EC-Council Acquires Cyber Insurance Academy, Expands AI Risk Education

Cybersecurity training and certification organization EC-Council has acquired Cyber Insurance Academy, the credentialing body for the cyber and AI insurance industries

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Cyber Insurance Academy will continue operating under its existing brand and leadership as an EC-Council company. Co-founder Guy Simkin will remain CEO, while co-founder Asaf Armoni will continue as chief technology and operating officer.

Cyber insurance will remain the Academy’s core focus while its capabilities expand into three areas: AI risk, emerging technology risk and role-based technology education for insurance professionals.

The acquisition will allow the Academy to expand beyond cyber insurance into AI risk, emerging technology exposures and technology education for brokers, underwriters, claims professionals and risk managers. The acquisition gives Cyber Insurance Academy access to EC-Council’s technical expertise, global network and cybersecurity and AI capabilities, while EC-Council gains a dedicated insurance education business with established industry relationships and credentialing expertise.

“Every insurance professional is now a technology risk professional, whether they realize it or not,” Simkin said. “Cyber is where we started, not where we stop.”

“Technology is now embedded across almost every dimension of enterprise risk, and managing that risk requires more than technical controls alone. It requires skilled people, accountable processes and the ability to understand how technology changes exposure,”said Jay Bavisi, founder and group CEO, EC-Council. “Cyber Insurance Academy brings deep insurance expertise to that equation.”

As part of the expansion, Cyber Insurance Academy has updated its flagship Certified Cyber Insurance Specialist designation. The new CCIS v2 program includes training on AI-driven threats, AI governance and insurance exposures associated with artificial intelligence.

The academy’s programs are accredited by CII, ANZIIF, RIBO and NIBA, with continuing education approval in more than 45 states.

EC-Council, which developed the Certified Ethical Hacker credential, said the acquisition will combine its cybersecurity and AI expertise with the academy’s insurance education programs.

The academy plans to offer expanded self-paced courses, professional certifications and enterprise training programs for insurers, brokers and managing general agents.