Ed Skoudis Named to Cyber Security Hall of Fame
The SANS Technology Institute president earned his place in the 2026 class for his work as an educator and practitioner.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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The Cyber Security Hall of Fame has named Ed Skoudis, president of the SANS Technology Institute, to its Class of 2026. Skoudis was honored for his decades of service as a cybersecurity educator and practitioner.
Why it matters
The induction recognizes Skoudis for his lasting contributions to the cybersecurity industry, including curriculum design and expert witness work in over 100 breach cases.
Skoudis authored core training modules including SEC504 and SEC560 and founded the NetWars cyber range used by government entities. His work has spanned 30 years and includes 4 authored books.
The players
Ed Skoudis
He is the president of the SANS Technology Institute and a recognized leader in cybersecurity training.
Rob Joyce
He is a member of the Cyber Security Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Amit Yoran
He is a member of the Cyber Security Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Steve Ryan
He is a member of the Cyber Security Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Richard Seewald
He is a member of the Cyber Security Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
The details
Skoudis founded the SANS Penetration Testing Curriculum and the cybersecurity consultancy Counter Hack, which provides the CyberCity simulator to U.S. Cyber Command. He also famously led the SANS Holiday Hack Challenge for two decades and has served as an RSA Conference keynote speaker for 15 years.
Timeline
Skoudis founded the SANS Penetration Testing Curriculum in 2008.
He was inducted into the Order of Thor in 2015.
Skoudis became president of the SANS Technology Institute in 2021.
The Class of 2026 was announced on October 12, 2026.
The induction ceremony will take place on December 10, 2026, at Live! Casino & Hotel in Hanover, Maryland.
The Tech Race
The recognition of Skoudis reflects the increasing professionalization of cybersecurity as a standalone discipline, moving away from informal skill-sharing toward academic and institutional certification. This trend mirrors the evolution of the field from niche IT work into a national security necessity.
The recognition of leaders like Skoudis highlights the importance of standardized cybersecurity training in defending both commercial and government networks. Readers and IT professionals can expect the methodologies promoted by these experts to continue shaping the security protocols used in their daily workplace software.
The takeaway
The selection of Skoudis emphasizes that expertise in cybersecurity now requires a mix of academic leadership and real-world practitioner experience. Aspiring security professionals should look to established training frameworks to build foundational skills in incident handling and penetration testing.
What happens next
The formal induction ceremony for the Class of 2026 will occur on December 10, 2026, at the Live! Casino & Hotel.
Further reading
For more information on the latest developments in the field, visit Cybersecurity.
More information
View full details regarding the upcoming event on the Cyber Security Hall of Fame event info.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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