Intruder Systems has become a vital player in the cybersecurity industry, providing advanced solutions to safeguard businesses and individuals from unauthorized access. Known for its innovative technology and commitment to safety, the company has made significant strides in shaping modern security standards. Below, we’ll explore the company’s background, challenges, and growth journey, highlighting how its product suite has evolved to meet market demands. 

Founding Story

Intruder Systems was founded in 2015 by Chris Wallis to address the growing challenge of vulnerability management in cybersecurity. With a background as an ethical hacker and defender of critical national infrastructure, Wallis noticed that existing tools struggled to prioritize and manage vulnerabilities effectively. Intruder was created to streamline this process, focusing on what matters most while filtering out unnecessary noise. The company’s mission from the start was to make cybersecurity more efficient and accessible. Since then, Intruder has grown rapidly, gaining recognition for its innovative approach and securing over 2,500 clients worldwide.

Early Challenges and Milestones

Intruder Systems has navigated several challenges on its path to growth, particularly around managing the complexity of intrusion detection and prevention. One of the major hurdles has been handling the high volume of alerts generated by intrusion detection systems (IDS). Many of these alerts are false positives, which can overwhelm security teams and lead to critical issues being overlooked. Intruder had to invest in refining its technology to filter out noise and focus on high-priority threats, requiring ongoing adjustments and fine-tuning of alert baselines specific to different environments.

Another challenge Intruder faced was ensuring effective deployment of its solutions across diverse IT environments. Budget constraints and the complexity of integrating IDS technology often left gaps in network coverage, exposing critical assets to potential threats. The company worked to optimize its systems, including integrating new technologies such as Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) to enhance threat detection and incident response capabilities. This shift allowed for better automation in handling alerts and improved overall security outcomes for their clients.

Despite these challenges, Intruder achieved key milestones, including being selected for GCHQ’s Cyber Accelerator and being recognized in Deloitte’s Tech Fast 50 as the fastest-growing cybersecurity company in the UK in 2023. Intruder’s commitment to enhancing its technology and addressing customer needs has driven its impressive growth trajectory, culminating in its recognition as a leader in the cybersecurity industry.

Timeline of Growth

Intruder Systems has demonstrated rapid growth since its founding in 2015, driven by its unique approach to vulnerability management. In 2017, the company gained significant traction by being selected for GCHQ’s Cyber Accelerator, which helped it refine its products and expand its reach. By 2020, Intruder had integrated its platform with major cloud providers, allowing businesses to protect their cloud environments more effectively. This period also saw the company expanding its international presence and customer base, focusing on continuous product updates that aligned with market demands.

In 2023, Intruder achieved a major milestone by ranking 38th in the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50, showcasing an impressive 836% revenue growth over four years. This recognition highlighted Intruder as the only cybersecurity firm in the ranking, emphasizing its impact on the market through efficient and user-friendly security solutions. The company has continued to innovate, adding new features such as continuous penetration testing and attack surface management to stay ahead of evolving threats and maintain its growth trajectory in a competitive market environment.

Company Culture and Vision

Intruder Systems has built a strong organizational culture centered on innovation, transparency, and customer focus. According to Glassdoor reviews, 88% of former or current staff would recommend working for Intruder Systems. The company values teamwork and empowers employees to actively contribute to the development of cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. 

This collaborative environment has been crucial in driving continuous improvement and staying ahead of evolving threats. Intruder’s emphasis on an open and inclusive work culture has also fostered creativity, allowing teams to experiment with new ideas and rapidly implement improvements that enhance product performance and customer satisfaction

Intruder Systems is focused on expanding its influence in the cybersecurity market through strategic partnerships and advanced technology integration. The company has formed partnerships with technology providers and cloud platforms to enhance its products’ connectivity and usability, particularly in cloud-centric security solutions. Collaborations with firms like Google Cloud have enabled Intruder to improve its attack surface management capabilities, making its solutions more adaptable to modern digital environments.

Intruder is also embracing a shift from product-centered offerings to service-based models. This strategic pivot aligns with the growing demand for solutions that provide continuous security management, allowing companies to operate with minimal in-house resources. The company is exploring further integration of AI-driven technologies to automate threat detection and response, which will reduce the burden on security teams and enhance real-time protection for users.

Looking ahead, Intruder aims to continue building partnerships with key players in telecommunications and smart home ecosystems to broaden its product reach. These collaborations are intended to create more interconnected and responsive security solutions that meet evolving customer needs across different industries.

