How We Started Teaching Real Security
A decade of helping people learn what actually matters in web app protection
We're not your typical security training outfit. Started in 2019 by folks who got tired of watching good developers get blindsided by basic vulnerabilities, we focus on practical skills you can use tomorrow. Our students come from all backgrounds – some have been coding for years, others are just getting into tech. What they share is wanting to understand security without getting lost in theory.
The Story Behind Our Approach
Back in 2019, Reece spent another frustrating afternoon explaining the same SQL injection vulnerability to a client's development team. Third time that year. Same preventable mistake across different companies.
That's when it clicked – the problem wasn't that developers didn't care about security. They just didn't have a practical way to learn it. Most training was either too academic or focused on memorizing vulnerability classifications instead of understanding how attacks actually work.
So we started small. Weekend workshops in Jackson, teaching groups of ten people at a time. No fancy setups or complicated labs. Just real code, real vulnerabilities, and real solutions that made sense. People kept coming back and bringing colleagues.
Who's Teaching This Stuff
Reece Holbrook
Lead Security Instructor
Spent 12 years breaking into web applications (legally) before deciding to teach others how to build them securely. Still consults occasionally but mostly focuses on helping students avoid the mistakes he's seen repeated across hundreds of projects.
Margot Lindberg
Program Director
Former high school math teacher who got into security education through a career change in 2017. Knows how to break down complex topics into manageable chunks and keeps Reece from using too much jargon in course materials.
What Guides Our Training
Real-World First
Every lesson starts with an actual vulnerability we've encountered. No theoretical scenarios or made-up examples. If we're teaching it, it's because we've seen it break production systems.
Skills Over Certificates
You'll leave our programs knowing how to spot and fix security issues in code. Whether you frame a certificate afterward is up to you. We care more about what you can build and protect than what paperwork you collect.
Honest About Limitations
Security is hard and constantly changing. We don't promise you'll become an expert overnight or guarantee any specific career outcomes. What we do offer is a solid foundation and the tools to keep learning as the field develops.