As the scenario of cyberattacks worsened with each passing year, the need for a more proactive approach to uproot cyberattacks rose rapidly. John Stigerwalt, with a deep-rooted passion for discerning and counterattacking cyber attackers, incepted White Knight Labs (WKL) in 2016. This cybersecurity consultancy specializes in offensive cyber engagements built through innovation, continuous learning, and collaboration within the industry.
“My dedication, combined with a passion for protecting businesses, led me to establish White Knight Labs and drive its success.” –John Stigerwalt
Mission with a Vision
John’s realization of the salience of cybersecurity and mastery in the field directed White Knight Labs’ inception. WKL was established with the goal of delivering top-tier offensive security services that benchmark industry standards. “Founding White Knight Labs enabled me to transform my passion for cybersecurity into a mission-driven enterprise, bringing together a team of experts committed to safeguarding businesses and enhancing digital security.” – John Stigerwalt
The Men Behind WKL
With a decade-long career in cyber-security, John aced diverse professional roles such as blue team lead, senior penetration tester, developer, and red team lead. Spearheading red team engagements for complex Fortune 500 companies, John collaborated with Microsoft to enhance Windows 10 kernel security. John is certified with OSCP, OSCE, and CRTE. His extensive contributions to the field, including providing training at prestigious conferences like BlackHat and DerbyCon, directed him to found WKL.
Along with John, Greg Hatcher, the co-founder of WKL, contributed equally to the venture’s success. Greg’s experience in Army Special Operations and teaching at the NSA endowed him with a unique background for executing full-scope offensive cyber operations. He has led over 200 penetration tests, including network, cloud, mobile, API technologies, and web apps. His authoring and teaching at DerbyCon and Calvin University have empowered him with the required skills to contribute to WKL’s success.
White Knight Labs at a Glance
White Knight Labs is a committed and innovative cybersecurity organization. WKL is founded on the guiding principle of building a robust defense on a strategic offense. As cybersecurity architects, the company champions the art of adversary thinking to help clients defend against complex cyber threats. Penetration testing is the cornerstone of WKL’s services. As articulated by John, “We offer tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of each client, ensuring comprehensive coverage and protection.”
Combating Challenges
When confronted with difficulties, John and Greg face each challenge head-on. Scaling their business while maintaining high-quality services, staying ahead of industry trends, and adapting to the rapidly evolving landscape are all struggles they contend with and work to overcome.
“Educating clients on the importance of cybersecurity, adapting to the fast-paced changes in the field, and managing internal growth have all been hurdles, but each has taught valuable lessons that have helped strengthen White Knight Labs.”
The Service Platter
WKL’s service platter encompasses multiple forms of Offensive Security including penetration testing across various platforms. The company’s dedication translates to the craftmanship of bespoke, advanced solutions that outpace threat actors. This safeguards client organizations against the vulnerabilities of tomorrow’s digital landscape. WKL’s approach is to offer custom-tailored solutions that specifically addresses each client’s needs. Examples include attaining SOC2 compliance, securing products before launch, or meeting vendor requirements.
Along with penetration testing, the company excels in delivering attack simulations, including social engineering testing, ransomware simulations, insider threat assessments, phishing engagements, incident response, security assessments, and advisory services. The company takes pride in its highly-rated training courses: Advanced Red Team Operations, Offensive Azure Operations & Tactics, and Offensive Development Training.
“We adhere to a 20/80 testing standard, where 20% of the process is automated, and 80% is manual, guaranteeing comprehensive coverage. Our engineers also utilize a bespoke internal playbook, crafted from years of hands-on testing experience.” –John Stigerwalt
Conquering Competition
John’s strategic approach to red teaming, with meticulous planning and execution of simulations of real-world attacks, sets WKL apart from its competitors. With a team specially crafted to excel in individual roles, the method of red-teaming surpasses traditional testing and offers actionable insights for fortifying security defenses to clients. His commitment to this operation-focused method helps WKL conquer industry competition where stakes are constantly rising.
“The exclusive hiring of senior and principal engineers, who have proven themselves in the field, ensures that clients receive top-tier testing services. This specialization and focus on excellence set White Knight Labs apart from the competition.” –John Stigerwalt
Sailing Through Changes
Since the onset of the pandemic, new vulnerabilities started appearing, compelling businesses to invest in securing endpoints. With WKL’s penetration testing services, companies are able to identify these vulnerabilities without disrupting daily operations.
WKL has well-positioned itself to support businesses with their security needs for a more distributed workforce by adopting remote working since the beginning of the pandemic. WKL customizes services for specific needs, such as healthcare organizations protecting patient data under HIPAA or financial institutions complying with PCI-DSS regulations.
“At White Knight Labs, we embrace this dynamic environment. We constantly develop new strategies to address the ever-changing challenges faced by our clients.” –John Stigerwalt
Marketing Expertise
In order to communicate with target audiences, White Knight Labs adopts strategic and content-driven marketing. The firm showcases deep expertise in offensive cybersecurity through expert blogs, LinkedIn updates, and technical insights. This marketing approach builds trust and positions WKL as a go-to source for advanced services and training, reaching out to professionals in the field.
Fostering Innovation
Continual exploration of new technologies, approaches, and methodologies keeps WKL a step ahead of the curve. In order to address its clients’ specific needs, the company develops new penetration testing techniques, aims to offer cutting-edge solutions, and enhances adversarial emulation capabilities. Cross-functional learning is encouraged to foster a culture of innovation. The company exclusively hires senior and principal engineers and allow them to shadow multiple roles to let them expand their boundaries.
Unlocking a Prosperous Future
“We are excited about expanding our service offerings to include red teaming and covert operations, which will provide deeper insights into our clients’ security posture. We are also developing new certification courses aimed at entry-level engineers looking to break into penetration testing. These initiatives, along with our ongoing commitment to excellence, position White Knight Labs to remain at the forefront of the cybersecurity industry.” –John Stigerwalt
