Discovering Intruder Systems

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of new security threats?

Many IT teams struggle to keep up, always reacting but never quite catching up. Managing vulnerabilities across multiple systems takes a lot of time. It can also leave you feeling trapped in a constant cycle of firefighting.

What if there was a better way? A tool that not only spots threats quickly, but also simplifies the entire process. A tool that lets you focus on what matters most.

That tool is Intruder Systems.

In this article, we'll explore how Intruder Systems can simplify cybersecurity. We'll also dive into their story and see how their tools protect your data without adding extra work.

Table of Contents

1. Company Background and Timeline
2. A Comprehensive Overview of Intruder Systems Product Suite
3. Major Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles
4. Flagship Product Review: Intruder Vulnerability Scanner
5. Reviews of Two Other Products
6. Target Client Fit
7. Spotlight Wrap Up

1. Company Background and Timeline 

Intruder Systems started with a simple yet bold idea. Let's look at their journey and the vision that led to their success.

Founders and Early Days

Intruder Systems was started in 2015 by Chris Wallis. He had a background in ethical hacking and penetration testing. Chris created Intruder Systems to make security management easier for businesses. He focused on companies that did not have large security teams.

Wallis noticed that big companies had the resources to manage security. However, small and medium businesses struggled with rising cyber threats. So, he built Intruder Systems to provide security tools. These tools are designed to be easy and accessible for all companies.

During the Heartbleed crisis, Wallis saw a problem with traditional tools. They could find issues but failed to rank them by urgency. He wanted a platform that not only detected risks but also prioritized them. This vision led to the creation of Intruder Systems. It became a cloud-based service that automates security checks.

Timeline of Growth

Intruder’s growth wasn’t instant. Each year brought new achievements, thanks to their dedication to easy cybersecurity.

• 2015: The Beginning Chris Wallis started Intruder Systems to simplify security management. His goal was to create an automated solution for businesses with limited resources.
• 2016: First Product Launch The company launched its first cloud-based vulnerability scanner. It quickly stood out for finding security gaps and offering clear steps to fix them.
• 2017: Expanding to Cloud Security Intruder Systems added support for cloud environments like AWS and Azure. It introduced continuous monitoring and threat alerts for real-time updates.
• 2018: New Features and Growth New features like threat intelligence and continuous monitoring were introduced. This lets businesses track risks in real time and react faster.
• 2019: Attack Surface and API Security Intruder Systems launched attack surface monitoring to help businesses find hidden digital assets. API scanning was also added to fix issues in app interfaces.
• 2020: Adapting to COVID-19 As remote work increased, Intruder Systems supported cloud-based and remote setups. This helped businesses stay secure in changing times.
• 2021: Advanced Analytics and Compliance The platform launched advanced analytics. This feature lets businesses track their security over time. Intruder also partnered with compliance platforms like Drata and Vanta. These partnerships support clients in meeting standards like SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
• 2023: Recognition and New Innovations Intruder Systems was recognized as one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech companies. It ranked 38th on Deloitte’s UK Technology Fast 50 list with 836% revenue growth. The company also launched new features, including remediation scans and compliance tools. They stayed focused on delivering simple yet strong cybersecurity.
• 2024: Better Exposure Management and Global Reach Intruder Systems introduced advanced exposure management and real-time threat detection. They expanded their team to include 15 nationalities across nine countries. This remote team provides 24/7 support from the company’s headquarters in London.

Company Ownership 

Intruder Systems is a privately held company. In the beginning, Chris Wallis and David Robertson were the main shareholders. In 2017, Robertson sold his shares, making Wallis the sole owner.

Since then, Wallis has focused on organic growth and self-funding. This strategy helps him to steer the company without outside influences. It also preserves his vision for the company’s future.

Global Presence

Intruder Systems is based in Shoreditch, London. This area is a popular hub for tech startups. The company has adopted a remote-first model. Their team now spans nine countries and includes 15 nationalities. This approach allows them to attract top talent from around the world. It also ensures 24/7 cybersecurity support for its clients.

2. A Comprehensive Overview of Intruder Systems Product Suite

Intruder Systems offers a cybersecurity suite that makes vulnerability management simple. The platform works well for businesses of all sizes. It is scalable, making it ideal for both small companies and large enterprises.

The suite includes key features like vulnerability scanning. It also offers threat monitoring and attack surface management. It also offers compliance reporting. This helps businesses stay secure and meet industry standards. Moreover, it integrates with third-party tools. Here’s a look at the main offerings in their product suite:

Vulnerability Scanning

The central part of Intruder Systems’ suite is its Vulnerability Scanner. It scans networks, web apps, and cloud environments for security weaknesses. You can schedule scans or run them on-demand. The scanner covers many types of vulnerabilities.

