Practitioner-Led Training
Offensive security taught from the field.
Ridgeback InfoSec was founded in 2023 to train cybersecurity professionals in real tools, real techniques, and real tradecraft. The goal is simple: help operators, analysts, and leaders understand offensive work through practical execution.
Why Ridgeback Exists
Ridgeback was built to bridge the gap between academic security training and the work practitioners actually do during assessments.
After years conducting penetration tests at Black Hills Information Security and seeing the disconnect between training and field reality, Chris Traynor set out to build courses around hands-on tool mastery, clear workflows, and the same techniques operators use every day.
Owner & Instructor
Meet Chris Traynor
Chris is a penetration tester at Black Hills Information Security, where he conducts assessments of web applications, mobile apps, APIs, and networks across multiple industries.
He authored Offensive Tooling Foundations and Offensive Tooling for Operators, which he teaches through Antisyphon Training and at security conferences nationwide.
His background in web and mobile development, QA automation, and penetration testing helps him explain not just what attackers do, but why systems fail and how to think like both builder and breaker.
Certifications
Chris brings formal security training together with years of practical testing and teaching experience.
What Makes the Training Different
Ridgeback courses are designed around practical execution, not abstract slides or sanitized demos.
Students work with real offensive tools in realistic scenarios and learn how operators think through usage, limits, and tradeoffs.
The training emphasizes doing: executing attacks, interpreting output, and practicing in controlled environments.
Courses are sequenced so learners can move from foundations into operational techniques without getting lost in noise.
The material is shaped by active assessment work and updated as offensive security tools and workflows evolve.
Teaching Philosophy
The best way to learn offensive security is through doing, not just watching.
Ridgeback courses emphasize hands-on lab work, live demonstrations, and real-world scenarios over slide-heavy lectures. Students should leave with practical skills they can apply immediately, whether they are breaking in, detecting activity, or making better security decisions.
Beyond Security
Ridgeback is built around the person behind the keyboard, not only the technical work.
Outside of testing and teaching, Chris values time with family, regular exercise, and sharing his stroke awareness story to encourage people to recognize symptoms and seek help quickly.
Featured Around the Community
Ridgeback training and talks have appeared at practitioner-focused conferences, training platforms, webcasts, and podcasts.
Wild West Hackin' Fest, BSides Charleston, BSides Harrisburg, BSides Greenville, KernelCon, and PancakesCon.
Courses delivered through Antisyphon Training and live conference training programs.
The Phillip Wylie Show, Exploring Information Security, Ethical Hacking Guests and Wholesomeness, and Paladin Security.
Chris has shared his personal stroke awareness story at PancakesCon2 alongside his security work.
Ready to learn from the field?
Start with training, catch Ridgeback at an upcoming event, or reach out about a live cohort for your team.