SmartThink

What SmartThink does

SmartThink LLC is a Maryland-based, privately held cybersecurity training and professional IT services company founded in 2000. The company operates two integrated lines of business: (1) instructor-led, online, and hybrid training programs that prepare individuals for cybersecurity, IT auditing, and basic IT roles, and (2) professional consulting services covering Application Security, Network Security, Penetration Testing, Risk Assessment, SOX Compliance, Security Assessment & Authorization, Security Incident Response, and Third Party Assessment.

Its core training portfolio includes Cyber Security GRC Skill Training, Basic IT Concepts, and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) preparation, now offered as a bundled 3-in-1 program. Courses are sold per cohort on a quarterly cadence (four sessions per year) at price points between $2,500 and $3,800, with both pay-in-full discounts and installment plans available. Professional services are engaged by federal and state agencies, Fortune 500 firms, and commercial enterprises for compliance-driven security work. The company distributes through its own e-commerce website and Zoom-based consultations, with a UK edition launched in July 2023 and a Ghana edition also referenced. The team, drawn from Symantec, McAfee, MIT Lincoln Labs, Rapid7, Dell, IBM, Cisco, and National Instruments, is positioned as the primary differentiator underpinning both training quality and services credibility.

Name

SmartThink

Legal name

SmartThink LLC

Website

https://smartthink2llc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SmartThink LLC is a Maryland-based cybersecurity training and professional IT services firm founded in 2000, offering quarterly instructor-led training programs (Cybersecurity GRC, CISA, Basic IT) and consulting services in penetration testing, SA&A, SOX compliance, and risk assessment to federal agencies, enterprises, and individual career-changers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Training and Professional IT Services

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Cybersecurity (EDAAAPAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cybersecurity Training & Awareness Programs (BPAEANAF), Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity Certifications (EDAAANAA)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity training
• Information assurance
• Penetration testing
• Compliance consulting
• Security assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

College Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Training Courses: Revenue from cybersecurity training programs sold on a per-course basis. Programs include Cyber Security GRC Training, Basic IT Concepts, and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification training. Courses are offered quarterly with 4 sessions throughout the year.
2. Professional IT Services: Consulting and professional services including Application Security, Network Security, Penetration Testing, Risk Assessment, SOX Compliance, Security Assessment & Authorization, Security Incident Response, and Third Party Assessment.
3. Consultation Appointments: Zoom meeting consultation sessions priced at $70 per 90-minute session for advisory services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SmartThink LLC provides cybersecurity training programs and professional IT services. Training covers Cyber Security GRC, Basic IT Concepts, and CISA certification, offered in-class, online, or hybrid formats with four quarterly cohorts. Professional services include Application Security, Network Security, Penetration Testing, Risk Assessment, SOX Compliance, Security Assessment & Authorization, Security Incident Response, and Third Party Assessment.

