What Counter Hack does

Counter Hack Innovations is a privately held cybersecurity consulting firm founded in 2010 by Ed Skoudis, a recognized authority on penetration testing and security strategy, who continues to serve as CEO and Founder. The company delivers expert-led offensive and defensive security services — penetration testing, red teaming, purple teaming, gap analysis, security architecture review, and tabletop exercises — across 12 industry verticals, with named engagements spanning nonprofit cybersecurity standards (Center for Internet Security), industry conferences (RSA Conference), and cloud/virtualization infrastructure (Omnissa). The team of approximately 16 visible members is led by 2 SANS Institute Fellows, an industry first, and the senior group collectively holds over 200 years of InfoSec experience, has authored 29 information security courses, and has taught more than 50,000 students worldwide.

Underlying capability is human-expert-driven rather than software-delivered. Services simulate real-world adversary techniques across web applications, AI systems, mobile apps, networks, cloud environments, and APIs, producing detailed assessments and actionable remediation guidance. The firm's intellectual footprint extends beyond consulting through 29 authored InfoSec courses and the annual Holiday Hack Challenge, a free community cybersecurity game that doubles as a brand-building and talent-pipeline asset.

Counter Hack operates a sales-led, direct enterprise go-to-market. Clients initiate engagement through a website contact form or direct email ([email protected]), and engagements are scoped and quoted on a project basis as professional services. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, institutional investors, or external funding rounds, and there is no evidence of acquisitions, divestitures, or recapitalizations in the available data. Operating geographies and office locations are not specified.

Name

Counter Hack

Legal name

Counter Hack Innovations

Website

https://counterhack.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Counter Hack Innovations is a private cybersecurity consulting firm founded in 2010 that delivers expert-led penetration testing, red teaming, purple teaming, and security assessments to enterprise clients across 12 industry verticals, led by 2 SANS Institute Fellows.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Consulting Services

NAICS

Other Computer Related Services (541519)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Penetration Testing & Red Teaming (BPAKADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vulnerability Management & Penetration Testing Services (BPAEADAD), Vulnerability Assessment, Security Audits & Compliance Testing (BPAKAHAG), Penetration Testing, Red Team & Ethical Hacking (EDAOAIAH), Cybersecurity Training & Awareness Programs (BPAEANAF)

Keywords

• Penetration testing services
• Red team assessments
• Purple team exercises
• Security architecture review
• Incident response consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Wall, NJ

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Cybersecurity Services: Project-based professional services revenue from penetration testing, red teaming, purple teaming, gap analysis, security architecture reviews, and tabletop exercises. Services are scoped and delivered with detailed reporting and actionable remediation strategies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Counter Hack Innovations delivers expert-led cybersecurity consulting services focused on penetration testing, red teaming, purple teaming, gap analysis, security architecture reviews, and tabletop exercises. Services simulate real-world attack techniques across web applications, AI systems, mobile apps, networks, cloud environments, and APIs to identify vulnerabilities and provide actionable remediation strategies for enterprise clients. The firm also operates the Holiday Hack Challenge, a free community gamified cybersecurity training platform.

Product overview

Counter Hack is a cybersecurity services company offering a portfolio of professional consulting services centered on penetration testing and security assessments. The core offerings include Penetration Testing (covering web applications, AI systems, mobile apps, networks, cloud, and APIs), Purple Teaming, Red Teaming, Gap Analysis, Security Architecture Review, and Table Top Exercises. Additionally, the company operates the Holiday Hack Challenge, a free community platform/game for cybersecurity skill development. All services are delivered by senior cybersecurity experts and are designed to help organizations identify vulnerabilities, strengthen defenses, and improve incident response capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Holiday Hack Challenge: A fun and whimsical holiday-themed game environment for people across the globe to hone their cyber skills and help Santa save the holidays from nefarious foes.

Products and services

• Penetration Testing

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bishop Fox: Boutique offensive security firm offering penetration testing, red teaming, and security assessments with a similarly elite practitioner brand. Closely comparable in service mix, customer profile, and boutique high-touch delivery model.
• TrustedSec: Well-known boutique offensive security firm specializing in penetration testing, red teaming, and security assessments. Closely comparable in boutique high-expertise positioning and practitioner-led delivery.
• Praetorian: Cybersecurity firm offering penetration testing, red teaming, and attack surface management. Similar boutique-to-mid-market offensive security focus with comparable services and customer base.
• NetSPI: Penetration testing and attack surface management company with a broader platform-enabled delivery model. Comparable service portfolio (pentest, red team) with deeper productization than Counter Hack.

Broad incumbents

• Optiv: Large cybersecurity solutions integrator delivering advisory, penetration testing, and managed security services. Comparable on enterprise security assessments but with a much broader portfolio and channel-driven model.
• Mandiant (Google Cloud): Premier incident response and red team consultancy now part of Google Cloud. Overlaps with Counter Hack on red teaming, penetration testing, and adversary simulation but operates at significantly larger scale and broader service scope.
• NCC Group: Global cybersecurity consultancy providing pentesting, red teaming, and security advisory across many verticals. Comparable in core offensive services but with much broader scale, geographic reach, and an integrated product/managed services portfolio.
• Coalfire: Cybersecurity advisory firm offering penetration testing, compliance testing, and risk assessments. Overlaps with Counter Hack on vulnerability assessment, security audits, and gap analysis but at larger scale with broader compliance focus.
• CrowdStrike Services: Endpoint and incident response leader that also delivers adversary simulation, red team, and penetration testing services. Overlaps in offensive security engagements but anchored by a massive product platform.

Others

• SANS Institute: Premier cybersecurity training and certification organization with which Counter Hack's founders are affiliated as Fellows. Comparable in InfoSec education and course authorship, and serves as both a talent pipeline and ecosystem partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/counter-hack-challenges-llc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

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 Counter Hack