Client Segments

Intruder Systems caters to a wide range of businesses, from small startups to large enterprises, making it suitable for various industries with differing cybersecurity needs. For small businesses and startups, especially those with limited IT resources, the Essentials, and Pro Plans offer automated vulnerability scanning and easy-to-manage security features that don’t require in-house cybersecurity expertise. These plans are ideal for companies that require basic protection and compliance without the complexities of large-scale security management.

Medium-sized companies and enterprises with larger digital footprints often turn to the Pro and Premium Plans. These plans are best suited for businesses operating in highly regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and technology, where constant monitoring, compliance, and advanced threat response are crucial. Companies with complex infrastructures, including cloud environments and multiple external and internal systems, benefit from the continuous scanning, asset discovery, and advanced support offered by Intruder’s more comprehensive plans.

Enterprise clients, particularly those needing proactive threat detection and manual penetration testing, typically choose the Vanguard service, which combines automated scans with expert-led security assessments. This plan is tailored for organizations that require deeper insights and expert guidance to prioritize and address critical vulnerabilities, making it ideal for industries with high-security requirements such as software development, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors.

Initial Product Offering

Intruder Systems initially launched as a vulnerability management platform focusing on external vulnerability scanning to help businesses identify and prioritize security threats. The primary goal was to simplify cybersecurity for companies without overwhelming them with data, providing actionable insights into the most critical vulnerabilities. The platform integrated continuous vulnerability scanning, attack surface management, and proactive threat response, making it a comprehensive tool for monitoring internet-facing assets.

Key features of the initial offering included external vulnerability scanning, which automatically monitored exposed systems and alerted users to critical issues that required immediate attention. This allowed businesses to address vulnerabilities quickly, even if they lacked in-depth cybersecurity expertise. The platform’s intuitive design aimed to make it easy for organizations of all sizes to manage their digital risks effectively, helping them focus on high-priority threats without manual intervention.

Intruder’s early focus on accessibility and ease of use helped differentiate it from other security tools that often overwhelmed users with excessive data. The platform’s evolution included features like subdomain discovery, login page scanning, and API identification, which expanded its capabilities and offered a more thorough security assessment for users over time.

Evolution of Product Suite

Intruder Systems has continuously evolved its product suite, expanding from its initial focus on external vulnerability scanning to a comprehensive attack surface management platform. Over the years, the company has integrated new technologies and features to meet the growing demands of the cybersecurity landscape. One of the significant expansions was the inclusion of internal vulnerability scanning, cloud vulnerability scanning, and API vulnerability scanning, which allowed users to secure a broader range of digital assets beyond just external threats.

The addition of continuous penetration testing represented a critical evolution in Intruder’s offerings. This feature allowed organizations to simulate real-world attacks on their systems continuously, helping them identify vulnerabilities that traditional scanning methods might miss. Intruder also developed advanced asset discovery tools that help businesses identify forgotten or unknown assets, such as hidden subdomains and unmonitored login pages, further enhancing their visibility over their attack surface.

The platform’s integration with cloud services like AWS and Cloudflare enabled automated scanning of cloud-based assets, a necessary adaptation as businesses increasingly move their operations online. These advancements have allowed Intruder to address more complex security needs, providing businesses with deeper insights and automated responses to emerging threats. By continually updating its product suite with features like enhanced risk scoring, SIEM integration, and support for Single Page Application (SPA) scanning, Intruder has positioned itself as a versatile solution in the cybersecurity market.

Current Product Portfolio

Intruder Systems’ current product portfolio is a comprehensive suite designed to provide continuous security management for businesses of all sizes. The core offering includes advanced vulnerability management with external, internal, and cloud vulnerability scanning capabilities. These tools are complemented by attack surface management, which gives companies detailed insights into their exposed digital assets, helping them identify and mitigate risks before they can be exploited.

Intruder’s API scanning capabilities have been particularly impactful, enabling users to detect weaknesses in API endpoints that are often overlooked in standard security protocols. Additionally, the platform’s new analytics features offer detailed cyber hygiene scores, vulnerability tracking, and emerging threat scans, which help businesses maintain a proactive security posture. Integration with compliance tools like Vanta allows for streamlined compliance reporting, making it easier for companies to meet industry standards such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS.

