Acquisition combines security-first AI expertise with real-world continuous adversarial emulation to help organizations proactively defend against modern threats

Suzu Labs has acquired Emulated Criminals, a boutique firm specializing in adversary emulation and continuous red teaming. With this move, Suzu Labs aims to strengthen its ability to combine AI-powered security with human-led validation, shifting away from traditional point-in-time testing toward continuous defense assessment. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the deal.

To begin with, the acquisition enhances Suzu Labs’ platform by integrating Emulated Criminals’ operator-led adversary emulation approach. This methodology replicates real-world threat actor behavior across cyber, human, and physical domains. As a result, organizations can uncover vulnerabilities that standard security testing often fails to detect.

Moreover, Suzu Labs is introducing a new Continuous Adversarial Operations (CAO) practice as part of this integration. Led by former Emulated Criminals executives Dahvid Schloss and Ann Rinaldi, the CAO team brings expertise from U.S. Special Operations and offensive cyber missions. Consequently, the practice will execute large-scale, realistic attack simulations designed to mirror how actual adversaries operate in live environments.

At the core of this strategy is Suzu Labs’ “Hacker in the Loop” model, which blends AI-driven discovery with human expertise. Instead of relying solely on automation, the model ensures that skilled operators guide decision-making, campaign design, and validation processes areas where human judgment remains critical.

“AI is cheapening the discovery side of offensive security, and that is fine with us,” said Mike Bell, Founder and CEO of Suzu Labs. “Discovery was never where the real work was. The real work is judgment, campaign design, and detection validation. That is what Adversarial Exposure Validation is actually about, and none of it scales through automation alone. It requires Hacker in the Loop™, the human-led layer of AEV that automation cannot replicate. Dahvid Schloss and his team built the depth in adversary emulation and offensive malware development we needed, and they are now the Suzu Labs Continuous Adversarial Operations team. Not automation alone. Not humans alone. Hacker in the Loop.”

In addition, the CAO team will deliver ongoing, multi-vector attack simulations, including phishing campaigns, ransomware scenarios, insider threats, and even physical intrusion testing. These simulations are designed not only to test technology but also to evaluate how effectively people and processes respond under pressure.

“Building Emulated Criminals has been an incredible and quite enjoyable journey, and I’m excited to share our next chapter as we officially join forces with Suzu Labs,” states Dahvid Schloss, former CEO at Emulated Criminals and now COO at Suzu Labs. ”Before, our focus was strictly high-end bespoke offensive security services. Helping clients truly understand how to ‘Train how they fight.’ But now, by combining our flagship continuous adversarial emulation service, which we call Emulated Crime as a Service, with Suzu’s deep defensive and advisory expertise, we can offer even more to our clients with a truly 360-degree approach to security.”

Schloss adds, “At our core, we have always cared most about the betterment of our industry. This move lets us amplify that contribution and address new and existing security challenges at a much larger scale. I will always live by the ‘Train how you fight’ motto, and I know Suzu Labs has the same mentality. I look forward to working with everyone in this new endeavor.”

Furthermore, the combined offering allows Suzu Labs to deliver a comprehensive cybersecurity portfolio, including penetration testing, adversary emulation, incident response, AI risk advisory, and exposure monitoring. This unified approach supports organizations navigating digital transformation and AI adoption.

Ultimately, as cyber threats grow more sophisticated and increasingly leverage AI, continuous and realistic testing is becoming essential. By integrating human expertise with advanced automation, Suzu Labs is positioning itself as a next-generation cybersecurity partner capable of helping enterprises stay ahead of evolving threats.

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