curated lab collections tiered across novice, professional, and advanced levels — including content on topics such as car hacking, Nuclei vulnerability scanning, AWS IAM exploitation, Azure AD pentesting, and CVE-driven scenarios (e.g., XZ Backdoor, ActiveMQ RCE).
The core product technology is a browser-accessible, VM-based lab platform that simulates enterprise environments (routers, servers, cloud services, applications) so users can practice configurations, exploitation, and defense in a contained setting. Skill Dive also incorporates an integrated skill assessment capability (referenced as SONAR) and plugs into INE's broader Assess-Train-Practice-Certify workflow via shared identity at my.ine.com, alongside a community forum at community.ine.com for peer learning.
Commercially, the company operates a subscription-based revenue model with tiered individual and team plans, though specific pricing is not publicly disclosed on the source pages. Go-to-market is hybrid: a product-led, self-serve motion targeting individual practitioners globally (with "Start Practicing" / "Dive In" CTAs), a community-led motion through INE's forum, and an enterprise field-sales motion via "Skill Dive for Teams" with a "Schedule a Demo" CTA for organizational deployments. The primary customer segments are networking, cybersecurity, and cloud security professionals, with enterprise teams serving as a secondary segment seeking structured upskilling at organizational scale.
Pentester Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pentester Academy
- Legal name
- INE
- Website
- https://pentesteracademy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Pentester Academy (now Skill Dive) is a hands-on cybersecurity, networking, and cloud training platform under INE that delivers VM-simulated lab environments to individual practitioners and enterprise teams globally via subscription.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pentester Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cybersecurity Training Platform
- NAICS
- Computer Training (61142), Computer Training (611420), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cybersecurity Technical Skills (Security Engineering, SOC, Pen Testing) (EDABAFAF)
Keywords
Where Pentester Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cary
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Pentester Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription-based Training Platform Access: Recurring subscription model providing access to hands-on labs, lab collections, and training content across cybersecurity, networking, and cloud domains with tiered plans for individuals and enterprise teams.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Pentester Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pentester Academy (now Skill Dive) delivers on-demand, hands-on cybersecurity, networking, and cloud training through browser-accessible VM-simulated lab environments. Customers subscribe to access hundreds of labs and curated lab collections spanning penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, blue-team defense, car hacking, networking protocols, and cloud platform exploits across AWS, Azure, and GCP. The platform operates as the practice layer within INE's broader Assess-Train-Practice-Certify training ecosystem.
Product overview
Pentester Academy operates as Skill Dive, a unified training platform under INE (Internetwork Expert) that combines traditional e-learning with hands-on practical labs. The portfolio includes the core Skill Dive platform providing VM-simulated environments for experiential learning, complemented by specialized lab collections spanning Cybersecurity (Secure Coding Defense, Blue Team Defender, Nuclei Security, Car Hacking), Networking (IP Services Fundamentals, OSPF Security, Advanced Routing), and Cloud (Azure Compute, AWS Security, GCP Fundamentals). These products work together as a train-practice-assess-certify ecosystem where users can learn concepts through courses, reinforce skills through hands-on labs, and earn certifications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Skill Dive: Hands-on lab and lab collection platform for networking, cybersecurity, and cloud training
Products and services
- Skill Dive A secure, risk-free hands-on practice platform providing VM-simulated environments for networking, cybersecurity, and cloud learning across hundreds of labs and lab collections at novice, professional, and advanced levels. Sold both as a self-serve subscription to individual practitioners and as Skill Dive for Teams to organizations.
- Pentester Academy Cybersecurity Labs
- Secure Coding Defense
- Blue Team Defender: Securing Systems
- Nuclei Security & Vulnerabilities
- Car Hacking
- IP Services Fundamentals
- OSPF Security & Filtering
- Advanced Routing
- Azure Compute Exploits & Mitigations
- AWS Core Security & Identity
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Fundamentals
- Azure Active Directory Pentesting
- Deploying Cisco Collaboration Solutions
Companies that use Pentester Academy
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Pentester Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Pentester Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Pentester Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Pluralsight: Large enterprise technology skills platform with cybersecurity, cloud, and networking tracks; overlaps with Skill Dive in cloud security and networking domains but is broader and less lab-specialized.
- A Cloud Guru / Pluralsight Cloud: Cloud-focused training platform covering AWS, Azure, and GCP with hands-on labs; overlaps with Skill Dive's AWS, Azure, and GCP Fundamentals collections for cloud security and practitioner learners.
- SANS Institute: Long-established cybersecurity training and certification provider with extensive hands-on courseware and Cyber Ranges; broader portfolio than Skill Dive but directly competes for enterprise security training budgets.
Direct peers
- HackTheBox (HTB Academy): Hands-on offensive and defensive cybersecurity training via labs, machines, and an Academy path; competes directly with Skill Dive for pentesting learners, blue teamers, and enterprise team-building engagements.
- Cybrary: Cybersecurity-focused online training platform offering hands-on labs, practice exams, and team plans; directly comparable to Skill Dive in target audience and team/individual subscription model.
- OffSec (Offensive Security): Provider of OSCP/OSCE-style hands-on penetration testing training, labs, and certifications; competes with Skill Dive's offensive security labs and is a benchmark for high-end pentest credentialing.
- RangeForce: Enterprise cybersecurity skills development platform with simulated, hands-on cyber range exercises; competes for the same enterprise team-training budget that Skill Dive's enterprise motion targets.
- TryHackMe: Subscription-based, hands-on cybersecurity and networking training platform with gamified labs and learning paths; the most direct competitor to Skill Dive's PLG, individual-learner model and breadth of guided lab collections.
Emerging players
- LetsDefend: Blue-team and SOC analyst training platform with hands-on incident response labs; directly comparable to Skill Dive's Blue Team Defender and SOC-oriented lab collections.
- TCM Security (Practical Ethical Hacking): Creator of Practical Ethical Hacking courseware, Academy, and related certifications with a strong individual-learner following; competes with Skill Dive's pentester-focused content at lower price points.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pentester Academy social profiles
Digital presencePentester Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pentester Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Pentester Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pentester Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pentester Academy
What does Pentester Academy do?
Pentester Academy (now Skill Dive) delivers on-demand, hands-on cybersecurity, networking, and cloud training through browser-accessible VM-simulated lab environments. Customers subscribe to access hundreds of labs and curated lab collections spanning penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, blue-team defense, car hacking, networking protocols, and cloud platform exploits across AWS, Azure, and GCP. The platform operates as the practice layer within INE's broader Assess-Train-Practice-Certify training ecosystem.
Is Pentester Academy a public or private company?
Pentester Academy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Pentester Academy founded?
Pentester Academy was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Pentester Academy based?
Pentester Academy is headquartered in Cary, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pentester Academy make money?
One revenue line is on record: subscription-based Training Platform Access.
Who are Pentester Academy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Pluralsight, A Cloud Guru / Pluralsight Cloud and SANS Institute. Direct peers are HackTheBox (HTB Academy), Cybrary, OffSec (Offensive Security), RangeForce and TryHackMe. Emerging players are LetsDefend and TCM Security (Practical Ethical Hacking).
Does Pentester Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pentester Academy.
What industry is Pentester Academy in?
Pentester Academy's product category is Cybersecurity Training Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABAFAF, Cybersecurity Technical Skills (Security Engineering, SOC, Pen Testing). Its NAICS code is 61142 and its SIC code is 8200.