Competitive Landscape

Intruder Systems operates in a competitive cybersecurity market alongside other major players like Qualys, Rapid7, and Tenable Nessus, each offering their own strengths in vulnerability management. What sets Intruder apart is its focus on simplicity and automation, providing businesses with a user-friendly interface that requires minimal manual intervention while delivering comprehensive scanning results. 

Intruder’s dual-engine approach, utilizing both Tenable Nessus and Nuclei, allows it to detect a broader range of vulnerabilities, including those that might be missed by more traditional tools. The platform’s ability to integrate seamlessly with popular collaboration tools like Slack and Jira enhances workflow efficiency, making it an attractive choice for businesses that value streamlined security management. 

Additionally, Intruder’s emphasis on continuous scanning and proactive threat response through features like Rapid Response ensures that clients stay ahead of new vulnerabilities with minimal effort through their white glove Vanguard service.

Success Stories

Intruder Systems has helped numerous companies enhance their cybersecurity through its various plans and services. One notable success story is with Litmus, a SaaS email marketing company. Litmus needed to secure its customer data and automate its network security processes. Using Intruder’s Pro Plan, Litmus automated its security scans across application, network, and infrastructure levels, saving time and meeting increasing client demands for regular security checks. This proactive approach not only protected their data but also helped the company close more deals by demonstrating strong cybersecurity measures to clients

Another notable example is the British Red Cross Training, which benefited from switching to continuous scanning. This change helped them expand their security insight and streamline vulnerability management processes, making their operations more efficient and secure. 

Hill & Smith Holdings PLC also used Intruder Premium to achieve comprehensive vulnerability management, significantly enhancing their security capabilities and protecting critical infrastructure​.

Product Overview: Intruder Premium Plan

The Intruder Premium Plan is the company’s flagship product, designed for businesses needing continuous attack surface monitoring and proactive threat management. Powered by both Tenable Nessus and Nuclei scanning engines, this plan offers comprehensive vulnerability management with a focus on minimizing exposure to threats and reducing the time needed to remediate vulnerabilities. It includes continuous monitoring of your attack surface, scanning daily for any changes, such as newly exposed services or assets, and automatically updating your attack surface view to keep security teams informed.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Vulnerability Scanning: The Premium plan includes enterprise-grade scanning that identifies vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), providing detailed analysis and prioritized remediation steps.
• Automated Threat Detection: Intruder’s automated scanning capabilities continuously monitor for new threats, helping organizations proactively address security weaknesses before they can be exploited.
• Real-Time Alerts and Reporting: Receive instant alerts for identified vulnerabilities and generate comprehensive reports to demonstrate compliance and communicate security measures to stakeholders.
• Expert Analysis and Support: The plan includes access to skilled security professionals who provide in-depth analysis of critical vulnerabilities, helping teams respond more effectively.
• Risk-Based Prioritization: The platform intelligently prioritizes vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact, allowing businesses to focus on the most critical issues first.

One of the standout features is Rapid Response, which quickly scans for emerging critical vulnerabilities as soon as they are identified, even before official checks are released. This feature ensures that users receive real-time advisories and actionable recommendations to address new threats immediately. The Premium Plan also includes access to priority support, including a dedicated Customer Success Manager to assist with account-related needs and technical issues.

The Intruder Premium Plan is best suited for medium to large businesses, especially those with complex digital infrastructures or large cloud environments. It’s particularly effective for companies needing continuous monitoring of their attack surface, such as financial institutions, technology firms, and SaaS providers that handle sensitive data and require stringent security measures. The plan’s automated scanning and Rapid Response features make it ideal for businesses that need to stay ahead of emerging threats without dedicating significant internal resources to manual vulnerability management.

Product Overview: Intruder Pro Plan

The Intruder Pro Plan is designed for businesses that require a robust vulnerability management solution for both external and internal systems. This plan is powered by Tenable Nessus, a commercial-grade scanning engine widely used by large organizations and government bodies. The Pro Plan performs over 141,000 external checks and 14,000 internal checks, covering common infrastructure weaknesses, exposed systems, information leakage, and misconfigurations, among others.

Key Features:

• Automated Vulnerability Scanning: Regularly scans your network for vulnerabilities, including web applications, APIs, and internal systems, providing continuous protection against emerging threats.
• Real-Time Alerts and Reporting: Delivers instant notifications on detected vulnerabilities, coupled with detailed reports that help security teams prioritize remediation efforts effectively.
• Attack Surface Monitoring: Continuously monitors your organization’s external attack surface, identifying exposed assets and misconfigurations that could be exploited.
• Cloud Integrations: Integrates seamlessly with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, allowing for streamlined security management across cloud environments.
• Risk Prioritization: Uses intelligent threat scoring to prioritize vulnerabilities based on their potential impact, helping you address the most critical issues first.

