Hands-on labs let you practice in browser-based environments. This guide covers access, starting a session, and common errors.
Do I have lab access?
Labs are a paid Platform feature. If your plan does not include labs, the Labs hub shows that labs are locked and prompts you to upgrade.
Typical access:
| Plan | Labs |
|---|---|
| Free | Not included in-app (upgrade required) |
| Premium / Ultra | Included |
| Cyber Academy (Cyber Warrior) | Included |
Open Dashboard → Labs to see what is available on your account.
Note: Some marketing pages mention limited daily lab time on Free. In the product today, labs are gated behind paid access. If you see different messaging, trust what your dashboard shows for your account.
How to start a lab
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Go to Dashboard → Labs
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Open a lab from the hub
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On the lab page, use Join Lab Room / open the workspace
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Wait for the remote desktop session to connect (you may see Connecting / Ready states)
Live chat is hidden inside the lab workspace so it does not cover the desktop. If you need help mid-lab, open another dashboard tab or email support.
One lab at a time
You can only run one active lab session at a time.
If you see a message that a lab is already running:
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Resume the existing session, or
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End the current lab from the session panel, then start the new one
Do not open multiple workspace tabs and start conflicting sessions.
Common error messages
| Message (summary) | What it usually means | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Plan does not include this lab / tier too low | Your subscription cannot access that lab | Upgrade, or pick a lab allowed on your plan |
| A lab is already running | Another session is active | Resume or end the other lab first |
| Session expired or unhealthy | The environment timed out or failed health checks | Start a new lab |
| Too many lab requests | Rate limiting | Wait a minute and retry |
| Lab infrastructure temporarily unavailable | Backend / orchestrator issue | Retry shortly; contact support if it persists |
Connection tips
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Use a modern desktop browser (Chrome, Edge, or Firefox recommended)
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Allow the page to finish loading—first connect can take up to about a minute
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Disable aggressive VPN/ad-block extensions if the desktop never appears
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Avoid unstable mobile networks for long lab sessions
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If the desktop freezes, use the workspace reconnect controls or refresh once
Still stuck?
Email support@cyberky.com or use live chat from a non-workspace page. Include:
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Lab name / slug
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Your plan (Premium, Ultra, legacy name)
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Exact error text
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Approximate time (and timezone)
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Browser and OS