" I have taken some very expensive classes from Cisco learning partners (several thousand dollars each), the Offensive Security 101 class is the best money I have ever spent on my career "
- Chris Lofthus

" Having been in information security for the past 6 or 7 years and having been on various security related courses I must say that the 101 course from offensive-security is one of the best. Its content is not just based on how to use certain tools (like most other courses) but actually guides you through the processes and reasons. This course is delivered by experts in their fields with years of experience and that shows through in the course. The course is structured like a pen test that walks you through it from start to finish giving clear concise instructions. Having taken this course you will not only know the process of a pen test and what tools and techniques to use but most importantly you will understand them. This course along with lab access and certification works out at a fraction of the price of other lesser courses. "

- Jason Alexander CISSP, C|EH, CCSA, MCSE
Senior Technical Consultant | Information Security Specialist

" I have been delivering IT training for years, I took this course to keep up-to-date about Pen Testing. As a trainer I've found a professional staff and such a well done course structure and training aid. As a student, this is the first time I attended a course whose value has more than doubled its costs. "

- Antonio Merola
securityindepth.org

" Mati has taken material often considered difficult, and made it understandable. His in-depth knowledge and clear explanations help the student advance from the prerequisite linux experience to become confident with advanced skills. When additional research is required he provides links to outside sources, and the student is encouraged to use his own s kill and ingenuity whenever necessary. Every topic should be clearly understood, each is a building block for the next. It's also important that students read and follow the introductory instructions before starting the course, no matter how tempting it might be to jump right in. If one registers for the optional lab work, these instructions are critical.

Through the videos and accompanying text, Mati prepares the students for the lab experiments, which are conducted in a safe VPN environment. He occasionally challenges them with unannounced twists and turns to keep them on their toes. The exercises are challenging and enlightening, and the "hands-on" experience adds a valuable dimension to the course.

This course will take over your life; you'll spend so much time on the computer that your family will forget you, you'll mean to call in sick to work but you'll forget the call, you'll starve, and if you have any friends left, they'll organize an intervention. All in all, it's a totally rewarding experience. "

- Jack Connelly
Offensive-Security Student

" This course was a pleasant surprise. I have been interested in security since I started working with computers, and I knew just as much about it as anyone else I worked with - which was not much as I have now learned. I read the 5th edition of the book Hacking Exposed to prepare for this course and it did help, but this course is full of practical information that you just can't find easily in books today.

They have taken all the main topics that you need to learn to grasp the fundamentals of penetration testing and packed it all into one easy-to-absorb introductory course. The instructor is very experienced and can relate the concepts in the modules extremely well, he makes complex topics seem very simple. The labs are very professional and well designed/thought-out. I usually set up my own lab to study these types of things, but having everything set up for you lets you spend a lot more time studying and learning the material. The machines in the labs are very similar to the ones used in the examples and videos, but different enough to make you think. The amount of video instruction is perfectly balanced with the amount of hands-on exercises.

I have taken some very expensive classes from Cisco learning partners(several thousand dollars each), the Offensive Security 101 class is the best money I have ever spent on my career. I would definitely take more classes from offensive-security.com if given the opportunity. "

- Chris Lofthus
Offensive-Security Student

" Many thanks for what has been a fantastic experience for me. This course far surpassed my expectations with its depth. I have been interested in INFOSEC for a while now but was unsure which course to do first to establish some kind of baseline. I had found that the majority of providers seem to be providing very intense courses (eg a week) for some very high prices! Interestingly 99% were using BackTrack to facilitate their courses. When I found this course it was a 'no brainer'. I now know which field I want to be in!

The video tutorials are superb and make it easy for a beginner to know where they need to focus their efforts. The exercises/Labs were great and made concepts which appeared a little 'esoteric' easy to understand (Buffer Overflows springs to mind!)

I will be going through the course work again and will schedule the challenge within a month. I'll also be looking out for any further courses by from Offensive Security. Rest assured I have told, and will be telling everyone about this course! "

- Jason Griffiths
Offensive-Security Student

" This course should be mandatory not just for security types looking to gain the foundational knowledge for pen testing and attacking systems, but also for system and security administrators responsible for defending information assets. After all, it's impossible to effectively defend if you don't truly understand what threats and attack vectors you are defending against. Offensive Security 101 is hardcore, no-BS, practical, and designed to make the student think and act creatively. I've taken many security "courses" in my career and, without a doubt, this one blows them all away. "

- Anonymous
Offensive-Security Student

In the press: