Authors

Ryan Cox

Founder, Defend the Org

Security Engineer, Software Developer, and Creator

Ryan Cox

Most recent articles by Ryan Cox

The Dualist, Defend the Org's Purple Team mentor, holding red attack data in one hand and a blue shield in the other, under the words Purple Team: New Labs

What Is Purple Teaming? How to Practice on DefendTheOrg

Purple teaming explained: how red and blue run an adversary emulation exercise together, what a coverage call is, and how to practice it in a browser.

Drills on Defend the Org

Drills: A New Way to Learn

Bite-sized cybersecurity practice, sized to the time you actually have — one question over coffee, ten before a meeting, or a full session when you want one.

Guided Paths on Defend the Org

Introducing Guided Paths

Don't let the overwhelm of learning cybersecurity hold you back. Paths bring structure for you to achieve your career goals.

The Weekly Challenge and the Defenders Club

The Weekly Challenge and Defenders Club

One lab a week for the whole platform to compete, and a place to connect with fellow defenders.

Four armored Defend the Org characters on glowing pedestals, one for each new skill: scripting, code review, system design and threat modeling

Security Engineering Skills to Learn: 4 New Defend the Org Skills

Scripting, code review, system design and threat modeling: four security engineering skills added to Defend the Org since launch, and how to practice each one.

Hack The Box vs Defend the Org comparison

Hack The Box vs Defend the Org: An Honest Comparison (2026)

How Hack The Box and Defend the Org compare on blue team training, skills taught, certifications, career paths, and pricing — and which one fits your goals.

Practice Cybersecurity Like the Professionals Do

Practice Cybersecurity Like the Professionals Do

Real cybersecurity work isn't a series of isolated exercises. Campaigns weave detection, hunting, and response into a single story — the way the job actually happens.

Introducing Defend the Org

Introducing Defend the Org

A hands-on cybersecurity training platform built for defenders. Detection engineering, threat hunting, incident response — the skills the job actually requires.