These include network setup issues. They also cover application threats like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). It also scans cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. This tool is automated and constantly updated. This means businesses stay protected against new threats with little manual effort.

Continuous Threat Monitoring

Intruder offers Continuous Monitoring to keep watch over your security all the time. This tool checks for vulnerabilities daily. It finds and fixes potential threats quickly. It's especially useful in cloud environments. It continuously monitors assets for changes. This greatly enhances protection.

The feature uses Threat Intelligence to compare found vulnerabilities with real-world data. This helps businesses focus on the most important threats based on current trends. It improves their response strategy.

Threat Intelligence Integration

Threat Intelligence is built into the Intruder Systems platform. It gives deeper insights into vulnerabilities by linking them with known threats. This feature highlights vulnerabilities that are actively being exploited.

With this information, businesses can focus on the most urgent risks first. This greatly reduces the time needed to secure critical assets. The intelligence updates in real-time. It offers actionable insights into the changing threat landscape.

Attack Surface Management

Digital systems are becoming more complex. Attack Surface Management is vital. It helps businesses find and manage all internet-exposed assets. This includes ones they might have forgotten, like shadow IT assets. By continuously monitoring for changes, the platform provides a full view of digital exposure. This allows for proactive security measures.

Compliance Reporting

Intruder Systems makes meeting regulations easier with its Compliance Reporting tools. This feature automates the creation of compliance reports based on ongoing vulnerability checks.

The reports can be customized to meet specific rules like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS. This saves time and reduces errors. It ensures businesses keep up-to-date documents for audits.

Integrations with Third-Party Tools

The platform works smoothly with third-party tools. This enhances its usefulness. Intruder Systems integrates with popular tools like Slack and Jira. This allows security teams to communicate easily and manage tasks.

It also supports cloud services and CI/CD pipelines. This makes vulnerability management easy to add to development and operations. This level of integration helps streamline security tasks. It makes it easier for businesses to act on found vulnerabilities.

Evolution of Products

Here’s an overview of how Intruder Systems' products have developed over the years:

• Early Stages (2015-2016) Intruder Systems started by focusing on network and web application vulnerability scanning. Their main product was designed to find common weaknesses in on-premise networks and simple web apps. This scanner was easy to use. It was aimed at businesses without specialized cybersecurity staff. Over time, it became the foundation for Intruder’s expanded offerings.
• Growth and Expansion (2017-2018) As cloud computing grew, Intruder introduced cloud vulnerability scanning. This was essential for businesses using cloud services like AWS and Azure. It helped secure their cloud infrastructure. Intruder also added continuous monitoring. This kept up with changes in dynamic environments. By integrating threat intelligence, users gained real-time information on vulnerabilities. This improved their ability to prioritize and act on threats.
• Enhanced Capabilities (2019-Present) Intruder launched Attack Surface Management. This helps businesses see their entire digital footprint. It finds assets that might have been overlooked. Around the same time, they introduced API security scanning. This addressed the need to secure APIs, a growing area of vulnerability. As compliance needs increased, Intruder added compliance reporting tools. This helps companies meet standards like SOC 2 and ISO 27001 more easily. Additionally, Intruder expanded its platform to include third-party integrations. This allows seamless use with popular tools like Slack and Jira.

3. Major Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles

Intruder Systems has faced many challenges in the fast-paced world of cybersecurity. They have shown adaptability and resilience. Here are the challenges they faced and how they overcame them:

Standing Out in a Crowded Market

The cybersecurity field is crowded with many solutions. Intruder Systems needed to stand out. They focused on making their platform easy to use and automated. They created a simple platform by targeting both small and large enterprises.

Even users with little cybersecurity knowledge could navigate it. Their unique features, like continuous monitoring and threat intelligence, added more value. This allowed users to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Keeping Up with Constantly Changing Threats

Cyber threats keep changing. Intruder Systems had to stay ahead. They invested in real-time threat intelligence and continuous monitoring. This helped their platform detect new vulnerabilities and threats quickly.

Their flexible development strategy allowed them to release updates swiftly. This ensured their platform always addressed the latest risks.

Meeting the Challenge of Growing Demand

As Intruder Systems grew, the demand for their platform increased. They needed to scale up while keeping their performance strong. To achieve this, they used cloud infrastructure. This helped them scale quickly without losing service quality.

As they added features and expanded globally, their platform stayed fast. It also remained reliable for users around the world.

Helping Clients Get Up to Speed

Many of Intruder's clients had limited cybersecurity knowledge. This was especially true for smaller businesses. To help them, Intruder designed an easy-to-use interface. The platform became simple to navigate.

They also provided educational resources and strong customer support. This helped clients understand cybersecurity basics. Clients could get the most out of the platform. This focus on accessibility made clients feel confident in managing their cybersecurity.

