This Baltimore company is gamifying cybersecurity training

Point3 Security is taking a new approach to teaching cybersecurity.
The ETC-based firm is getting set to release Escalate, a training platform that uses gamified challenges to educate students in a variety of areas of cybersecurity. It’s designed to provide immersive training. But rather than classes, it presents materials as a series of self-paced activities with hints and a leaderboard. According to Point3, it focuses on areas including malware reverse engineering, network security, disk and memory forensics, vulnerability research, offensive/defensive ops and software development.
While the company initially launched with its own security platform, team members have been involved in training efforts. Point3 created an environment to test out new skills with a lighter side at events like the Capture The Flag challenge at BSides Charm in 2015, and getting involved in education at YearUp Baltimore. With the platform, the company is looking to offer training with an approach that’s outside traditional models, but remains aligned with industry standards.
Point3 recently released a demo of Escalate, allowing users to complete three challenges. It’s available here.
A wider launch is planned, in partnership with Greenbelt-based cybersecurity training marketplace Cybrary. It’s offered on pre-sale through that platform as of this week. Point3 CEO Evan Dornbush called Cybrary an “ideal partner.”
“They have built a rapidly growing user base on years of trust and content curation,” he said. “By working with Cybrary and their community, Point3 can continue to focus on delivering the most meaningful, relevant, and enjoyable content to those members.”
Fittingly, Point3 plans a wider release of Escalate on Cyber Monday.