Common questions.
How the training works, what the plans include, and where to start.
Plans & Upgrade Paths
What is the difference between Trial, Adventurer, and Guardian?
When should I upgrade from Adventurer to Guardian?
How does team training differ from an individual plan?
Legacy & Platform Questions
How does Guardian Foundry relate to older Level Effect courses or subscriptions?
I am an existing Level Effect customer. Where should I start?
Can I start free and upgrade later?
Getting Started
What is Guardian Foundry?
Guardian Foundry is Level Effect's cybersecurity training platform. Follow Courses and Learning Paths, practice through Activities, labs, and events, earn XP, and build a NICE-mapped Portfolio of the work you complete.
Do I need cybersecurity experience to start?
No. Guardian Foundry includes material for complete beginners through experienced practitioners, so you can start with the Courses and Learning Paths that match your current experience.
Is there a free tier?
Yes. Trial includes selected free Courses and Activities, basic XP and progress, a basic Portfolio view, and self-study feedback. No credit card is required.
Training & Content
What kind of training is available?
Courses can include reading, free-text responses, code exercises, multiple-choice Activities, report submissions, and hands-on labs. Checkpoints connect that work to real NIST NICE tasks, knowledge, and skills.
How does AI grading work?
Eligible Guardian submissions are evaluated against instructor-made rubrics. The feedback explains what was strong, what was missing, and where an answer needs more precision.
What about human review?
Level Effect instructors review designated report exercises and give specific feedback on the analysis and writing. Guardian includes these reviews and in-course mentorship.
How often is new content added?
New Courses, Activities, labs, and events are added on an ongoing basis. Follow the blog for product and content updates.
Portfolio & Career
What is the Portfolio?
Your Portfolio records completed work, progress, Credentials, and the NIST NICE tasks, knowledge, and skills connected to your training.
Can I share my Portfolio with employers?
Adventurer and Guardian members can share their Portfolio so employers can see the training, Credentials, progress, and completed work behind their experience.
What is the NICE framework?
NICE (National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education) is a federal workforce framework maintained by NIST that categorizes cybersecurity work into roles, competencies, and tasks. All Guardian Foundry training maps to NICE, so your skills are recognized industry-wide.
Pricing & Billing
How much does Guardian Foundry cost?
You can start with free content. Adventurer is $29 USD per month and Guardian is $79 USD per month, billed monthly. Annual options are available in Guardian Foundry. Team training is $1,315 USD per learner per year, billed annually, with a 3-learner minimum, and teams can subscribe online. See plans and pricing for the two offers.
Can I change plans or cancel?
Yes. Start on Trial, move to Adventurer for the complete self-paced experience, or choose Guardian when you want feedback and direct support. You can manage or cancel an individual subscription from your account and keep access through the end of the billing period.
Is there a team or enterprise plan?
Yes. Level Effect manages team training delivered through Guardian Foundry, with learner support, designated instructor-reviewed reports, and manager visibility. Plans start with three learners; managers and owners need a learner seat only if they also take paid training. Try the sample team and subscribe online with no sales call needed. Explore team training.