4. Flagship Product Review: Intruder Vulnerability Scanner 

The Intruder Vulnerability Scanner is the main product of Intruder Systems. It helps businesses find and fix vulnerabilities in their digital systems. Let's explore its key features, user experience, performance, and the pros and cons.

Key Features:

Intruder's Vulnerability Scanner has many features to provide full visibility into network security:

• Automated Scanning: Users can schedule scans regularly or start them when needed. This ensures continuous monitoring of potential vulnerabilities. It’s especially helpful in environments where settings change often.
• Network and Application Coverage: The scanner checks both network setups and web applications. It finds common vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). This makes it a strong tool for thorough security checks.
• Cloud Infrastructure Support: More businesses are moving their data to cloud platforms. Intruder supports AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. The scanner looks for cloud-specific issues that could expose data or systems.
• Real-Time Alerts and Continuous Monitoring: The platform keeps an eye on vulnerabilities even after a scan. If a known vulnerability returns or a new one appears, users receive instant alerts. This allows quick action.
• Threat Intelligence Integration: Intruder uses threat intelligence data to rank vulnerabilities. It prioritizes them based on their risk level. This helps businesses focus on the most urgent threats. It also helps them use resources wisely.
• Compliance Reporting: The platform includes built-in compliance features. It creates automated reports for standards like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI-DSS. This makes audits simpler.
• Third-Party Integrations: Intruder works with popular tools like Slack and Jira. It also integrates with CI/CD pipelines. This allows smooth integration into existing workflows. It boosts productivity and response times.

User Experience

Intruder's Vulnerability Scanner has a simple, user-friendly interface. It's designed to be easy to use. This makes it accessible even to those with little cybersecurity knowledge. The platform guides users through setup and scanning. This reduces the learning curve.

Users can quickly access detailed reports and advice on fixing issues. Each vulnerability includes a clear description, potential impacts, and steps to resolve it. This guidance helps businesses respond effectively, even without deep security expertise.

Performance

Intruder’s performance is solid. Scans run efficiently and deliver results quickly. The platform’s cloud infrastructure makes it scalable and responsive. It suits businesses of different sizes. The scanner is thorough but doesn’t overwhelm users with unnecessary data. It focuses on actionable insights that help reduce risk.

The platform’s continuous monitoring and real-time alerts add to its reliability. Intruder uses threat intelligence to keep users informed about the latest vulnerabilities. This helps them stay aware of risks that could impact their systems.

5. Reviews of Two Other Products

Continuous Threat Monitoring

Intruder’s Continuous Threat Monitoring is a proactive tool. It keeps a constant watch over an organization’s systems. It scans in real-time and sends alerts to help businesses respond quickly to new threats. This feature keeps users aware of emerging risks. It reduces the time attackers have to exploit weaknesses.

The system also uses threat intelligence. It ranks vulnerabilities based on their likelihood of being exploited. This helps businesses focus on the most urgent issues.

Attack Surface Management

Intruder’s Attack Surface Management gives businesses a clear view of all their digital assets. This includes both known and unknown assets. It helps find unmanaged or forgotten assets. This way, businesses get a full picture of their exposure to the internet. This tool is key for spotting entry points that attackers could use. It enables businesses to strengthen their security.

6. Target Client Fit 

Intruder Systems' solutions cater to different client profiles and industries:

Designed for SMEs and Enterprises

Intruder Systems is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs). It is also a great fit for large enterprises. For SMEs, the platform is easy to use and doesn’t need deep cybersecurity knowledge. This makes it a great choice for smaller businesses that want a simple way to protect their systems.

Large enterprises, on the other hand, benefit from Intruder’s scalability. They also gain from its advanced integrations. These features help manage complex security needs across big networks.

Meeting the Needs of Various Industries

Intruder’s solutions work well in sectors like healthcare, finance, and e-commerce. In healthcare, compliance with standards like HIPAA is crucial. Intruders meet these standards with strong threat monitoring. In finance, firms use Intruder to protect sensitive data. It supports meeting industry-specific rules like SOC 2. This is essential for securing financial information.

Real-World Use Cases

A healthcare provider might use Intruder to monitor cloud-based patient records. A financial institution could use the platform to secure transactions and customer data. These examples show how Intruder adapts to different industries. It offers targeted security solutions that meet specific needs.

7. Wrap-Up

Intruder Systems makes cybersecurity easy for any business, big or small. Their platform combines powerful tools with simple design. So you get top-notch protection without the hassle.

The cybersecurity platform has what you are looking for. From basic security to a full-fledged solution that scales with you.

With tools like the Vulnerability Scanner, Continuous Threat Monitoring, and Attack Surface Management, Intruder helps you stay ahead of new threats. Plus, their user-friendly design and seamless integrations make it easy to fit into your workflow.

Want to try it out? Start a 14-day free trial today and see how Intruder Systems can simplify your cybersecurity—no strings attached!