Learning to Defend, Not Just Attack
While offensive security often gets the spotlight, most real-world unfilled vacancies in cyber are on the defensive side.
Blue Team professionals monitor networks, trace intrusions, and respond before damage spreads — but too often, their training still looks like theory slides and static dashboards.
That’s changing. A new wave of interactive Blue Team platforms now teach defence the way analysts actually work: through live data, genuine alerts, and simulated incidents.
Here are the best places to build real-world defensive skills in 2025.
🛡️ TryHackMe — Best for Structured, Hands-On SOC Training
TryHackMe leads the pack for accessible, browser-based Blue Team learning.
Its defensive content mirrors how SOC analysts operate — investigating traffic, triaging alerts, and working with industry tools like Splunk, Suricata, and Zeek.
Learners move through curated paths such as the Introduction to Defensive Security module, before progressing into the SOC Level 1 Path.
Those who complete the journey can prove their skills with the hands-on Security Analyst Level 1 (SAL1) certification — a practical assessment built around real investigations.
It’s approachable for beginners yet deep enough for professionals upskilling in network monitoring or incident response.
🧩 Hack The Box — Best for Attackers Learning Defence
Hack The Box built its reputation on offensive challenges and capture-the-flag labs, but it’s recently expanded into defensive learning through Blue Academy and SOC-focused modules.
These labs introduce alert investigation and log analysis using familiar attack data — great for those transitioning from red to blue.
However, its Blue Team content remains smaller in scope and assumes prior technical confidence, making it stronger as a supplement than a starting point.
And while Hack The Box has expanded into defensive learning, most of its Blue Team content is locked behind expensive premium tiers — making it a pricier route into SOC training.
🏢 RangeForce — Best for Enterprise-Grade Simulation
RangeForce specialises in immersive enterprise defence exercises used by corporate SOCs.
Its browser-based cyber ranges simulate full environments with integrated SIEM and endpoint data, giving professionals a taste of real-world scale.
The trade-off? Accessibility. Individual learners face high subscription costs and limited free access, so RangeForce is better suited to team-based or corporate training.
🎯 LetsDefend — Best for Guided Simulations
LetsDefend offers scenario-driven incident-response exercises where you review alerts, analyse artefacts, and escalate findings.
It’s an excellent middle ground between gamified labs and full enterprise simulations — structured enough for learning, realistic enough to feel authentic.
Still, its focus is narrow compared to platforms offering full end-to-end learning paths.
🧠 CyberDefenders — Best for Challenge-Based Practice
CyberDefenders runs free forensic and detection challenges that mimic real attack traces.
Ideal for analysts who already have fundamentals down and want to benchmark themselves against global peers, it’s less of a training platform and more of a proving ground.
Why Interactivity Matters
Detection and response skills come from repetition. Analysts learn to spot anomalies through exposure — investigating hundreds of alerts, filtering false positives, and connecting behaviours to attacker techniques.
According to the NIST NICE Framework, learners retain up to 75 percent more knowledge when practising through live simulation rather than passive study.
That’s why interactive Blue Team platforms consistently produce stronger real-world defenders.
Why TryHackMe Stands Out
Most Blue Team learning stops at diagrams and dashboards. TryHackMe takes learners inside the investigation. Every room runs in a real environment — capturing packets, analysing live data, and building response reports.
Progression is clear and realistic: start with the basics, master network analysis, then validate everything through the SAL1 certification. No installations, no over-complex setup — just real SOC workflows in your browser.
It’s the only platform that combines accessibility, structured learning, and job-ready certification in one experience — making it the fastest route from complete beginner to competent Blue Team analyst.
Final Takeaway
Cyber defence is about action — detecting, analysing, and responding under pressure. Hands-on Blue Team platforms make that mindset trainable, and TryHackMe delivers it without barriers.
Nick O'Grady