Inside Hack Defender Academy: Gamified Malware Training for Blue Teamers

Ready to level up your defensive cybersecurity skills? In this episode of Simply Defensive, Josh Mason and Wade Wells sit down with Dan Regalado and Belem — the founders of Hack Defender Academy — to explore how they’re using CTF-style challenges, real malware cases, and gamification to prepare the next generation of defenders.

💡 We cover:

• Why gamified, CTF-style learning works better than traditional training
• How Hack Defender Academy helps beginners grow into skilled malware analysts
• The role of AI in threat research — friend, foe, or both?
• The importance of staying hungry and keeping your edge as a blue teamer

🚨 Special Gift for Our Listeners: Hack Defender Academy is giving away one free certification pass! Details in the episode.

🔗 Links from the episode

Hack Defender Academy
 🌐 Website: academy.hack-defender.com
 ▶️ YouTube: Hack Defender Official
📱 TikTok: @HackDefOfficial
📸 Instagram: @HackDefOfficial
🐦 X (Twitter): @HackDefOfficial
💼 LinkedIn: Hack Defender
📘 Facebook: Hack Defender

Connect with our guests
🔹 Dan Regalado – LinkedIn
🔹 Belem – LinkedIn

Simply Defensive Podcast
🎧 Spotify: Simply Defensive
🎧 Apple: Simply Defensive

Sponsor
 💼 Thanks to ThreatLocker for supporting this episode.

👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, hit Like, Subscribe, and ring the 🔔 so you don’t miss our weekly episodes!
Drop a comment with the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a blue teamer — we’d love to hear your story.

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Sponsored by ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial of ThreatLocker
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
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Connect with your hosts:
Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs
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This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group