PISCES International

What PISCES International does

PISCES International (Public Infrastructure Security Cyber Education System) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded around 2015 and headquartered in Bremerton, Washington. It operates a dual-purpose model that pairs no-cost network monitoring for small public sector organizations with hands-on cybersecurity training for college students. Through state-level agreements and academic partnerships spanning 20+ states, PISCES deploys network taps and collection hardware at qualifying municipalities, schools, nonprofits, public utilities, and rural healthcare providers. Student analysts at 20+ partner colleges and universities monitor live network metadata and intrusion detection alerts inside an isolated Cyber Range environment, escalating credible threats to partner IT staff. As of the most recent disclosures, PISCES reports protecting approximately 30 public sector organizations and training roughly 600 students, with 35% of program graduates securing cybersecurity jobs within six months.

The underlying technology stack is built on the ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) with embedded intrusion detection, network taps or spanning-port collection, hardened Docker containers, TLS encryption with rotating certificates, and ticket management via MantisBT. Data flows are strictly one-way into the Cyber Range, and physical/virtual isolation is enforced per state with periodic National Guard security testing. Critically, only network metadata (packet headers and IDS alerts) is collected — no personal, financial, or private content — which is central to the model's acceptability to public sector partners. Adjacent products include the Try Cyber web app (15-minute micro-challenges across ten NICE Framework work roles) and the NICE Challenge Project / XP Cyber virtualized challenge platform.

PISCES is funded through Department of Homeland Security grants, state appropriations, and tax-deductible donations rather than commercial fees. The organization has 16 employees and operates with heavy reliance on student labor and volunteer engagement. Pricing is freemium: services are free for organizations with fewer than 150 employees, while larger organizations receive 1-2 year agreements with an expectation of transitioning to commercial solutions. Distribution is state-led (state appropriations and grant funding unlock deployment) and university-led (academic institutions serve as both delivery channels for training and labor pools for monitoring). The leadership team is anchored by co-founders Michael Hamilton (former CISO of Seattle) and Steve Stein (38-year PNNL veteran), with Dr. Michael Tsikerdekis (Western Washington University) serving as Technical Advisory Chair.

Name

PISCES International

Legal name

PISCES International

Website

https://pisces-intl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PISCES International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that delivers no-cost network cybersecurity monitoring to small public sector organizations while training college students as entry-level security analysts through a state-university partnership model spanning 20+ U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Sector Cybersecurity Services

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Security Systems Monitoring & Dispatch (SOC/Remote Guarding) (IMAIAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Security Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Advisory (BPAKADAG), Data Protection, Privacy & Information Handling (PII/PHI/PCI) Training (EDABAGAD), Cyber-Physical Security & Integrated Security Management (PSIM, SOC) (EDAEACAM)

Keywords

• Public sector cybersecurity
• Network monitoring services
• Security operations training
• Cyber threat detection
• Cybersecurity workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: PISCES is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded primarily through donations from partners and community members, Department of Homeland Security grants, and state government appropriations. The organization solicits tax-deductible donations for large or recurring contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PISCES International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides no-cost cybersecurity event monitoring to small municipalities, schools, nonprofits, and public utilities using deployed collection hardware and a Cyber Range environment. Concurrently, it runs a hands-on student analyst training program at partner colleges and universities, using live network data from public-sector partners as training material to prepare students for cybersecurity careers.

Product overview

PISCES International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a dual-purpose cybersecurity platform: (1) No-cost network monitoring services for public sector organizations including municipalities, schools, nonprofits, and rural healthcare providers, and (2) a student workforce training program that prepares entry-level cybersecurity analysts through hands-on experience with live security operations. The core offerings include network monitoring hardware, early detection and response capabilities, continuous security monitoring, and direct mentorship from industry professionals. Supporting products include Try Cyber (a web app for cyber role exploration), the NICE Challenge Project/XP Cyber platform (virtualized cybersecurity challenges), and academic curriculum resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• No-Cost Network Monitoring Service Provides free cybersecurity event monitoring to small municipalities, schools, nonprofits, and public utilities through deployed collection hardware that monitors network traffic and generates security alerts.
• Early Detection and Response Real-time threat monitoring and incident detection service that identifies potential cyberattacks before they cause harm, enabling rapid response and remediation for public sector partners.
• Continuous Security Monitoring Ongoing surveillance of network infrastructure protecting critical public sector systems against evolving cyber threats, delivered via PISCES' Cyber Range and student analyst teams.
• Student Analyst Training Program Hands-on workforce development program that trains college and university students as entry-level security analysts using real network data from public sector partners inside a Cyber Range.
• Direct Mentorship Program Industry professionals provide guidance to students preparing for cybersecurity careers, enhancing workforce readiness and job placement outcomes.
• Try Cyber Web application providing free 15-minute hands-on micro-challenges that let cyber-curious participants experience day-one internship scenarios across ten supported NICE Framework cyber work roles.
• NICE Challenge Project (XP Cyber) Real-world hands-on cybersecurity challenge platform built around in-demand technical cyber work roles, taking place in fully virtualized business environments and freely available to US-based academic users through educator-curated access.

