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

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.

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.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

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.

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

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.

Adding a Category to the Analyst Dashboard

6 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Security Dashboard
  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

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

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.

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.

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.

Selling To Cybersecurity

6 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
  1. The cybersecurity industry is a complex ecosystem with various services and data being sold among companies.
  2. Participating in major cybersecurity events indicates a healthy and thriving company, making it a good indicator for potential sponsors or partners.
  3. Vendors in the cybersecurity industry often sell products, data, and services to other vendors through OEM relationships or compliance assistance.

What is the Average Age of Cybsersecurity Companies?

5 implied HN points • 01 Feb 23
  1. There are many cybersecurity vendors, with around 10% going through acquisitions each year.
  2. It takes a couple of years for new cybersecurity startups to be discovered.
  3. The average age of cybersecurity vendors founded after 1982 is 12.3 years.

Do Your Own Cybersecurity Research

6 implied HN points • 12 Nov 22
  1. Do your own cybersecurity research - you can be an industry analyst
  2. Utilize a dashboard to quickly answer questions for yourself
  3. Consider how a research platform can help you get answers and insights faster

Introducing Monthly Access to the IT-Harvest Platform

5 implied HN points • 07 Dec 22
  1. Soft launch of monthly subscriptions for IT-Harvest Platform to known users first to prevent misuse.
  2. Monthly subscription offers full access to data on 3,188+ cybersecurity vendors and ability to download 500 vendor records monthly.
  3. Monthly subscriptions receive the same support as annual and include one call a month for advisory services.

Scaling SaaS for a Cybersecurity Industry Research Tool

5 implied HN points • 30 Oct 22
  1. The IT-Harvest Dashboard is ready to scale for the cybersecurity industry research tool.
  2. Introducing a monthly subscription option to add flexibility and value to users.
  3. Offering a full-featured trial account and implementing a monthly subscription tier for immediate access to data and features.

Reproducing DataQuest for Cybersecurity

5 implied HN points • 22 Oct 22
  1. IT-Harvest aims to recreate the functionality of DataQuest for cybersecurity industry.
  2. Feedly's AI is used to gather news on specific companies for IT-Harvest Dashboard.
  3. Explore page allows subscribers to filter vendors quickly based on various criteria like funding and category.

The Analyst Dashboard

5 implied HN points • 17 Jul 22
  1. The Analyst Dashboard evolved into a fully featured SaaS product with expanding features and datasets.
  2. The complete data set on 2,874 vendors is useful for investors, analyst firms, corporate development teams, competitive intelligence teams, and marketers in the cybersecurity industry.
  3. New features added include event participation tracking, awards search function, and a spotlight feature for insights.

Creating a SaaS app for tracking the entire cybersecurity industry.

6 implied HN points • 03 Apr 22
  1. A new SaaS app is created for tracking the cybersecurity industry
  2. The app serves the investment community with data and analysis services
  3. Different user groups like marketers, corporate development, and investment bankers benefit from the app

How Public Cybersecurity Companies Performed in 1H 2021

3 implied HN points • 06 Sep 21
  1. 20 cybersecurity companies increased in valuation by 13% to $265.62 billion in 1H 2021.
  2. Crowdstrike remains the largest cybersecurity company with a market cap of $56.72 billion.
  3. Fortinet experienced remarkable growth, surpassing Palo Alto Networks in market cap in the first half of 2021.

Nocode is Changing Everything

1 implied HN point • 16 Jun 22
  1. Typing pools were common for typing and secretarial work, but disappeared with word processors.
  2. Introduction of CAD in design work reduced errors and increased efficiency.
  3. Nocode tools, like Bubble.io, are revolutionizing app development by allowing creation without coding.

Is Cybersecurity Recession Proof?

1 implied HN point • 24 May 22
  1. Stock market is showing a decrease in cybersecurity stock valuations despite the demand for cybersecurity remaining high.
  2. During recessions, enterprise spending on security may decrease, but cybersecurity remains a long-term investment opportunity.
  3. The collapse of Russia might lead to reduced cybercrime, impacting cybersecurity spending, but cybersecurity will continue to grow with technological advancements.

Four Step Vendor Viability Checklist

1 implied HN point • 18 Sep 20
  1. The post outlines a Four Step Vendor Viability Checklist.
  2. The checklist can be reviewed from home in four quick steps.
  3. The checklist is a helpful tool for assessing a vendor's viability.

Industry Analyst Firms: The Numbers

1 implied HN point • 02 Aug 20
  1. Gartner is the largest analyst firm with 1,008 analysts.
  2. Revenue per employee is a good way to judge a company's strength.
  3. Different analyst firms have varying revenue per analyst and business models.

