Hacker Associate

What Hacker Associate does

Hacker Associate, legally Cybershield Community Private Limited, is a Bangalore-headquartered cybersecurity company founded in 2019 that operates two interlocking businesses: a catalog of 80+ cybersecurity training and certification programs, and a cybersecurity services practice covering VAPT (vulnerability assessment and penetration testing), Managed Detection and Response, Incident Response, Endpoint Protection, Patch Management, and Zero Trust Network Access. Its training portfolio spans offensive security, web and API security, cloud penetration testing, IoT/OT security, malware analysis and reverse engineering, digital forensics, red teaming, DevSecOps, and a newer offensive AI red team track (COART); flagship certifications include OHSE, OCPT, AWAPT, ORTP, OAES, IoTHS, MARE, BBE, CTH, and DFI, priced at roughly $650–$800 USD (₹59,000–₹82,600) per one-time/perpetual license with lifetime lab access and instructor support, delivered in-person, live online, on-demand, and onsite corporate formats.

The platform rests on proprietary content assets: custom virtual machines for API penetration testing, threat hunting, and bug bounty; Burp Suite extensions (Automated SSRF Scanner Pro, JSON Analyzer for Pentester); a CTF challenges platform with API, cloud, web, and recon labs; and a free OWAS training funnel (68,245+ enrollments) feeding paid certifications. A member portal, Discord community, YouTube video room, and the Hacksecon conference support community-led growth, while two published books (Offensive Sniffing; Offensive Web Attack Security) and 100k+ LinkedIn followers extend marketing reach.

Commercial reach spans India, Singapore, Australia, UAE, Qatar, the US, and Africa, with named enterprise and government clients including World Bank, Deloitte, EY, IBM, Wipro, Cognizant, Accenture, Adani Group, Schneider Electric, Nepal Banks, and India and Qatar Armed Forces (the latter including a SOC setup). The company is privately held and founder-led by Harshad Shah (Founder, CEO, CISO) with 50+ penetration testing certifications; no external funding, parent, or subsidiary relationships are disclosed, and growth has been organic.

Name

Hacker Associate

Legal name

Cybershield Community Private Limited

Website

https://hackerassociate.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hacker Associate (Cybershield Community Pvt Ltd) is a Bangalore-based cybersecurity firm offering 80+ training certifications and VAPT/managed security services to enterprise, government, and defense clients across India, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Training and Services

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Other Computer Related Services (541519), Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDABAFAB

Cloud Computing & Infrastructure (AWS/Azure/GCP, Virtualization)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Technical & IT Skills Training

SECONDARYEDAOAIAB

Cybersecurity (General)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/IT, Networking & Cybersecurity Certifications

SECONDARYEDAAAPAC

Cybersecurity

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Industry-Specific Training (Healthcare, Tech, etc.)

SECONDARYBPAEANAF

Cybersecurity Training & Awareness Programs

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/IT Training & Technical Enablement Services

Keywords

• Cybersecurity training programs
• Penetration testing services
• Ethical hacking certification
• Vulnerability assessment consulting
• Managed detection response

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangalore

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Cybersecurity Training and Certification: Revenue from professional training programs including OHSE, OCPT, AWAPT, ORTP, OAES, IoTHS, MARE, CTH, DFI courses. Programs include course material, exam certification, and lifetime membership. Delivered in-person, live instructor led, on-demand, and onsite formats.
2. VAPT Services: Penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and security consulting services for private and government organizations
3. Corporate Training: Customized cybersecurity training programs for enterprise clients including banking, healthcare, and government sectors
4. Events and Workshops: Conducting cybersecurity events, workshops, and conferences for corporate and education sectors

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hacker Associate provides instructor-led cybersecurity certification training programs covering offensive hacking, cloud and web application penetration testing, red team operations, IoT security, malware analysis, bug bounty hunting, threat hunting, digital forensics, incident response, API exploitation, DevSecOps, and offensive AI. Alongside training, the company delivers professional cybersecurity services including VAPT, managed detection and response, incident response, endpoint protection, patch management, and zero-trust network access to corporate and government clients worldwide.