Quantifiable outcome

• 35% of program graduates secure cybersecurity jobs within 6 months
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered featured, key and core.

• CYBER.ORGfeaturedStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026CYBER.ORG, the academic initiative of the Cyber Innovation Center (CIC), empowers educators and leaders who will shape a resilient and future-ready cyber workforce. The partnership supports cybersecurity education and workforce preparation.
• State of Hawaii / Cyber Hawai'i / University of Hawai'ikeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025PISCES partnered with the State of Hawaii, Cyber Hawai'i, and University of Hawai'i to bring cyber monitoring to local governments, public utilities, and rural healthcare. University of Hawai'i serves as the lead school for Analyst curriculum, SOC Operations, and Operational Technology Monitoring classes in community colleges statewide. Hawaii will use state and local cybersecurity grant program funding.
• Spokane Falls Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2024Partnership between SFCC's cyber program and PISCES allows students to gain real work experience as cyber analysts. Students complete IS 248 Security Operations Center Analyst pilot course, receiving certificates recognized by PISCES and Department of Homeland Security.
• Intersect Insight LLCkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024Intersect Insight LLC, an international business development and enterprise viability consultancy, partnered with PISCES International to expand its global presence. Initial focus is on Europe and U.K., identifying opportunities for partnerships among international universities, cybersecurity agencies, and community organizations.
• University of Macedonia (Greece)keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2024Dr. Michael Tsikerdekis, PISCES Technical Advisory Chair and U.S. Fulbright Scholar, will spend 6 months in Greece in 2025 researching implementation of PISCES at University of Macedonia, working with Professor Ioannis Mavridis.
• Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023MSU Denver's Cybersecurity program supports 10 public sector customers including school districts, county governments, and fire department. Student analysts provide monitoring services with escalation to National Cybersecurity Center.
• National Cybersecurity CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023Colorado Springs-based nonprofit that receives escalated security concerns from PISCES student analysts and passes on details to affected organizations. Promotes cybersecurity innovation, education, and workforce development.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPNNL supports PISCES through the Northwest Regional Technology Center for Homeland Security. Founder Steve Stein retired from PNNL after 38 years where he served as Senior Program Manager and Director of the Northwest Research and Technology Center.
• Western Washington UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads onboarding for new academic institutions and maintains the master curriculum for PISCES. Erik Fretheim serves as Director of Cybersecurity Programs. Michael Tsikerdekis serves as Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee.
• University of MontanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Montana launched PISCES program in Big Sky Country with student interns working in the Security Operations Center, monitoring real network data and discovering threats such as malware on community partner networks.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Generation: Global nonprofit that trains and places under-served learners into technology careers — a peer in workforce-development model and outcome-driven training for in-demand cyber/tech roles.
• MS-ISAC (Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center): A division of CIS that delivers no-cost cybersecurity services to U.S. state, local, tribal, and territorial governments — the closest comparable in scale, mission, and customer segment to PISCES.
• Per Scholas: Nonprofit that provides tuition-free IT and cybersecurity training to under-resourced individuals, with strong job-placement outcomes — closely comparable to PISCES's workforce-development arm targeting under-served populations.
• CyberPatriot (Air Force Association): National youth cyber education program that combines competitions with workforce pipeline development — comparable in building a cyber-talent funnel through structured educational programs.
• National Cybersecurity Center (NCC): Colorado Springs-based nonprofit that partners with PISCES for escalation; offers cybersecurity education, innovation, and workforce development similar to PISCES's dual mission.
• Center for Internet Security (CIS): Nonprofit that provides free cybersecurity tools, best-practice frameworks, and the MS-ISAC for state/local government — directly comparable to PISCES in serving under-resourced public-sector entities with a mission-driven, non-commercial model.
• NPower: Nonprofit delivering technology workforce training and job placement to under-resourced communities — comparable mission and student-segment focus to PISCES's student analyst program.
• CYBER.ORG: Academic initiative of the Cyber Innovation Center focused on K-12 and educator cybersecurity workforce preparation — a direct peer in mission-aligned, nonprofit cyber-education delivery.

Emerging players

• Arctic Wolf: Commercial managed detection and response (MDR) provider increasingly targeting small municipalities, schools, and SMBs — comparable end-customer segment to PISCES, but as a paid commercial alternative.

Broad incumbents

• SANS Institute: Incumbent cybersecurity training and certification organization — comparable in the workforce-development and certification leg of PISCES, though broader and commercial rather than free/nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pisces-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 PISCES International