KC7 Foundation

The KC7 Foundation, a volunteer-driven non-profit, makes the KC7 game a reality. We're on a mission to equip everyone with the skills to succeed in tomorrow's diverse cybersecurity workforce by creating fun, engaging, and accessible learning experiences.

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.

KC7 History
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. It gave us hope that the future of cybersecurity could be more open, more inclusive, and more human than we ever imagined.

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

KC7 Founders

KC7 founders providing a free workshop at SANS CTI summit.

The Movement We're Building

Today, what began as a single hand-typed dataset has grown into a global platform. KC7 is now carried forward by a community of 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 this story about KC7's philosophy produced by Microsoft Unlocked and read the full story at unlocked.microsoft.com/kc7.

Here is the impact that we are making

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

KC7 trains the world's top cybersecurity teams

KC7 is used as a training tool by dozens of the world's top cybersecurity teams to sharpen their analysts' skills.

Jibby used KC7 to land a job with no degree

One of our players, Jibby, landed a job as a security analyst at a major company after just 1.5 years of playing KC7 — with no certifications and no degree.

KC7 inspires 5th-8th graders across the country

For three summers, KC7 has powered a camp for 5th–8th graders in Lexington, Kentucky. Now, similar camps are starting to spring up around the country.

KC7 powers events in 12+ countries worldwide

High school and community events featuring KC7 have taken place in 12+ countries, from Norway to Brazil to Kenya to the Philippines.

KC7 is transforming high school and college curricula

Dozens of high schools and colleges have begun weaving KC7 into their curricula, introducing investigative cybersecurity to the next generation.

KC7 has built one of the world's best cyber datasets

KC7 now holds one of the best datasets in the world for cybersecurity investigations — fueling research, training, and innovation far beyond just the game itself.

We can't do this without you

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

Support Our Mission