Cybersecurity training company Cybrary just raised a $25M Series C

On the heels of several power moves, College Park, Maryland cybersecurity company Cybrary just landed a $25 million Series C round.

The round was led by BuildGroup and Gula Tech Adventures. Both entities are current investors in Cybrary, a training platform for cybersecurity professionals. With the funding, Cybrary said it will boost research and development in its engineering, product and marketing teams as well as add new instructors. It also plans to grow the Cybrary Threat Intelligence Group. To date, the company has raised $48 million.

On top of the funding news, Cybrary also added Kevin Mandia, CEO of Mandiant, to its board. Mandia’s just the latest in a number of new players to get involved with Cybrary over the past year. In October, Kevin Hanes became the company’s new CEO, followed by the appointments of Rob Usey as CTO, Charlie Booth as CFO, Mary Fad as VP of marketing and Tonya Butler as VP of people in March. In May, David Maynor became the new head of the Cybrary Threat Intelligence Group and Chloé Messdaghi was named its chief impact officer.

According to Hanes, while its mission from the beginning was to make it easier to enter the cyber industry, this new wave will also help career-long support.

“Since the very beginning, our mission was and still is to break down barriers to entering the cybersecurity industry for individuals, no matter their background or experience,” Hanes told Technical.ly in an email. “Ramping up our in-house cybersecurity expertise has enabled us to create a new training style focused on hands-on skills and understanding real-world threats and vulnerabilities. While Cybrary has historically been focused on helping people enter the workforce and earn their fundamental certifications, the additions to our platform allow us to support these individuals in their journey long after they land their first role.”

Cybrary last raised in 2019, with a $15 million Series B round that Texas-based BuildGroup also led. Columbia-based Gula Tech Adventures also took part in the round alongside Arthur Ventures, another existing investor. Gula President Ron Gula joined the company’s board through that raise.

The latest round showcases the current push for cyber talent in the area, according to Cybrary. The company reports over 3 million industry professionals using its training courses and certifications as businesses look to beef up their cyber protection.

In DC specifically, Hanes said, Cybrary has added resources in the public sector, but he encourages all companies to take a closer look at their cyber needs.

“The way I see it, people are the most essential piece of any cybersecurity program,” Hanes said. “Bringing more people into the space and building their skills is becoming more widely recognized as a critical need for organizations, which is a step in the right direction.”