KC7
Sign in

The KC7 Foundation

A volunteer-driven non-profit on a mission to equip everyone with the skills to succeed in tomorrow's diverse cybersecurity workforce, through fun, engaging and accessible learning experiences.

Start investigating Support our mission

2019: a hand-typed dataset that changed everything

KC7 started in 2019 with nothing more than a hunch and a hand-typed dataset. Our founder, Simeon, remembered how playing a simple game in college made learning feel exciting, and wondered if cybersecurity could be taught the same way.

So he built a tiny experiment: a dataset typed out line by line and shared with a community college class. The students dove in, connected the dots, and came away asking for more. That moment, small and scrappy, planted the seed for KC7.

It also revealed something bigger. Too many people never got the chance to experience cybersecurity in a way that showed them what they were capable of. We knew if the right doors opened, people from all kinds of backgrounds could discover their hidden superpower.

An early KC7 dataset and investigative questions
The initial iterations of KC7 featured investigative questions crafted around compact, manually curated datasets.

From data to detective stories

The experiment didn't stop. The dataset kept growing, and stories began to form around it. What started as raw logs turned into mysteries with characters, clues, and digital breadcrumbs to follow. Players weren't just studying cybersecurity anymore. They were detectives, piecing together intrusions and learning to think like defenders.

Almost by accident, KC7 also created one of the world's richest datasets for cybersecurity investigations, a resource now powering games, training, and research far beyond the classroom.

From experiment to nonprofit

By 2023, it was clear this was bigger than one person. Simeon was joined by Greg, Emily, and others who believed in the vision. We had no money and no clear roadmap, just the belief that cybersecurity education could be different.

What happened next changed everything: our friends in the cyber industry showed up. They offered their support, their time, their networks, and yes, even their money to help us build what seemed impossible. Their generosity made it clear that this wasn't just our dream. It was a shared one.

Together, we established KC7 as a nonprofit, dedicated to making investigative cybersecurity accessible to anyone, anywhere.

KC7 founders running a workshop
KC7 founders providing a free workshop at the SANS CTI Summit.

The movement we're building

Today, what began as a single hand-typed dataset has grown into a global platform carried forward by teachers, students, professionals, and volunteers across the world.

We believe cybersecurity is stronger when more people are included. That's why KC7 exists: to help anyone, from any background, step into the role of a defender, solve mysteries, and discover the investigative superpower inside them.

And this is just the beginning.

Watch the story of KC7's philosophy, produced by Microsoft Unlocked, and read the full story.

The impact we're making

KC7 is a nonprofit platform reaching more than 55,000 players worldwide. The numbers matter, but what really inspires us are the stories.

We can't do this without you

We need your help to bring cybersecurity education to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Support our missionMeet the team