Developing and maintaining cyber security skills.
Cyberrey and Hack The Box: A Transformative Partnership for Africa
In a groundbreaking move for the cybersecurity landscape in Africa, Cyberrey, a prominent pan-African cybersecurity distributor, has joined forces with Hack The Box (HTB). This innovative partnership aims to revolutionize the development and maintenance of cybersecurity skills across the continent. By leveraging HTB’s cutting-edge platforms, Cyberrey is set to empower organisations, governments, and academic institutions in Africa to elevate their cybersecurity capabilities.
The Importance of Evolving Cybersecurity Skills
As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated and persistent, the defenders must also adapt. This collaboration brings HTB’s immersive, gamified learning environments to the forefront, providing a unique opportunity for businesses and institutions to engage in practical, hands-on learning experiences that mimic real-world attack scenarios.
The Shift from Theory to Strategy
Building High-Performing Cybersecurity Teams
In a rapidly evolving threat landscape, traditional training methods struggle to keep pace. Hack The Box offers a transformative solution by moving beyond static curricula and sporadic certifications. Their platform integrates a data-driven approach to cybersecurity readiness, blending gamified learning, realistic labs, capture-the-flag (CTF) competitions, and skill benchmarking into a cohesive environment.
“Hack The Box is more than just an upskilling platform – it’s a cyber performance engine,” highlights Abdullah Kaymakci, Head of Business Development and Channel Strategy at Cyberrey. “This partnership addresses one of Africa’s foremost cybersecurity challenges: the lack of contextual, hands-on skill development.” With HTB, organisations are empowered to build elite teams capable of confronting real threats instead of merely checking compliance boxes.
Transforming Skills Data into Strategic Insights
At the core of HTB’s value proposition is its ability to convert skills data into strategic insights. The CTFs, often dismissed as mere games, serve as essential diagnostic tools that uncover specific skill gaps in high-pressure environments. This data can be mapped to tailored job-specific learning paths, facilitating targeted remediation and skill enhancement through HTB Academy.
From Gaps to Greatness
Operationalising Skills Data for Growth
During its recent Benchmarking Masterclass webinar, HTB spotlighted the importance of integrating CTFs into a structured workforce development strategy. The emphasis was clear: skills benchmarking should focus on fostering growth through visibility and intentionality rather than merely identifying weaknesses.
Through HTB, managers can:
- Benchmark individual and team capabilities in realistic threat scenarios.
- Map CTF tasks to specific technical competencies (e.g., memory forensics, ransomware response, cloud privilege escalation).
- Use HTB Academy to tailor upskilling efforts to address specific skill gaps.
- Alternate between theory and practical labs to reinforce learning.
- Monitor progress and dynamically adjust learning paths.
“The cyber battlefield doesn’t wait for theory to catch up,” asserts Aadil Khan, Channel Director for Africa at Cyberrey. “HTB empowers organisations to diagnose skill deficiencies in real-time and respond with precision, which is crucial for Africa’s security ecosystem.”
Upskilling at Scale
A Solution for Enterprises, Governments, and Universities
Cyberrey’s extensive regional expertise, combined with HTB’s innovative platform, presents a compelling offering for various sectors. Enterprises can enhance their Security Operations Center (SOC), red teams, Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR), and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) capabilities. Government agencies can benchmark cyber readiness among departments, while universities can equip students with vital real-world skills before graduation.
HTB’s solutions align with global standards like MITRE ATT&CK, NICE/NIST, and DoD 8140 frameworks, making them particularly suitable for public sector and compliance-driven organisations. By embedding a culture of upskilling—through initiatives like ‘Hack The Box Fridays’ and monthly cross-team exercises—organisations can make skill development an integral part of their operations rather than a reaction to emerging threats.
Cyber Performance is People-First
The human element of cybersecurity is paramount. HTB’s community-centric approach—boasting over 3.5 million global users—makes for an engaging and collaborative learning environment. This vibrant community encourages continuous challenge and growth, expanding its reach across the UK, US, Australia, and Greece, with Cyberrey leading the charge in Africa.
“Learning is the number one motivator for cyber professionals—more than pay or time off,” states Giacomo Bertollo, Head of Product Marketing at HTB. “By investing in ongoing upskilling, organisations not only retain talent but also bolster their defenses and prepare for the future.”
About Hack The Box
Hack The Box is the premier Cyber Performance Center dedicated to fostering high-performance cybersecurity individuals and organisations. HTB uniquely combines upskilling, workforce development, and a human-centric focus, earning the trust of organisations worldwide to enhance their teams’ capabilities. Established in 2017, HTB connects the largest global cybersecurity community, with a rapidly expanding presence in the UK, US, Australia, and Greece.
About Cyberrey
Cyberrey serves as a value-added cybersecurity distributor, delivering innovative solutions to African enterprises, critical infrastructure operators, government entities, and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs). With a portfolio that encompasses both offensive and defensive tools, incident response capabilities, and data protection platforms, Cyberrey is committed to securing Africa’s digital future, one partnership at a time.
