Reference
Resources
One hub for tools, commands, vulnerabilities, OSINT, playbooks, and the academy library. These support your courses and labs — they are not alternate curricula.
Tools
102 toolsStudy reference for common security tools — practice stays in Labs.
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Commands
176 entriesAnnotated command examples tied to labs and courses.
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Vulnerabilities
47 entriesKnowledge base of vulnerability classes with remediation notes.
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OSINT
OSINT moduleOpen-source intelligence methods and workflow notes.
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Playbooks
WorkflowsProfessional workflows — scope, steps, evidence, reporting, remediation.
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Academy library
45 linksCurated external learning links (PortSwigger, THM, docs).
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Industry frameworks (align, don’t copy)
Do not copy entire external courses. Use frameworks as references; ship original CYNARKS explanations, labs, assessments, and projects; attribute external resources in the Academy library.
NIST
NIST NICE Framework
Map tasks/knowledge/skills to Career explorer roles and Passport competencies — original CYNARKS lessons, not a NICE dump.
OWASP
OWASP Top 10:2025
Current web risk language in /vulns and Web AppSec lessons. Keep 2021 codes as historical only.
OWASP
OWASP Web Security Testing Guide
Structure authorized web testing methodology in playbooks and AppSec labs — CYNARKS write-ups and labs are original.
MITRE
MITRE ATT&CK
Threat intel / SOC detection mapping and lab scenarios — attribute ATT&CK; teach with CYNARKS cases.
NIST
NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0
Enterprise defensive framing for GRC and Security Analyst paths — Identify/Protect/Detect/Respond/Recover language.
PortSwigger
PortSwigger Web Security Academy
Optional deep practice after CYNARKS web labs — linked in Academy library with lesson supplements, not copied.
TryHackMe
TryHackMe
Guided external practice paths — library links map each resource to a CYNARKS course/lesson.
Recommended coverage (modules first)
Prefer deepening existing courses over adding competing catalogs. Agentic AI stays advanced-only.
- Active Directory Securityhigh · module-in-existing
AD architecture, Kerberos, LDAP, GPO, identity hardening — authorized AD lab assessments only.
- Cloud Security Engineeringhigh · existing-course
AWS/Azure IAM, logging, storage, CSPM, containers/K8s — deepen the existing Cloud Security course.
Host: cloud-security
- Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineeringhigh · module-in-existing
Static/dynamic analysis, sandboxing, file formats, memory analysis, defensive detection.
- Threat Intelligence & Detection Engineeringmedium · module-in-existing
IOC analysis, hunting, detection rules, ATT&CK mapping, YARA and Sigma.
Host: soc-analyst-blue-team
- DevSecOps & Software Supply Chainmedium · module-in-existing
CI/CD security, SAST/DAST/SCA, SBOM, secrets, containers, pipeline hardening.
Host: web-application-security
- IoT, OT & ICS Securitymedium · module-in-existing
Embedded/firmware, industrial networks, SCADA, defensive OT architecture.
Host: network-security
- Agentic AI Security — Advanced Trackstrategic · existing-course · advanced only
Multi-agent architectures, tool-calling risks, agent permissions, isolated red-team sims. Advanced specialization — not a beginner hacking course.
Host: agentic-ai-security
Build order (don’t ship everything at once)
Phase 1 — Fix the foundation in-progress
- [done] Course-to-lab mapping (EH / Web / Bounty / AI separated)
- [done] Pricing & entitlement matrix
- [done] One curriculum graph (courses ↔ paths ↔ careers ↔ labs)
- [done] Roadmap stages & prerequisites integrity
- [done] Standardized course detail pages
- [done] OWASP Top 10:2025 current mappings
- [in-progress] Central lesson content registry (reuse, not duplicate)
Phase 2 — Student experience in-progress
- [done] Lesson template + TCP/IP exemplar
- [done] Module/lesson navigation in player
- [done] Dashboard / My Learning / Passport separation
- [planned] Roll lesson template across all modules
- [in-progress] Connect progress → achievements with evidence gates
Phase 3 — Practical learning in-progress
- [done] Centralized lab catalog + course assignments
- [planned] Guided practical exercises per module
- [in-progress] Capstone projects on path journeys
- [planned] Evidence submission & validation
Phase 4 — Career ecosystem in-progress
- [done] Career explorer (11 roles)
- [done] Interview kits + cert prep vs CYNARKS certs
- [planned] Portfolio / projects surface
- [planned] College cohort dashboard
Phase 5 — Advanced specialization planned
- [planned] AD / malware / detection modules inside existing courses
- [planned] Cloud engineering depth modules
- [in-progress] Agentic AI advanced track (not beginner)
- [planned] Threat intel & enterprise architecture depth
Preserve: 13 course concepts · 42-level curriculum spine · Practical lab system · Knowledge bases (vulns, OSINT, tools) · Career mapping · Agentic AI as advanced specialization
Do not: Add more competing top-level pages · Copy PortSwigger / TryHackMe / NIST courses wholesale · Present Agentic AI as beginner hacking