How a Dutch training center is solving the challenges of classroom training with hands-on cybersecurity courses

TSTC has a long history of delivering IT, cybersecurity, and privacy training across the Benelux region. As the institute looked to expand into technical cybersecurity training, it needed a partner that could help it move beyond the limits of traditional classroom instruction. TSTC already offered more than forty courses across IT, cybersecurity, and privacy, but technical cybersecurity required a stronger practical component and a more distinct market position.

According to TSTC, traditional classroom training created four main challenges. Students often entered with wide differences in skill level. Slide-based theory added little beyond what learners could study on their own. Training efficiency suffered because students still needed extensive independent learning after class. Practical labs also fell short because they did not match real-world cybersecurity work.

TSTC also needed a way to create stronger demand and grow revenue. Expanding into technical cybersecurity would require a course that stood out in the local market, carried clear credibility, and gave students something they actively wanted to pursue.

TSTC addressed these challenges by partnering with OffSec as both a Learning Partner and a Channel Partner. The relationship began in 2016, when TSTC wanted to take its cybersecurity training offering to a more advanced technical level. The first step was launching live PEN-200 bootcamps in the Netherlands with OffSec instructors. Over time, that evolved into OffSec-certified instructors teaching the bootcamps in Dutch.

Exclusive live bootcamps

TSTC chose to offer live bootcamps only twice a year. This helped preserve a sense of exclusivity and avoided turning the course into a commodity. It also gave learners enough time to prepare before attending. At the start of the partnership, TSTC was the only training center in Europe offering live PEN-200 bootcamps. Today, it remains the only institute in the Benelux region offering live OffSec training.

Hands-on technical training

PEN-200 gave TSTC the practical format it wanted. The course focuses on applicable experience, problem-solving, collaboration, interactive learning, and real-time feedback. For TSTC, that practical depth matched its mission to offer training that is personal, practical, and effective.

Industry-recognized certification

OSCP gave the program a strong market signal. TSTC found that students saw OSCP as the “holy grail” of technical cybersecurity training. That demand made the course more attractive commercially while also helping TSTC build credibility with a globally recognized certification path.

Skill-level alignment before training

To solve one of the biggest classroom challenges, TSTC required students to complete a two-month preparation period before the bootcamp. Because PEN-200 requires baseline cybersecurity knowledge and is not designed for beginners, this helped create a more consistent skill level across the class and improved the learning experience.

The OffSec partnership delivered business value and learner value at the same time. TSTC expanded its revenue streams in two ways: through its instructor-led courses and through selling licenses across Europe as a Channel Partner. The source notes that a one-week course with 30 students brought in significant revenue. It also says that even smaller instructor-led classes of 8 to 10 students generated considerable revenue.

New revenue streams

By adding PEN-200 and expanding as a Channel Partner, TSTC created revenue beyond its traditional course portfolio. The program gave the institute a stronger commercial foothold in technical cybersecurity training.

High learner demand

TSTC identified strong demand from its local learner community. Students saw OSCP as one of the highest achievements in penetration testing, which helped position the course as a premium offering and increased interest in the bootcamps.

A differentiated market position

The exclusivity of the program became a strong selling point. Being the only institute in the Benelux region to offer live OffSec training gave TSTC a clear way to stand apart from competitors and build stronger appeal in the market.

Stronger learner engagement

Students benefited from taking the training in their native language. While many learners in the Netherlands also speak English, having OffSec-authorized instructors teach in Dutch improved collaboration, connection, and engagement during and between sessions.

Better learning outcome

The preparation requirement helped keep students on a more even footing. Combined with hands-on training and real-time feedback, this gave learners a more practical and effective path into technical cybersecurity skills.

TSTC chose OffSec for its hands-on training, global recognition, and strong certification path. The depth of PEN-200 and the rigor of the OSCP certification gave TSTC a clear way to deliver practical skills and meet learner demand. The partnership also enabled TSTC to offer exclusive training in the Benelux region, helping the institute stand out and grow its cybersecurity business.