Product overview

Hacker Associate is a cybersecurity training and services company offering 80+ certification programs delivered by a CISO with 50+ penetration testing certifications. The portfolio consists of instructor-led training courses (OHSE, OCPT, ORTP, AWAPT, IoTHS, MARE, BBE, CTH, DFI, OAES, OWAS, SOC, COART, DevSecOps), professional security services (VAPT, MDR, Incident Response, Endpoint Protection, Patch Management, ZTNA), and proprietary tools (Automated SSRF Scanner Pro, JSON Analyzer for Pentester). Training is delivered via in-person, live online, on-demand, and onsite modes with lifetime access to labs and instructor support. The company also maintains a CTF challenges platform for hands-on practice.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Offensive Hacking Security Expert (OHSE) Flagship comprehensive ethical hacking and penetration testing certification covering network penetration testing, web application security, wireless exploitation, cloud penetration, and IoT hacking with hands-on labs.
• Offensive Cloud Penetration Tester (OCPT) Advanced cloud penetration testing certification focused on AWS, Azure, and hybrid cloud infrastructure security, covering cloud API attacks, container security, and DevSecOps.
• Offensive RedTeam Professional (ORTP) Red team operations certification covering adversary simulation, Cobalt Strike usage, Kerberos attacks, Active Directory exploitation, Docker/Kubernetes security, and custom exploit writing.
• Advanced Web Application Penetration Testing (AWAPT) In-depth web application security certification covering 100+ modules including OWASP Top 10, XSS, SQL injection, SSRF, OAuth attacks, source code analysis, and manual testing with Burp Suite.
• IoT Hacking and Security (IoTHS) Offensive and defensive IoT security certification covering firmware analysis, hardware hacking, ZigBee, Bluetooth BLE, SDR, ARM exploitation, and industrial IoT protocols.
• Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering (MARE) Malware analysis certification covering static and dynamic analysis, x86 assembly, reverse engineering with Ghidra, packed malware unpacking, ransomware analysis, and memory forensics.
• Bug Bounty Expert (BBE) Bug bounty hunting certification focused on manual web application assessment, Burp Suite Pro usage, payload creation, and responsible disclosure practices.
• Cyber Threat Hunting (CTH) Proactive threat hunting certification covering MITRE ATT&CK framework, YARA rules, malware hunting, memory forensics, SIEM, and threat intelligence for enterprise networks.
• Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFI) Digital forensics and incident response certification covering FTK, EnCase, mobile forensics, cloud forensics, chain of custody, and court testimony procedures.
• Offensive API Exploitation and Security (OAES) API security certification covering REST, GraphQL, SOAP API testing, OAuth 2.0 exploitation, JWT attacks, IDOR vulnerabilities, and cloud-based API penetration testing.
• Offensive Web Attack Security (OWAS) Free web application security training using OWASP-ZAP covering web penetration testing fundamentals, spidering, fuzzing, and automated scanning techniques.
• Security Operations Center (SOC) SOC analyst certification covering networking fundamentals, SIEM log analysis, security monitoring, policy creation, and incident handling for enterprise infrastructure.
• Offensive AI Red Team (COART) AI security certification covering offensive techniques for AI systems including LLM security, RAG pipeline attacks, autonomous agent exploitation, and AI infrastructure penetration testing.
• Certified DevSecOps Engineer Specialist DevSecOps certification covering secure CI/CD pipelines, container security, infrastructure as code security, and automated security testing in cloud environments.
• Penetration Testing (VAPT) Professional penetration testing and vulnerability assessment services identifying cybersecurity weaknesses in networks, applications, and cloud infrastructure before attackers can exploit them.
• Managed Detection and Response (MDR) 24/7 threat monitoring and rapid incident response service combining technology and expert analysis to proactively protect organizations from evolving cybersecurity risks.
• Incident Response Emergency cyber incident containment, investigation, and recovery services minimizing downtime and protecting businesses from further damage.
• Endpoint Protection (EPaaS) AI-powered endpoint protection as a service delivering real-time malware defense and continuous monitoring for all organizational endpoints.
• Patch Management (PMaaS) Automated patch management service ensuring critical security updates are deployed promptly to maintain system security and compliance.
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) Zero trust security solutions enforcing strict identity verification and least-privilege access with authenticated, encrypted network connections.
