What Cyber Defense Center does

The Cyber Defense Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 in Dallas, Texas and headquartered in Castle Rock, Colorado, specializing in wartime and critical-infrastructure cyber defense. It serves organizations where cyber failures carry high real-world consequences—including electric and water utilities, hospitals, K-12 schools, municipalities, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations—through a combination of strategic advisory, readiness assessments, incident response, and tabletop exercises. The Center is the only U.S. organization it identifies as specializing in wartime cyber consulting for critical infrastructure, anchored by proprietary frameworks such as the Jefferson Cyber Defense Doctrine, the Force Posture Advisory System (a 5-level threat escalation scale currently at Level 4, Cyber Conflict), and the Wartime Objective Model.

The Center's product portfolio centers on the ThreatSpire cyber defense platform for measuring defensive capability, supported by Force Labs (a technology incubation arm launched in August 2023 with 50+ capability projects), The Breach Report (investigative cyber journalism), and the ASCEND Academy (training and certification programs including CRIT-11 for AI risk, OTSEC for operational technology, GridSim for electric-grid simulation, and three-tier progressive certifications CDAC/CDPC/CDEC). Content assets include 12 consecutive years of Annual Vulgarabilities Reports and a Force Posture Podcast.

Revenue is generated through a transparent cost-plus professional services model for High Consequence Consulting and training/certification programs, supplemented by donations to the 501(c)(3) charitable mission and event revenue from the Cyber Defense Summit and community fun-raisers. With only 5 employees, the Center operates on a relationship-based, founder-led GTM motion that combines direct consulting outreach, community engagement, conference presence at BSIDES Denver and DEFCON, and partnerships with the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, FBI InfraGard, and academic institutions.

Name

Cyber Defense Center

Legal name

Cyber Defense Center

Website

https://cyberdefensecenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cyber Defense Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 that provides wartime cyber consulting, training, and readiness services to critical infrastructure operators, municipalities, schools, and nonprofits across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Castle Rock , Colorado

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. High Consequence Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for organizations where cybersecurity failures create significant real-world consequences. Services include strategic advisory, readiness assessments, incident response, tabletop exercises, and advanced training. Operates on a transparent cost-plus model.
2. Training and Certification Programs: Revenue from training programs including CRIT-11, OTSEC, Purple Team Operations, Incident Response Training, and executive cyber readiness. Certification programs include CDAC, CDPC, and CDEC credentials.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the organization accepts donations to support its charitable mission of collective defense and workforce development. Has helped raise nearly $250,000 for other nonprofit organizations.
4. Event Revenue: Revenue from events including the Cyber Defense Summit, community fundraising events, and fun-raisers. Events include Whiskey Wager, Whiskey River Race, and various community engagement activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Cyber Defense Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides high-consequence cyber defense consulting, training, certifications, and research for critical infrastructure operators, nonprofits, municipalities, schools, and other organizations. Its portfolio includes the ThreatSpire defensive capability platform, Force Labs technology development arm, ASCEND Academy capability-based training with progressive certifications (CDAC, CDPC, CDEC), specialized programs (CRIT-11, OTSEC, GridSim, DroneWarz), and the Annual Vulgarabilities Report. Services are delivered through a transparent cost-plus model under the ASCEND | DEFEND philosophy.

Product overview

The Cyber Defense Center offers a portfolio of cyber defense products and services organized around its ASCEND (workforce development) and DEFEND (collective defense) philosophy. The core product is ThreatSpire, a cyber defense platform for measuring, visualizing, and improving defensive capability. This is supported by Force Labs (technology development arm incubating 50+ capabilities), The Breach Report (investigative journalism), and ASCEND Academy (training and certifications). Key training products include CRIT-11 (AI risk training), OTSEC (operational technology security), GridSim (electric grid simulation), and the Annual Vulgarabilities Report (threat forecasting). The Center provides progressive certifications (CDAC, CDPC, CDEC) and specialized consulting services including wartime cyber consulting for nation-state threats and fraud defense. The Jefferson Cyber Defense Doctrine provides the strategic framework for collective defense during cyber conflict.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASCEND Academy: Workforce development and capability building program that develops defenders through education, mentorship, research, hands-on experience, and professional development.
• DEFEND
• ThreatSpire
• Force Labs
• The Breach Report
• OTSEC
• CRIT-11
• DroneWarz
• GridSim

