Fortifying the Front Lines: A New Alliance Tackles the AI Cyber Threat

TAMPA, FL – December 10, 2025 – As the U.S. public sector grapples with an unprecedented wave of sophisticated cyberattacks, a new strategic partnership aims to fortify the nation's digital defenses by directly addressing a critical vulnerability: the cybersecurity skills gap. EC-Council, the global training organization behind the renowned Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) credential, has joined forces with Four Inc., a prominent government technology distributor. The alliance is designed to streamline access for federal, state, and local agencies to mission-critical cybersecurity training, equipping a new generation of defenders to combat the escalating threat of AI-driven cyber warfare.

This collaboration arrives at a pivotal moment. Government agencies are not only prime targets for malicious actors but are also rapidly adopting the very technologies that adversaries are weaponizing, creating a complex and dangerous digital landscape.

The Widening Cracks in Public Sector Defenses

The challenge facing the U.S. public sector is not merely theoretical; it is a clear and present danger documented by the government's own watchdogs. A May 2024 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report painted a stark picture, revealing that hundreds of its cybersecurity recommendations remain unimplemented across federal agencies. This backlog of unaddressed vulnerabilities, coupled with findings that the vast majority of civilian agencies lack mature event logging capabilities, means that threats are often detected late, if at all.

This defensive lag is occurring amidst a dramatic escalation in attacks. In 2023, state and local governments saw malware attacks skyrocket by 148% and ransomware incidents climb by 51%. The reliance on aging legacy systems, complex supply chains, and a persistent shortage of skilled personnel—a national gap of over 225,000 cybersecurity workers—has created a perfect storm. Experts note that while there is a surplus of entry-level talent, a significant deficit exists among experienced professionals capable of managing today’s complex threats, putting national security at risk.

“As AI-driven cyberattacks increasingly target the public sector, government agencies face mounting pressure to safeguard critical infrastructure and national security,” said Jay Bavisi, Group President of EC-Council, in a statement announcing the partnership.

The AI Arms Race: A New Frontier for Cyber Warfare

Complicating the security equation is the explosive growth of artificial intelligence. A July 2025 GAO report found that generative AI use cases within federal agencies multiplied ninefold in a single year, dramatically expanding the digital attack surface. This rapid integration has opened the door to a new class of threats, with adversaries leveraging AI to craft hyper-realistic phishing campaigns, generate deepfake videos for social engineering, and develop evasive new strains of ransomware.

According to Mandiant’s M-Trends 2025 report, the exploitation of public-facing applications and software vulnerabilities remains the top attack vector for the public sector. AI accelerates the ability of attackers to find and exploit these weaknesses at machine speed. This has ignited a virtual arms race, where defensive strategies must evolve as quickly as offensive capabilities. The challenge is no longer just about building higher walls but about cultivating a workforce that can anticipate, identify, and neutralize threats that think and adapt.

This partnership directly confronts this reality by focusing on advanced, hands-on training. Programs like the Certified Ethical Hacker certification train professionals to think like their adversaries, proactively hunting for vulnerabilities before they can be exploited—a critical mindset shift from reactive defense to proactive threat hunting.

A Strategic Alliance to Bridge the Gap

The collaboration between EC-Council and Four Inc. is engineered to be more than just a product offering; it is a strategic solution to a systemic problem. By leveraging Four Inc.'s deep expertise in government contracting, the partnership cuts through the notorious red tape that often slows technology and training adoption in the public sector.

Four Inc., a nine-time recipient of Washington Technology's Top 100 contractor award, provides access to EC-Council's full suite of training programs through established, government-wide contract vehicles, including GSA, NASA SEWPV, and ITES-SW2. This streamlined procurement pathway enables agencies to bypass lengthy and complex acquisition cycles, allowing them to invest in workforce development with speed and efficiency.

“We are proud to partner with EC-Council to deliver industry-leading cybersecurity training, education, and certifications to our government customers,” stated Chris Wilkinson, EVP of Sales at Four Inc. “Together, we will help agencies strengthen their security posture, meet compliance goals, and enable a highly capable cybersecurity workforce.”

The training portfolio extends far beyond ethical hacking. It includes specialized certifications like Certified Network Defender (CND), Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI), and Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO). Many of these credentials are not only accredited by ANAB to the ISO/IEC 17024 standard but are also aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework and approved under the stringent Department of Defense Directive 8140, making them a gold standard for mission-critical roles.

By combining world-class, globally recognized training with a frictionless procurement process, the alliance provides a direct and scalable solution. It empowers agencies to move beyond a check-the-box compliance mindset and towards building genuine cyber resilience, ensuring that their teams are equipped with the practical skills needed to defend against the next wave of advanced threats.