The Publishing Journey Continues

0 implied HN points • 30 Apr 21
  1. The publishing industry is a numbers game of backing multiple books to find a bestseller.
  2. Printing costs are kept lower by importing paper from China, but timing can be a challenge for topical books.
  3. Self-publishing with print-on-demand eliminates printing and fulfillment costs for authors.

Can The EU Create Its Own Cloud Platform?

0 implied HN points • 10 Aug 20
  1. The EU is developing its own cloud platform called Gaia X.
  2. The goal is to create an alternative to US and Chinese cloud platforms.
  3. This initiative aims to enhance data sovereignty and privacy for European businesses.

2020 Cybersecurity Funding

0 implied HN points • 02 Apr 21
  1. In 2020, the total new investment in cybersecurity was $10.7 billion.
  2. Some companies like MicroStrategy, OneTrust, and FireEye received major funding rounds in 2020.
  3. Despite the pandemic, many cybersecurity companies saw significant growth and secured large funding rounds.

Barbary Pirates and Russian Cybercrime

0 implied HN points • 28 Nov 21
  1. The United States historically dealt with piracy by deploying military force to deter attacks and pay tribute, similar to the current problem of Russian cybercrime.
  2. President Biden is preparing to respond to ransomware attacks, potentially targeting the perpetrators akin to deploying frigates against pirates.
  3. Paying ransoms for cyberattacks may temporarily solve the issue but ultimately encourages the spread of the problem, similar to historical examples of dealing with piracy.

Pulling Together the History of Cybersecurity in 2020

0 implied HN points • 22 Mar 21
  1. The year 2020 in cybersecurity was marked by significant events like COVID-19 and the SolarWinds breach.
  2. Digital transformation and zero trust network access were key trends in 2020, driving growth in companies like Zscaler, Netskope, and Perimeter 81.
  3. 2020 saw a substantial increase in funding for cybersecurity vendors, along with numerous mergers and acquisitions, showcasing a thriving industry despite the challenges.

Only 16 Categories for the Entire Cybsersecurity Industry?

0 implied HN points • 05 Apr 21
  1. The cybersecurity industry can be broken down into 16 main categories that encompass a wide range of technologies and solutions.
  2. Despite challenges like the move to the cloud, new cybersecurity vendors continue to emerge each year.
  3. Analyzing market growth in the cybersecurity industry can be complex, with challenges in data collection and accurate estimation of revenue.

Analyst Methodology

0 implied HN points • 23 Sep 20
  1. Data collection for research can be flawed due to inconsistencies like self-reported information and outdated databases.
  2. Effective ways to find new vendors include tracking conference exhibitors, monitoring contacts' career shifts, and staying updated through social media and PR releases.
  3. Useful data points to collect about vendors include company details, funding, employee numbers, and website information, which can provide insights into their health and potential success.

Executive Order On Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, Examined

0 implied HN points • 03 Jun 21
  1. The Executive Order focuses on improving cybersecurity for Federal agencies.
  2. It emphasizes the need to modernize government cybersecurity practices.
  3. The EO calls for standardizing responses to cybersecurity incidents and improving investigative capabilities.

2022 Predictions: What do a robotic dog, a 3D printer, and Blue Origin, have in common?

0 implied HN points • 03 Dec 21
  1. Solid state accelerometers are becoming ubiquitous and driving innovation in various technologies.
  2. The combination of control systems with sensors is fueling advancements in technology like robotics, drones, and self-driving vehicles.
  3. Policy makers need to prepare for a future where robotic systems replace simple labor jobs.

The Ebb and Flow of Cybersecurity Startups

0 implied HN points • 12 Apr 21
  1. There were only thirteen new cybersecurity vendors founded in 2020.
  2. The average age of cybersecurity vendors is 11 years.
  3. Some cybersecurity companies date back to the 1900s, with the oldest being founded in 1763.

2020 Was a Very Good Year for Cybersecurity

0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 21
  1. In 2020, public cybersecurity companies had a strong performance.
  2. The shift to Work From Home due to COVID-19 led to increased spending on cybersecurity.
  3. Companies in the Identity and Access Management space saw good performance in 2020.

1H 2020 Growth Of Cyber Threat Intelligence

0 implied HN points • 21 Sep 20
  1. The market size for cyber threat intelligence in 2020 is $517 million.
  2. Cyber threat intelligence is experiencing growth in the first half of 2020.
  3. The importance and relevance of cyber threat intelligence is increasing.