The plan integrates with various tools, including ticketing systems for streamlined vulnerability management, collaboration tools for alerts, and cloud environments to maintain visibility over assets. This makes the Intruder Pro Plan particularly suitable for organizations hosting their own servers, running enterprise solutions like Exchange or VPN endpoints, or needing to monitor internal systems not exposed to the internet.

The Premium Plan includes the Nuclei scanning engine for more comprehensive vulnerability detection, while the Pro Plan relies solely on Tenable Nessus. Additionally, enhanced attack surface management features like subdomain discovery and automatic cloud asset detection are exclusive to the Premium Plan, making this plan better suited for vulnerability management rather than attack surface monitoring.

The Intruder Pro Plan is best suited for mid-sized businesses and enterprises that need to monitor both external and internal systems but do not require the continuous monitoring features of the Premium Plan. It’s ideal for companies that host their own servers, run enterprise solutions like Exchange or VPN endpoints, or need to secure internal networks not exposed to the internet. 

Organizations that handle sensitive data but do not need the highest level of proactive threat response will benefit from its comprehensive scanning capabilities. The Pro Plan is also a good fit for businesses looking for a reliable vulnerability management tool without the need for advanced features like Rapid Response or continuous scanning. It’s especially useful for those needing a balance of thorough security checks and cost-effectiveness.

Product Overview: Intruder Essentials Plan

The Intruder Essentials Plan is designed for early-stage startups, small businesses, or organizations with a limited internet footprint looking for an entry-level security solution. Powered by the OpenVAS scanning engine, this plan focuses on basic external checks, including common infrastructure weaknesses, unintentional exposure of systems, information leakage, and misconfigurations. The Essentials Plan provides over 18,000 external checks, making it suitable for businesses that rely on open-source software and devices without complex security needs.

Key Features:

• Automated Perimeter Scanning: Regularly scans external network assets to detect common vulnerabilities, keeping your systems secure from external threats.
• Simple Security Reports: Provides easy-to-understand security reports that highlight detected vulnerabilities and recommended remediation actions, helping teams address issues quickly.
• Prioritized Alerts: Offers basic alerting for critical vulnerabilities, allowing you to focus on the most severe risks affecting your external systems.
• Compliance Monitoring: Helps maintain compliance by identifying vulnerabilities that could lead to regulatory breaches, ensuring you meet security standards.
• On-Demand Scans: Run scans as needed, allowing you to assess your security posture anytime without waiting for scheduled assessments.

Key features of the Essentials Plan include unlimited users, one editable scheduled scan per month, and unlimited ad-hoc scans, allowing flexibility for companies to manage their scanning needs. The plan also offers Smart Recon, which identifies active systems that require a license, ensuring that only exposed targets are scanned to maximize efficiency. This plan is perfect for small businesses or startups that require a straightforward, affordable security solution to protect against common vulnerabilities without the complexity of more advanced features​.

The Intruder Essential Plan is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses that are just starting to prioritize cybersecurity and require a simple, cost-effective solution. It’s ideal for companies that primarily need to secure their external-facing assets, such as websites and public servers, without the complexities of managing internal networks. 

Organizations with limited IT resources or those new to vulnerability management will find the plan’s easy setup and automated scanning particularly beneficial. The Essential Plan is also a great fit for businesses requiring basic security monitoring to meet compliance requirements without extensive configurations. This plan is perfect for those who want to maintain a baseline level of cybersecurity without investing heavily in more advanced, and often more complex, security solutions.

Conclusion

Intruder Systems has established itself as a key player in cybersecurity by offering comprehensive vulnerability management solutions tailored to businesses of all sizes. From its founding with a vision to simplify cybersecurity for companies to overcoming significant challenges and evolving its product suite, Intruder has consistently adapted to meet the needs of a rapidly changing threat landscape. 

By continuously refining its technology, integrating advanced scanning engines, and focusing on user needs, Intruder remains at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation. As the company continues to grow and adapt, it is poised to further enhance its impact on the industry, helping businesses safeguard their digital assets against ever-evolving threats.