The Security Industry

The Security Industry Substack analyzes the cybersecurity sector, discussing trends, investments, product development, and startup dynamics. It covers the roles of investors, the importance of product choice over platform solutions, market growth, and the impact of technology trends like AI. It aims to provide insights on cybersecurity innovation, investment patterns, and company strategies.

Cybersecurity Trends Investment and Funding Product and Vendor Analysis Startup Ecosystem Technology Innovation Market Strategy Event Analysis Industry Challenges Security Solutions Regulatory and Policy Impacts

The hottest Substack posts of The Security Industry

And their main takeaways

10 Cybersecurity Unicorns That You Won't Find in a Gartner MQ

20 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Market Analysis
  1. Cybersecurity unicorns like Wiz, Tanium, and Lacework are not featured in Gartner's Magic Quadrants despite their high valuations.
  2. In the cybersecurity field, some leading companies are not included in Gartner's MQs due to the evolving nature of the market and the variety of specialized solutions available.
  3. Gartner's Magic Quadrants may not fully represent the fast-growing cybersecurity sector, leaving out numerous innovative companies providing essential solutions.

Cyber Fantasy Versus Reality

31 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Market Dynamics Management Product Strategy
  1. In the cybersecurity industry, a company's success often comes from acquiring and integrating other successful cybersecurity companies that offer products in different areas like network, endpoint, data, identity, or GRC.
  2. Professional management is essential for growth through acquisitions in the cybersecurity field. It's crucial to make wise choices, integrate acquired teams effectively, and stay focused on customer service.
  3. Cybersecurity companies need to deliver good products at good prices to succeed, rather than solely relying on complex platformization strategies for sales growth.

A Walk Through of the New Analyst Dashboard

15 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Data Analysis Database Management
  1. Version 6 of the Analyst Dashboard for cybersecurity industry research brings a dramatic update to user interface and introduces useful new tools.
  2. Knowing all cybersecurity product vendors is crucial for creating a comprehensive data tool, and manual categorization of vendors is currently necessary.
  3. By collecting data on vendors, answering specific questions about the cybersecurity industry becomes possible, like listing vendors in a certain city or sorting them by year founded.

10,000 Cybersecurity Products

11 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Products Vendors IT Security
  1. The cybersecurity industry has over 10,000 products from almost 4,000 vendors, making product discovery and purchasing complex.
  2. The approach to buying cybersecurity products differs from other tech areas due to the constant evolution of threat actors, leading to a wide range of products.
  3. Gartner, a key player in cybersecurity product evaluation, covers only a small percentage of the total number of products available, leaving gaps for buyers seeking specialized solutions.
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You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet

16 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity AI Tech Stocks Technological Impact
  1. Cybersecurity stocks have seen significant growth in just a year, with some major stocks more than doubling.
  2. The rise of AI, particularly large language models, is predicted to have a greater impact on human development than past technological advancements like the internet and electricity.
  3. Investors, security buyers, and industry pundits need to adapt to the technological expansion ahead and be prepared for significant changes in various sectors.

Using the Dashboard to Discover Investment Trends.

8 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
💰 Finance Investment Trends
  1. IT-Harvest uses no-code methodologies and OpenAI to quickly add features to their Dashboard.
  2. The Dashboard rapidly evolves with UI changes and enhancements based on user suggestions.
  3. The latest feature allows users to examine investment trends by analyzing portfolios of VCs and PE firms, giving insights into categories and accelerated interests.

Intro to Stiennon on Security

15 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Networking Privacy History Innovation
  1. Richard Stiennon compiled his essays into a book to provide a historical record of cybersecurity writing.
  2. Stiennon's career was impacted by his writing, leading to job offers and industry recognition.
  3. Stiennon's writing covers a range of topics in cybersecurity, from government regulations to industry critiques and technology trends.

Competitor Landscapes

11 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
💼 Business Competitive Analysis Market research
  1. Competitive analysis is crucial for investors to understand the market and competition.
  2. The platform has been enhanced with a Competitor Landscape tool for comparisons.
  3. Building a database of security products will provide a comprehensive tool for competitive analysis and product selection.

There Is No Such Thing As a Cybersecurity Platform

2 HN points • 21 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity
  1. Enterprises do not want to buy all cybersecurity solutions from a single vendor, showing no appetite for it after past experiences.
  2. It is crucial to have the best cybersecurity defenses in place to protect against real threats, even if it means not opting for a unified 'platform' solution.
  3. Past instances with vendors like Symantec and McAfee caution against getting locked into a single vendor's ecosystem due to risks of stagnation and lack of innovation.

Cybersecurity IPOs

5 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity IPOs Data Protection
  1. There is speculation that the two-year drought in cybersecurity IPOs may end in 2024.
  2. Some cybersecurity vendors are growing but are being taken private instead of staying public.
  3. Companies with over 1,000 employees and strong growth rates might be ready for IPOs in the cybersecurity sector.

Cybersecurity Pioneers

13 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Entrepreneurs History Identity
  1. The Security Yearbook 2023 highlights the personal stories of cybersecurity pioneers.
  2. Cybersecurity pioneers like Gil Shwed, Eva Chen, and Kailash Katkar have made significant impacts on the industry.
  3. The industry's history includes key figures like Barry Schrager, Marty Roesch, and other notable contributors.

There Is No Anti-Ransomware Market

21 implied HN points • 10 Feb 23
  1. Developing and selling an anti-ransomware solution is a strategy doomed to failure because there are already numerous cybersecurity solutions in the market.
  2. Identifying a buyer for anti-ransomware is challenging as organizations hit by ransomware often lack mature IT systems and security teams.
  3. Consider exploring different cybersecurity use cases rather than focusing solely on anti-ransomware solutions.

