# CyCognito > CyCognito is an external exposure management platform that helps organizations discover, validate, and prioritize security issues across their full external attack surface. The platform covers the entire Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) lifecycle, managing exposures across cloud, SaaS, on-prem, APIs, web applications, subsidiary environments, and AI infrastructure. CyCognito's approach combines seedless black-box discovery, contextual prioritization, and continuous Adversarial Exposure Validation (AEV) — running 100,000+ active tests on a daily cadence at enterprise scale. CyCognito holds a 4.7/5 rating on Gartner Peer Insights for External Attack Surface Management and was recognized as a Leader and Outperformer in the 2026 GigaOm Radar for ASM (out of 32 vendors). Founded by national intelligence agency veterans and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, CyCognito is backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sorenson Ventures, Accel, and UpWest. Its customer base spans Fortune 500 organizations, government agencies, and emerging companies. ## Platform - [Attack Surface Management](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/attack-surface-management.php): Outside-in discovery and mapping of the full external attack surface, including unknown, unmanaged, subsidiary, third-party, and AI assets. - [Automated Security Testing](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/automated-security-testing.php): Continuous Adversarial Exposure Validation (AEV) using payload-based active testing — including DAST — across the entire external attack surface to confirm which exposures are actually exploitable. - [Exploit Intelligence](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/exploit-intelligence.php): Threat intelligence on real-world attacker activity, fused with discovered exposures and security validation results to sharpen prioritization. - [Seedless Discovery](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/discovery.php): Black-box discovery that starts from an organization's name and public footprint — no asset lists, agents, or network access required. Covers web apps, APIs, cloud, SaaS, on-prem, subsidiaries, third parties, and AI service endpoints. - [Exposure Context](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/contextualization.php): Business purpose, technology fingerprints, PII exposure, ownership attribution, and in-the-wild threat signals layered onto every discovered asset, plus proprietary Discoverability and Attractiveness scoring. - [Continuous Validation](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/active-security-testing.php): Adversarial Exposure Validation (AEV) and AutoPT — running 100,000+ active tests on a daily cadence to confirm which exposures are actually exploitable. - [Risk Prioritization](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/prioritization.php): Prioritization driven by AEV results, exploit intelligence, business context, and attack-path reachability — not CVSS alone. - [Remediation Automation](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/remediation-acceleration.php): Owner attribution and workflow sync to existing tooling, with progress tracked through closure. - [Integrations](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/integrations.php): Connections into existing security stacks, ticketing systems, and cloud providers. - [AI at CyCognito](https://www.cycognito.com/ai/): The AI architecture under the hood of the platform — scale, validation, and decision accuracy — and coverage for AI assets across the external attack surface (AI service endpoints, exposed models, and shadow AI infrastructure). - [Pricing](https://www.cycognito.com/platform/pricing.php): Pricing model and packaging. ## Solutions Technical use cases: - [External Exposure Management](https://www.cycognito.com/solutions/external-exposure-management/): Continuous visibility and active validation across the external footprint. - [Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)](https://www.cycognito.com/solutions/ctem.php): Operationalizing CTEM as an ongoing rhythm across people, process, and tooling. - [Security Test Automation (AutoPT)](https://www.cycognito.com/solutions/autopt.php): Continuous, automated security testing as an alternative to point-in-time pen tests. - [Cyber Asset Inventory (CAASM)](https://www.cycognito.com/solutions/caasm.php): Unified, queryable inventory of external assets and their security state. - [Vulnerability Management (UVM)](https://www.cycognito.com/solutions/uvm.php): Proactive vulnerability management focused on what attackers actually target. - [Cloud Security (CNAPP)](https://www.cycognito.com/solutions/cnapp.php): External validation that augments CNAPP coverage with outside-in testing. - [Application Security (AppSec)](https://www.cycognito.com/solutions/appsec.php): DAST and exposure validation for externally facing web applications and APIs. Business use cases: - [Validate Security Controls](https://www.cycognito.com/use-cases/assess-your-security-effectiveness.php): Confirm whether deployed controls hold up against real attacker behavior. - [M&A Risk](https://www.cycognito.com/use-cases/evaluate-merger-and-acquisition-risk.php): Pre- and post-acquisition visibility into a target's external risk posture. - [Subsidiary Risk](https://www.cycognito.com/use-cases/monitor-subsidiary-risk.php): Continuous visibility into subsidiary environments the parent doesn't directly manage. - [Reduce Exposure](https://www.cycognito.com/use-cases/prioritize-and-eliminate-attack-vectors.php): Prioritize and eliminate the attack vectors most likely to be exploited. - [Supply Chain Risk](https://www.cycognito.com/use-cases/secure-your-software-supply-chain.php): Identify exposure introduced through software supply chain dependencies. - [Governance & Compliance](https://www.cycognito.com/use-cases/simplify-compliance-initiatives.php): Evidence and reporting that map to common security frameworks and compliance regimes. ## Why CyCognito - [Why CyCognito](https://www.cycognito.com/why-cycognito/): Product advantages and how CyCognito differs from legacy approaches. - [Cost Savings Calculator](https://www.cycognito.com/security-gap-calculator/): Estimate efficiency gains and cost savings from consolidating onto the CyCognito platform. - [CyCognito vs. CrowdStrike Falcon Surface](https://www.cycognito.com/why-cycognito/crowdstrike-competitor.php): Comparison against CrowdStrike Falcon Surface. - [CyCognito vs. Microsoft Defender EASM](https://www.cycognito.com/why-cycognito/microsoft-defender-easm-competitor.php): Comparison against Microsoft Defender EASM. - [CyCognito vs. Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse](https://www.cycognito.com/why-cycognito/cortex-xpanse-competitor.php): Comparison against Cortex Xpanse. - [CyCognito vs. Qualys](https://www.cycognito.com/why-cycognito/qualys-competitor.php): Comparison against Qualys. - [CyCognito vs. Tenable ASM](https://www.cycognito.com/why-cycognito/tenable-competitor.php): Comparison against Tenable ASM. ## Customers - [Customers Overview](https://www.cycognito.com/customers/): Customer stories, testimonials, and Gartner Peer Insights / G2 reviews. - [Colgate-Palmolive](https://www.cycognito.com/customers/): Featured story — how Colgate-Palmolive uses CyCognito with Wiz for cloud exposure visibility. - [Ströer](https://www.cycognito.com/customers/stroer.php): Continuous monitoring of internet-facing assets across a large media group. - [Berlitz](https://www.cycognito.com/customers/berlitz.php): Discovering previously unknown external assets across a global footprint. - [Human API](https://www.cycognito.com/customers/human-api.php): Focusing limited security capacity on what's actually critical. - [Asklepios](https://www.cycognito.com/customers/asklepios.php): Full external infrastructure visibility in healthcare. - [Scientific Games](https://www.cycognito.com/customers/scientific-games.php): Identifying and removing obsolete devices to shrink the attack surface. ## Resources — Knowledge Hub - [Knowledge Hub](https://www.cycognito.com/resources/): Central library of guides, research, datasheets, briefs, and reports. - [Research Reports](https://www.cycognito.com/resources/reports/): Industry research including the GigaOm Radar for ASM 2026 and CyCognito's State of External Exposure Management reports. - [White Papers & eBooks](https://www.cycognito.com/resources/white-papers/): Long-form guidance, including Operationalizing CTEM, Rethinking Penetration Testing, and EASM For Dummies. - [Datasheets](https://www.cycognito.com/resources/datasheets/): Technical datasheets on the platform and each product module. - [Solution Briefs](https://www.cycognito.com/resources/briefs/): Short-form briefs on exposure management, discovery, prioritization, and CTEM. - [Webinars](https://www.cycognito.com/resources/webinars/): On-demand and upcoming webinars. ## Resources — Editorial - [Blog](https://www.cycognito.com/blog/): Research, product news, strategic perspectives, and emerging threat advisories. - [Emerging Threats](https://www.cycognito.com/emerging-threats/): CVE-driven advisories on critical, in-the-wild vulnerabilities. - [Glossary](https://www.cycognito.com/glossary/): Cybersecurity term definitions. - [Security & Compliance](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/security-frameworks-and-compliance.php): How CyCognito maps to common security frameworks and compliance standards. ## Learning Center - [Learning Center](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/): Long-form guides covering exposure management, attack surface management, and adjacent security disciplines. - [AI Security](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/ai-security/): Prompt injection, model poisoning, insecure agents, MCP servers, shadow AI, and securing AI infrastructure. - [API Security](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/api-security/): Securing APIs as entry points into modern applications. - [Application Security](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/application-security/): Application security across the software lifecycle. - [Attack Surface Management](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/attack-surface-management/): ASM concepts, process, tools, and use cases. - [Cloud Security](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/cloud-security/): Protecting cloud infrastructure, applications, and data. - [Cyber Attack](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/cyber-attack/): Cyber attack categories, techniques, and defenses. - [DRPS](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/drps/): Digital risk protection services and how they extend external defense. - [Exposure Management](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/exposure-management/): Foundational guide to exposure management, including CTEM and TEM. - [Penetration Testing](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/penetration-testing/): Pen testing concepts, methodologies, and limitations. - [Red Teaming](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/red-teaming/): Adversary simulation as a security assessment method. - [Threat Hunting](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/threat-hunting/): Proactive search for threats that bypass existing controls. - [Threat Intelligence](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/threat-intelligence/): Gathering and applying intelligence about the threat landscape. - [Vulnerability Assessment](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/vulnerability-assessment/): Identifying and quantifying vulnerabilities in systems. - [Vulnerability Management](https://www.cycognito.com/learn/vulnerability-management/): End-to-end vulnerability management practices. ## Partners - [Partner Program](https://www.cycognito.com/partners/): Overview of the CyCognito partner ecosystem. - [Resellers, MSPs & System Integrators](https://www.cycognito.com/partners/resellers-msps-systems-integrators.php): Channel partner program details. - [Technology Alliance Partners](https://www.cycognito.com/partners/technology-alliance-partners.php): Technology integrations and joint solutions. - [Become a Partner](https://www.cycognito.com/partners/become-a-partner/): Application path for new partners. ## Company - [About Us](https://www.cycognito.com/company/): Company background, mission, leadership team, board of directors, investors, and awards. - [Careers](https://www.cycognito.com/company/careers.php): Open roles and information for candidates. - [Privacy and Trust](https://www.cycognito.com/company/trust.php): Privacy practices, security, and trust posture. - [Contact Us](https://www.cycognito.com/contact/): Contact the company. ## News - [Latest News](https://www.cycognito.com/news/): Company news and announcements. - [Press Releases](https://www.cycognito.com/news/press-releases/): Official press releases. - [Media Coverage](https://www.cycognito.com/news/media-coverage/): Third-party press coverage. - [Events](https://www.cycognito.com/news/events/): Conferences, summits, and where CyCognito will be next. - [Awards](https://www.cycognito.com/news/awards.php): Industry recognition and analyst awards. ## Get Started - [Get a Demo](https://www.cycognito.com/demo/): Schedule a guided platform demo. - [Free Risk Assessment](https://www.cycognito.com/free-scan/): Free external attack surface scan.