InGuardians, Inc. Company Profile

Background

Founded in 2003, InGuardians, Inc. is an independent information security consulting firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. The company specializes in delivering high-value services such as Red Team Penetration Testing, Hardware and Application Security Assessments, Threat Hunting, Security Architecture Reviews, Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Security, Kubernetes and Public Cloud Security, Incident Response, and Custom Training. InGuardians is committed to assembling top-tier information security professionals to provide actionable, business-focused consulting services. Their experts have authored tools, books, testing frameworks, and training programs, contributing significantly to the information security community.

Key Strategic Focus

InGuardians' strategic focus centers on emulating real-world threats to assess and enhance clients' security postures. Their core objectives include:

• Offensive Services: Conducting Red Team Penetration Testing to simulate adversarial attacks, identifying vulnerabilities across network, hardware, and application layers.

• Protective Services: Offering Threat Hunting, Security Architecture Reviews, and Incident Response to proactively defend against and mitigate security incidents.

• ICS and IIoT Security: Providing specialized services for securing industrial control systems and IIoT environments, including hardware analysis and security architecture reviews.

• Cloud Security: Delivering expertise in Kubernetes and public cloud security, with contributions to open-source projects like Peirates and Bustakube.

• Custom Training: Developing and delivering industry-leading courses on penetration testing, ICS and hardware hacking, RF and wireless hacking, and incident response.

Financials and Funding

InGuardians has reported annual revenues ranging from $10 million to $25 million. The company has raised a total of $824,000 in funding over two rounds. These funds have been utilized to expand service offerings, invest in research and development, and enhance training programs.

Technological Platform and Innovation

InGuardians distinguishes itself through proprietary technologies and innovative methodologies:

• Peirates: A Kubernetes penetration testing tool developed to assess and exploit vulnerabilities within Kubernetes clusters.

• Bustakube: An intentionally vulnerable Kubernetes cluster designed as a teaching tool for security professionals.

The company employs advanced scientific methods, including custom-developed machine learning algorithms for threat detection and response, and proprietary security assessment frameworks tailored to client needs.

Leadership Team

• Jay Beale: Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer. A recognized expert in Kubernetes, Linux, and cloud-native security, Jay has authored multiple security tools and training programs.

• Mike Poor: Chief Information Security Officer. With extensive experience in intrusion detection and incident response, Mike has led large-scale breach analyses and contributed to industry-leading security publications.

• Jimmy Alderson: Chief Product Officer and Chairman of the Board. Specializing in web application and data correlation, Jimmy has authored best-selling security books and conducted numerous network architecture reviews.

• Jaime Thornton: Director of Sales. Since joining InGuardians in 2011, Jaime has been instrumental in client relations and overseeing the sales process across various industries.

• Rob CurtinSeufert: Director of Services. Rob has extensive experience in network, wireless, and web application penetration testing, as well as incident response and social engineering.

• Justin Searle: Director of ICS Security. An expert in ICS security architecture and penetration testing, Justin has led significant projects and co-authored key industry reports.

Leadership Changes

In January 2018, InGuardians acquired UtiliSec, an information security consultancy focused on industrial control system security and training. Following the acquisition, UtiliSec's founder, Justin Searle, joined InGuardians as Director of Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security, enhancing the company's expertise in this domain.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics:

The information security consulting market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing cyber threats and regulatory requirements. Organizations are investing heavily in security assessments, penetration testing, and incident response services to protect sensitive data and maintain compliance.

Competitor Analysis:

• TrustedSec: A security consulting firm offering services in penetration testing, incident response, and security program development.

• IRM Security: Specializes in risk management, compliance, and security testing services.

• SECFORCE: Provides penetration testing and security assessment services with a focus on advanced persistent threats.

• Halock: Offers risk management and compliance services, including penetration testing and security assessments.

• Corsaire: Focuses on security testing, consultancy, and training services.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

InGuardians has established significant collaborations to enhance its service offerings:

• UtiliSec Acquisition: The 2018 acquisition of UtiliSec expanded InGuardians' capabilities in ICS security and training, bringing in-depth expertise and new service offerings.