Product overview

SmartThink LLC is a cybersecurity training and professional IT services company offering a portfolio of instructor-led and online training programs along with professional security services. The core training offerings include Cyber Security GRC Skill Training (covering standards, tools, policies, and risk management), Basic IT Concepts Training (computer literacy for beginners), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Training. These are offered as individual courses or as a bundled 3-in-1 package program. Professional services include Application Security, Network Security, Penetration Testing, Risk Assessment, Security Assessment & Authorization (SA&A), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Compliance, Security Incident Response, and Third Party Assessment. The company operates on a quarterly course schedule with sessions offered in-class, online, or hybrid formats throughout the year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Application Security Integration of secure development activities over the entire software development process to help clients build safer and more secure software.
• Penetration Testing Security testing service with extensive knowledge in Identity Governance & Administration, Vulnerability & Access Risk Management, Password Management, and Penetration Testing to design and build end-to-end security solutions.
• Network Security External Vulnerability Assessments that identify and examine network vulnerabilities for external, Internet-facing systems to determine whether they can be exploited by attackers to compromise systems.
• Risk Assessment Cybersecurity risk assessment that identifies information assets affected by cyber attacks and the various risks that could affect those assets.
• Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Section 404 Compliance Compliance consulting service helping organizations address immediate priorities and think longer-term for creating sustainable value through SOX Section 404 compliance.
• Security Assessment & Authorization (SA&A) Security authorization and assessment service with extensive experience and measurable track record attaining accreditation for numerous information systems, streamlining the C&A process.
• Security Incident Response Incident response management service that helps control risks, cost, and exposure while developing robust defense against attacks to save organizations millions.
• Third Party Assessment (TPA) Effective and efficient Third Party Assessment program with various entry points through the TPA lifecycle to help clients assess their programs.
• Cyber Security Training Instructor-led and online training covering cyber security standards, techniques, and best practices to reduce risks and prevent or mitigate cyber-attacks. Includes hands-on training experience with real-life documentations, artifacts, and templates. Offered quarterly across in-class, online, and hybrid formats.
• Basic IT Concepts Training Computer literacy training for people new to computers, covering web browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, email programs, and Internet fundamentals.
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Training Preparation course for CISA certification, the standard of achievement for auditing, monitoring, and assessing IT and business systems, including coverage of emerging technologies like AI and blockchain.
• Cyber Security GRC Skill Training Q3 | September 2025 12-week comprehensive cybersecurity training covering standards, tools, policies, security concepts, risk management approaches, and best practices. Part of a 3-in-1 program including Basic Computer Training and CISA Certification Training.
• Certified Information Systems Auditor Q3 | September 2025 4-week course covering IT auditing, monitoring, and assessment of IT and business systems. Includes coverage of AI, blockchain, Python, Linux, SQL, and SIEM tools.
• Basic IT Concepts Q3 | September 2025 8-week course covering basic computer literacy including web browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, and email programs. Designed for people new to computers or with limited exposure.
• Zoom Consultation Appointment Zoom meeting consultation sessions priced at $70 per 90-minute session for advisory services and course information.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of trained participants become Information Security Professionals with salaries ranging from $83,000 to $135,000 annual or $43/hr to $75/hr
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GooglecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020SmartThink LLC is a marketing Partner with Google for advertising and promotional activities.
• FacebookcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020SmartThink LLC is a marketing Partner with Facebook for advertising and promotional activities.
• AutodeskminorOthersPartner logo displayed on website indicating some form of partnership or integration relationship.
• MicrosoftminorOthersPartner logo displayed on website indicating some form of partnership or integration relationship.
• VMwareminorOthersPartner logo displayed on website indicating some form of partnership or integration relationship.
• CertiportminorOthersPartner logo displayed on website indicating some form of partnership or certification relationship.
• PrometricminorOthersPartner logo displayed on website indicating some form of partnership or testing/certification relationship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• SANS Institute: Largest dedicated cybersecurity training provider globally, offering instructor-led courses, certifications (GSEC, GIAC), and security training across the same federal/commercial buyer base SmartThink serves. Closest peer on curriculum depth and federal/government market.
• Cybrary: Online cybersecurity training platform with practitioner-focused courses and career pathways. Competes for the same individual-learner segment, especially those moving into InfoSec careers.
• EC-Council: Cybersecurity certification body (CEH, ECSA) with instructor-led and online training aimed at career changers and professionals seeking InfoSec credentials — directly comparable to SmartThink's learner profile.
• OffSec (Offensive Security): Provider of hands-on offensive security training (OSCP) and penetration testing education. Competes with SmartThink's penetration testing and cybersecurity technical skills training content.
• (ISC)²: Governs the CISSP and other leading cybersecurity certifications and runs training programs that overlap directly with SmartThink's CISA prep and InfoSec training offerings.
• Infosec Institute: Cybersecurity training and certification provider serving both individual learners and enterprise/government buyers; highly comparable GTM motion to SmartThink.

Broad incumbents

• Pluralsight: Large-scale technology skills platform with a broad catalog that includes cybersecurity tracks. Larger, better-capitalized competitor in the IT/computer training category.
• Coursera: Hosts cybersecurity specializations from IBM, Google, and universities that compete with SmartThink's online and self-paced offerings at lower price points.

Emerging players

• KnowBe4: Specializes in security awareness and phishing simulation training rather than deep technical certification, but operates in adjacent cybersecurity training buyer relationships at enterprises and government agencies.

Regional players

• NPower: Nonprofit providing IT and cybersecurity training and career pathways to underrepresented and career-transitioning talent, overlapping with SmartThink's career-changer segment and federal/community-focused mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Smartthinkllc2
• Facebookfacebook.com/SmartThinkllc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SmartThink