Frequently asked questions
Project Ares is the perfect tool for any instructor wanting to incorporate practical, hands-on learning activities into their cybersecurity courses or training programs.
We help higher education institutions, government organizations, and enterprises align their learning objectives to cyber range exercises. Emulated networks-at-risk engage students in immersive virtual environments using real-world tools, network activity, and a large library of authentic threat scenarios.
Basic understanding of IT and Networking is recommended. From there, Project Ares cyber learning games and media library help novices get started with basic cybersecurity concepts.
Additional foundational skills are taught through hands-on exercises in the virtual range. They can be repeated with and without hints until mastered.
As users improve their skills and develop critical thinking abilities, Project Ares specialized training scenarios add more challenge. Complex individual and team-based scenarios include network recon and confronting threats like botnets, phishing and exfiltration, ransomware, and more.
As Project Ares instructional designers and cybersecurity specialists develop new learning activities and hands-on labs, they incorporate current adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures or TTPs.
Unlike compliance-driven teaching methods, gamified teaching tools help engage students through modern learning strategies. In an interactive, social setting, learners apply what they know to emulated environments and can compete as well through scores and badges. Progress measures like XP create a flow that keeps the student engaged and the learning focused.
Read more about the benefits of hands-on, gamified learning in cybersecurity training.
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Student can learn concepts, skills and critical thinking related to cybersecurity.
- Basic concepts like ports and protocols, regular expressions, and phases of the cyber kill chain are taught through learning games.
- Foundational skills like linux basics, traffic analysis, scripting, and forensics are practiced in virtual machine-based hands-on labs.
- Tools, tactics, and procedures are reinforced in specialized scenarios that require skills synthesis and critical thinking. These advanced exercises are individual or team-based activities that deliver gamified backstories of real-life cyber-attacks to practice network recon, disabling botnets, phishing and exfiltration, ransomware, and more.
The library of Project Ares learning exercises are aligned to the NIST/NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework for industry-leading cyber learning.
Learn more about the learning exercises and NICE Framework alignment in the Project Ares Learning Catalog. (opens new window)
There are two methods for checking answers in Project Ares scenarios. First, there are automated ‘umpire checks’ where the system looks for a specific answer or outcome. Second, assessment or scoring is based on the path or steps the user takes to solve a problem.
If a student completes something correctly and does not receive points, we invite you to reach out the Project Ares team with feedback. As new approaches are constantly evolving, we are always trying to increase the capability of the umpire checks to account for varied routes to problem-solving.
The majority of tools within the Project Ares platform are open source. We do this to help ensure that the learning focus is on building skills vs. learning about specific tool functionality. Frankly, it also keeps the cost of the platform lower.
Currently, Project Ares students will find both Linux and Windows-based tools that they can train with.
Project Ares does not need to simulate a SIEM because the platform uses high-fidelity emulated environments with an adversary framework. This means that an actual SIEM, like SecurityOnion, is built in and made available to the student when the learning objectives of the exercise require it.
Schedule a Demo
Get a 1:1 personal tour of Project Ares to see how you can use it in your teaching program.
Yes, the free online trial provides an interactive overview of Project Ares.
For a more detailed, live demonstration with a Project Ares team member, request a demo here .
Project Ares is designed for teaching organizations as a hands-on lab tool and for security teams as a cyber professional training tool.
Schedule an information call to discuss the best configuration for you.
The Cyber Learning Catalog (opens new window)describes the learning exercises in the Project Ares Platform.
An average off-site cyber security training course can cost upwards of $5-8,000 for a one-time experience. This does not include cost to travel to the workshop or other training add-ons.
To meet the budget needs of our instructors and trainers, Project Ares subscriptions can be tailored to the number and types of exercises and labs that best align to the organization's learning objectives. But even at the high end, our annual Enterprise Subscription is comparable to a single trip for standard off-site training PLUS it offers 24/7 access to train and learn regardless of where you are geographically.
To learn more, schedule an information call to discuss the best configuration for you.
We offer programs that help Instructors and Trainers use Project Ares and its cyber learning scenarios with their students and users.
Learn more about the Instructor Services (opens new window)designed to help
- You teach | We help you prepare
- You teach | We're your lab TA
- We teach
- We teach and certify
Schedule a Demo
Get a 1:1 personal tour of Project Ares to see how you can use it in your teaching program.
After you purchase a Project Ares subscription for your institution or organization, our Customer Success team works directly with you to tailor the best approach for onboarding your students or users.
The online Support Center is also available to help you learn about Project Ares.
Finally, if applicable, your Account Administrator(s) will be provided with the tools and privileges to manage individuals within the account.
Test your connection (opens new window)here to see if it will work.
VPNs sometimes cause the connection to fail. If there are connection issues, use the Troubleshooting Guide (opens new window) to help resolve.
Schedule a Demo
Get a 1:1 personal tour of Project Ares to see how you can use it in your teaching program.
Project Ares is accessed via a web browser.
System requirements for best performance are detailed here .
Project Ares is an online tool that you access via a browser. No download is required.
Upon purchase of a subscription, your account will be set up by the Circadence Customer Support and Success team. You and your students or users will be invited by email to establish personal log-in credentials to access the training exercises.
Project Ares is designed to be used on a laptop or PC. Many of the sections require the user to open multiple screens which would be very difficult on a phone.
System requirements for Project Ares are detailed here .
Project Ares foundational and specialized scenarios are designed for users with a background in IT, Networking, or InfoSec.
We suggest novices use the cyber learning games and media library first before engaging in the scenario activities.
The library of Project Ares learning exercises are aligned to the NIST/NICE Cyber Security Workforce Framework for industry-leading cyber learning.
Learn more about the learning exercises and NICE Framework alignment in the Project Ares Learning Catalog. (opens new window)
Training with Project Ares can help students prepare for industry certifications, such as CISSP, Security +, CEH, etc. Project Ares gives users hands-on experience to increase the probability of successfully passing these tests. However, Project Ares is not tied directly to industry certification testing.
While a user needs internet access to log in to Project Ares, there is no access to the internet from the virtual machines that host the learning scenarios.
As a virtual cyber range, the Project Ares learning scenarios are sandbox environments that create a safe space for learning without impacting the production networks at an institution or organization.
Through the Trainer View interface, an instructor or manager can make adjustments that affect how their students experience the training scenarios.
- Hints can be turned on or off.
- Help through the Athena chatbot can be turned on or off.
However, trainers and players cannot add additional learning content to the platform.
The Project Ares team offers a customization service package to create learning scenarios for customers at an additional fee. Schedule a call to discuss Project Ares services.
Schedule a Demo
Get a 1:1 personal tour of Project Ares to see how you can use it in your teaching program.