Products and services

• ThreatSpire Cyber defense platform designed to help organizations measure, visualize, and improve defensive capability by combining research, intelligence, operational readiness, and performance measurement into a common operating picture.
• Force Labs Technology development arm that researches, incubates, and develops innovative cyber defense technologies, including 50+ capability incubations and licensing research with Department of Energy National Labs to develop commercial applications for critical infrastructure cybersecurity.
• The Breach Report Investigative cyber journalism and breach awareness initiative dedicated to reporting cyber incidents, sharing threat intelligence, and improving public awareness through a public breach database.
• ASCEND Academy Training division that develops defenders at every layer of cyber defense through capability-based training, authentic assessments, and progressive certifications, including workforce awareness, operational technology, executive leadership, and product assurance programs.
• CRIT-11 AI Risk and Critical Infrastructure Training Model AI Risk and Critical Infrastructure Training Model that trains AI copilots for critical infrastructure protection and addresses AI resilience in cyber defense environments.
• OTSEC Training Program Operational Technology Security training program designed to improve OT and critical infrastructure cybersecurity capabilities through immersive, hands-on education including industrial control systems security training.
• GridSim Interactive electric grid and operational technology simulation environment developed to provide realistic OT cybersecurity training outside of national laboratory environments.
• Annual Vulgarabilities Report Annual vulnerability forecasting and trend analysis publication with 12 consecutive years of research predicting cyber threats and demand patterns.
• Cyber Defense Certification Pathway (CDAC, CDPC, CDEC) Three-tier progressive certification pathway including Cyber Defense Associate Certification (CDAC, entry-level), Cyber Defense Professional Certification (CDPC, intermediate), and Cyber Defense Expert Certification (CDEC, advanced).
• High Consequence Consulting Services Consulting services for organizations where operational disruption, cyber attack, fraud, or infrastructure compromise can create significant real-world consequences, including strategic advisory, readiness assessments, incident response, tabletop exercises, and operational defense consulting.
• Wartime Cyber Consulting Specialized consulting for critical infrastructure organizations facing nation-state threats and sustained attacks during wartime conditions, including wartime readiness assessments and response planning.
• Fraud Defense and Financial Integrity Services Integrated model of cybersecurity and fraud defense addressing the overlap between cyber compromise, financial abuse, operational manipulation, and insider exploitation, including AI-driven fraud detection training and fraud defense engineering.
• DroneWarz Educational and community outreach platform for drone and robotics security, adversarial simulation, and cyber-physical defense, originally launched within DefCon R00tz program and expanded into a full hacking village at DEFCON.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 15 years of service supporting workforce development, critical infrastructure protection, and national cyber readiness
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arapahoe Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2024Partnership with Arapahoe Community College Sturm Collaboration Campus Cyber Lab for collegiate cyber competitions (STORM@STURM). Organized, designed flags, donated trophies, food, and prizes to help students enrich cybersecurity education through competition.
• University of Texas at DallascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Early community programs launched in partnership with University of Texas at Dallas in 2012, bringing students, faculty, researchers, and industry professionals together in support of the public interest. Early successes in cyber investigations, vulnerability research, and threat analysis expanded the organization's mission and impact.
• North Texas Crime Commission Cyber CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Founder Erin Patrick Owens served as ranking member of the North Texas Crime Commission Cyber Committee, contributing to early national discussions on critical infrastructure protection, intelligence-sharing, and cyber defense strategy.
• North Texas InfraGard (FBI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Founder Erin Patrick Owens served as President of North Texas InfraGard, the FBI's premier cyber outreach partnership. Active roles in shaping regional and national mutual protection initiatives aligned with National Infrastructure Protection Plan.
• EC-CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDroneWarz program contributed drone hacking workshop course development to EC-Council in 2020, passing program advancements forward to the industry. Collaboration on STORM initiatives.
• Veterans Whiskey SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for community fundraising events including Whiskey Wager, Whiskey River Race, and other fun-raiser activities. Collaborated on silent auctions and events supporting veteran causes.
• FatSharkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with FatShark on Vision Quest FPV drone competition, developing the enclosed three-dimensional maze for Tiny Whoop-class aircraft competitions.
• Department of EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships and collaborative initiatives with U.S. Department of Energy including research contributions supporting emerging drone defense capabilities and critical infrastructure protection. Licensing research with Department of Energy National Labs to develop commercial applications for new cybersecurity products designed for critical infrastructure.
• Threat5minorGTM or Marketing PartnerForce Labs partner sponsoring the Force Labs Crime Fighter Launch Party. Supports the organization's cybercrime mission focused on community digital investigations.
• National Science FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch Advisory Committee chartered to provide initiation and oversight of research grants with the Department of Energy or National Science Foundation. Members oversee grant-related projects to ensure filings, representations, and financials are managed appropriately.
• Force LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForce Labs is the Cyber Defense Center's technology development arm. Founded as a first-of-its-kind innovation and incubation laboratory dedicated to cybersecurity research, education, outreach, workforce development, and community engagement. Focuses on 2 primary mandates: Innovation and Incubation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cyberdefensecenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Cyber Defense Center