We Need More FUD

18 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Risk management Data Breaches
  1. CISOs should not adopt the board's language but focus on educating and evoking emotions to get support
  2. Board members often make decisions based on emotions rather than data or risk metrics
  3. Instilling fear through education can be an effective way for CISOs to get the necessary resources

2022 M&A in Cybersecurity

15 implied HN points • 02 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity Cloud Security
  1. In 2022, the cybersecurity industry saw 332 acquisitions, with the largest deal being VMware acquired by Broadcom for $60 billion.
  2. Most of the acquisitions in 2022 were strategic, where one vendor acquired another, like Google buying Mandiant.
  3. Special Purpose Acquisition Corps (SPACs) were used for acquiring cybersecurity companies, with notable large deals taking advantage of lower valuations.

Women in Cyber

15 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🕹 Technology Cybersecurity
  1. 72 cybersecurity vendors have female CEOs, making up 2.1% of the total.
  2. The US has the highest number of cybersecurity companies with female CEOs at 44.
  3. There is hope for more female-led cybersecurity vendors in the future.

India Is an Emerging Hotbed of Cybersecurity Startups

16 implied HN points • 02 Jan 23
  1. India has 124 cybersecurity startups, showing a growing industry presence.
  2. Successful exits in India are motivating other founders to enter the cybersecurity market.
  3. India ranks sixth globally in cybersecurity companies, with potential for more growth.

A Very Short History of The Last 12 Months

15 implied HN points • 08 Jan 23
  1. Started with an intern for a cybersecurity project
  2. Switched from Airtable to Bubble for dashboard development
  3. Transitioned to Xano for better security and monthly subscriptions

API Security Sector Grew 47% in 2022

13 implied HN points • 22 Jan 23
  1. API Security sector grew 47% in 2022, showing rapid growth in the industry
  2. APIs are crucial connections in the modern web, but security risks arise if not handled properly
  3. There are 31 specialized vendors in API Security solutions and market is estimated to reach $1 billion in three years

Investments in Cybersecurity Top $17 Billion in 2022

13 implied HN points • 31 Dec 22
  1. Investments in cybersecurity exceeded $17 billion in 2022, marking a 65% increase from 2020.
  2. Despite predictions, the cybersecurity industry had a successful year with substantial investments.
  3. The cybersecurity industry demonstrated growth in 2022, with many vendors experiencing over 25% growth.

Adding a Category to the Analyst Dashboard

6 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Security
  1. Adding a new category called Posture Management to the Analyst Dashboard
  2. The new category will encompass vulnerability management, configuration management, asset management, cloud security posture management, and attack surface management
  3. The Analyst Dashboard subscribers will now be able to track investment, revenue, and headcount changes for each category

2022 Cybersecurity Startups

10 implied HN points • 30 Jan 23
  1. Perceived economic downturn can be a good time to launch a startup
  2. Many of the 2022 cybersecurity startups received significant seed funding
  3. Several cybersecurity companies founded during economic downturns have survived and thrived

A Walk-through of The Only Platform for Cybersecurity Research

13 implied HN points • 26 Nov 22
  1. The platform offers a unique way to filter cybersecurity vendors by specific criteria.
  2. Users can easily access detailed information about specific vendors.
  3. The tool allows users to explore a wide range of cybersecurity news from different sources.

Looking at RSA Conference 2023

13 implied HN points • 22 Nov 22
  1. IT-Harvest is updating their research platform for upcoming conferences like RSA Conference 2023.
  2. RSA Conference 2023 will have 215 vendors from 22 countries, representing various categories.
  3. An upcoming feature on IT-Harvest will introduce Grouping and Sub-categorization for better analysis.

Booming UK Cybersecurity Industry

10 implied HN points • 12 Jan 23
  1. UK ranks #3 in vendors of cybersecurity products
  2. Fastest growing cybersecurity company is Next DLP
  3. $412 million invested in 20 UK cybersecurity companies last year

Shift Left is NOT the Solution to the SolarWinds problem

11 implied HN points • 14 Dec 22
  1. Shift Left is NOT the solution to the SolarWinds problem.
  2. Software updates can be a security risk, despite the emphasis on immediate patching.
  3. A new approach may be needed to secure software updates effectively.

Not Too Shabby

13 implied HN points • 15 Oct 22
  1. 2022 is on track to exceed $16 billion in new cybersecurity investments.
  2. Identity and API security led in growth in Q3.
  3. Investments in cybersecurity companies continue to show healthy growth despite economic uncertainties.

Are Conferences Worth It?

8 implied HN points • 08 Feb 23
  1. Exhibiting at conferences can offer benefits beyond filling a sales funnel like brand awareness and partnering.
  2. Conferences can be a good place to meet potential partners, job seekers, and investors.
  3. Consider the financial implications and alternative methods of engagement, but do not underestimate the value of presence.

Catching the ChatGPT Wave

8 implied HN points • 21 Jan 23
  1. Discovering new technologies can be game-changing, like the internet in 1992.
  2. Utilizing large language models such as GPT-3 can significantly enhance research and productivity in various industries.
  3. Automation through AI can streamline data collection and analysis processes, saving time and resources.

What Happens to a Cybersecurity Vendor When it is Acquired?

8 implied HN points • 11 Dec 22
  1. Cybersecurity vendors can be acquired in different ways, like strategic acquisitions.
  2. After acquisition, the fate of the vendor's brand and employees varies.
  3. Private equity firms may play a significant role in acquiring and reshaping cybersecurity vendors.