Full Report
Black Hat will host its second event in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi with a full contingent of selected Training and three tracks of Briefings over four days from December 12 to 15 December 2011. We’re pleased to announce that SensePost will be back again this year with our exciting new Wifi hacking course – Hacking By Numbers, Unplugged Edition, launched for the 1st time in Las Vegas this year. This course is fresh and exciting and was an amazing success at Black Hat earlier this year. You can register directly on the Black Hat site, or contact us if you want more information.
Analysis Summary
# Industry News: SensePost Expands Reach with New WiFi Training at Black Hat Abu Dhabi and Online Expansion
## Summary
SensePost announced the inclusion of its new "Hacking By Numbers, Unplugged Edition" Wi-Fi hacking course in the upcoming Black Hat event in Abu Dhabi (December 2011). Furthermore, SensePost is extending its training accessibility by making the preparatory "Cadet Edition" available as a fully online course, aiming to democratize access to high-quality technical training globally.
## Key Details
- **Date:** Announced October 06, 2011 (Event dates: December 12-15, 2011)
- **Companies Involved:** SensePost, Black Hat (Incite)
- **Category:** Product Launch (Online Training) & Event Participation
## The Story
SensePost is leveraging the platform of Black Hat’s second Middle East event in Abu Dhabi to debut their successful, newly launched Wi-Fi hacking specialization course, "Hacking By Numbers, Unplugged Edition," following its initial success in Las Vegas. Complementing this physical presence, SensePost is addressing geographic barriers by launching the "Cadet Edition" entirely online. This online offering maintains the full lab integrity and high standard of instruction, allowing professionals anywhere to complete the preparatory course virtually before or instead of attending the main briefings. This dual approach targets both regional event attendance and broader remote delivery of specialized security education.
## Business Impact
### For the Companies Involved
- **SensePost:** Enhances brand visibility internationally, particularly in the emerging Middle East security market. The online "Cadet Edition" opens a significant new revenue stream by dramatically increasing the potential student pool beyond physical conference capacity. It solidifies their position as an innovative training provider willing to adapt delivery models.
- **Black Hat:** Secures exclusive, high-demand technical content for its regional event, increasing the value proposition for attendees in Abu Dhabi. The online training arrangement (Cadet Edition) aligns with Black Hat’s goal of broader industry education.
### For Competitors
- Competitors offering specialized penetration testing or wireless security training face pressure to match this hybrid delivery model (in-person sophistication combined with accessible online preparatory tracks). SensePost is setting a higher standard for pre-conference preparation and remote accessibility.
### For Customers
- Customers (security professionals) gain flexibility. They can access cutting-edge, intense training either in a high-profile physical environment (Abu Dhabi) or via a remote, cost-effective virtual lab setup, making advanced skills acquisition more manageable for busy schedules.
### For the Market
- This signals a clear trend toward hybrid delivery in high-end technical training. The market for specialized, hands-on penetration testing courses is proving resilient and adaptable, justifying investment in replicating complex lab environments virtually.
## Technical Implications
The online availability of the Cadet Edition implies that SensePost has successfully virtualized its lab environment ("maintain the full set of labs and technical work"), demonstrating scalable infrastructure capable of supporting immersive, practical hacking labs over standard internet connections. The "Hacking By Numbers, Unplugged Edition" focuses specifically on modern Wi-Fi protocols, reflecting the evolving threat landscape related to wireless infrastructure security.
## Strategic Analysis
- **Market Positioning:** SensePost positions itself at the intersection of elite, specialized content (Black Hat exposure) and accessible mass education (online delivery). This dual strategy maximizes both prestige and volume.
- **Competitive Advantage:** The successful virtualization of a high-fidelity lab environment creates a significant moat, allowing them to reach global audiences that competitors reliant solely on physical training cannot capture.
- **Challenges:** Ensuring consistent quality experience across all remote participants for the online course will be crucial. Technical support for diverse student home environments could become a scaling bottleneck.
## Industry Reactions
Given the context (announced in 2011), this move by SensePost likely reflected early adoption of high-value technical training moving online beyond basic certification prep. Analysts focusing on security education would view this as a positive indicator of sustainable revenue models for specialized training vendors by decoupling content delivery from physical event schedules.
## Future Outlook
We expect to see more high-profile training vendors adopt similar tiered models: premium in-person attendance supplemented by robust, prerequisite online preparatory access. The continued success of the Unplugged Edition will confirm the sustained demand for advanced, wireless-specific attack training globally.
## For Security Professionals
This presents an immediate opportunity for professionals in the Middle East to access cutting-edge training during the Black Hat event, and a longer-term opportunity for global practitioners who struggled with travel or budget constraints to complete essential preparatory work virtually.