• CTF Challenges Platform Interactive capture-the-flag challenge platform with labs covering API security, cloud penetration testing, web application security, offensive hacking, reconnaissance, and cryptography.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% job placement rate for trained professionals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate training partnership providing cybersecurity training to World Bank employees and associated organizations. Demonstrates enterprise credibility and global reach.
• DeloittecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining services provided to Deloitte employees and clients. Association with major consulting firm enhances credibility.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCybersecurity training and certification programs delivered to IBM personnel. Logo displayed as trusted client.
• WiprocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIT services company receiving cybersecurity training for employees. Major Indian IT firm partnership.
• CognizantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining services provided to Cognizant employees. Logo displayed as trusted client.
• AccenturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal consulting firm receiving cybersecurity training services. Logo displayed as trusted client.
• Ernst and YoungflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCloud security project collaboration with EY. Strategic engagement for enterprise cloud security solutions.
• India Armed ForcesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment defense agencies (Army, Air Force, Navy, Intelligence Defense) receiving specialized cybersecurity training and penetration testing services. High-security clearance engagement.
• Qatar Armed ForcesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational defense training including SOC setup for Qatar armed forces. Geographic expansion milestone.
• Nepal BankscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking security services provided to financial institutions in Nepal. Demonstrates regional financial sector reach.
• GITEXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInvitation to present IoT hacking showcase at world's largest tech and startup show in UAE. Event partnership for brand visibility.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TryHackMe: Gamified, hands-on cybersecurity learning platform popular with learners and enterprise teams. Overlaps with Hacker Associate's CTF challenges, custom VMs, and entry-level offensive training, including its free OWAS program.
• EC-Council: Owns CEH, ECSA, and LPT credentials and a wide catalog of cybersecurity certifications covering ethical hacking, forensics, and incident response. Direct competitor in certification-led cybersecurity training with strong employer brand recognition.
• TCM Security: Cybersecurity training provider known for the Practical Ethical Hacking course, PJWT certifications, and bug-bounty-focused content. Overlaps with Hacker Associate's BBE (Bug Bounty Expert) and AWAPT offerings.
• SANS Institute: Premier global provider of hands-on cybersecurity training and GIAC certifications across offensive security, blue team, cloud, and ICS. Direct competitor in advanced technical certifications, with a comparable instructor-led, lab-based delivery model.
• OffSec (Offensive Security): Provider of OSCP, OSEP, OSCE and other offensive security certifications, with an online lab platform (PEN-200). Closest direct competitor in penetration testing and red team training, with globally recognized credentials.
• Pentester Academy: Specialist provider of hands-on offensive security and cloud security courses, with custom labs and CTFs. Closely comparable to Hacker Associate's depth in offensive cloud, API, and red team tracks.
• INE Security (eLearnSecurity): Provides technical cybersecurity certifications (eJPT, eCPPT, eCPTX) and enterprise training with a hands-on lab focus. Comparable catalog breadth across offensive, defensive, and cloud security tracks.
• Hack The Box: Community-driven offensive security platform with labs, challenges, and Academy courses for individuals and enterprise teams. Competes with Hacker Associate's CTF platform, training catalog, and corporate upskilling offering.
• Cybrary: Subscription-based cybersecurity training platform covering offensive, defensive, and compliance topics for individuals and enterprise teams. Competes in the same corporate-training and certification market.

Emerging players

• Secure Code Warrior: Focuses on developer-centric secure coding training and tournaments. Adjacent to Hacker Associate's DevSecOps Engineer program and shares a customer base in regulated enterprises needing secure development skills.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hackerasociate
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hackerassociate/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/hackerassociate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hackerassociate
• Instagraminstagram.com/hackerassociate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hacker Associate