Contrast Security
Contrast Security provides a runtime application security platform that instruments applications from within to detect vulnerabilities and block exploits in real time, serving enterprise customers in financial services and technology through direct sales and channel partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLos Altos, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Contrast Security does
Contrast Security is a private US application security vendor founded in 2014 and headquartered in Los Altos, California. The company built and owns the foundational patents on runtime instrumentation for application security, a category co-founder and CTO Jeff Williams (co-author of the OWASP Top Ten) helped originate. Its core platform embeds lightweight threat sensors inside running applications and APIs, observing actual execution behavior to detect vulnerabilities, block exploits (including zero-days), and surface verified incidents to security operations teams — distinguishing it from perimeter tools (WAF) and scan-based methods (SAST, DAST).
The product portfolio is organized around two pillars: Application Detection and Response (ADR), which provides runtime attack detection and blocking, and Application and API Security Testing (AST), which bundles Interactive Application Security Testing (Contrast Assess), Software Composition Analysis (SCA), and Static Application Security Testing (Contrast Scan). Contrast Protect delivers runtime self-protection (RASP), Contrast One provides a managed service wrapper, and a 2025-launched MCP Server bridges IAST vulnerability data into AI coding agents inside developer IDEs. The platform is deployed across hundreds of thousands of production applications and APIs, monitoring trillions of function calls per day, and integrates natively with major SIEM, CNAPP, ITSM, and CI/CD systems (Splunk, IBM QRadar, Microsoft Sentinel, Datadog, Wiz, ServiceNow, Google Security Operations, Jenkins, GitHub, GitLab, among others).
Contrast generates revenue primarily through SaaS subscriptions billed annually (with multi-year terms available), licensed on a per-application basis and contracted via Order Forms, supplemented by professional services under statements of work. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales augmented by a channel partner program (channel resellers, GSI/service providers) and technology integration partners, with a vertical emphasis on financial services and technology companies. The company has raised approximately $269M across five venture rounds through a $150M Series E in November 2021 led by Liberty Strategic Capital, and has been recognized in CRN Security 100 and as a Latio Runtime Innovator in 2026.
Contrast Security firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Contrast Security
- Legal name
- Contrast Security
- Website
- https://contrastsecurity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Contrast Security provides a runtime application security platform that instruments applications from within to detect vulnerabilities and block exploits in real time, serving enterprise customers in financial services and technology through direct sales and channel partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Contrast Security industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Application Security Software
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Application Security Testing (SAST/DAST/IAST/SCA) (HDADACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- API Security (Discovery, Testing, Runtime Protection) (HDADACAB), Application Security Engineering (DevSecOps, AppSec Remediation) (BPAEAFAI), Vulnerability Assessment & Scanning (HDADAHAA), Vulnerability Management & Penetration Testing Services (BPAEADAD)
Keywords
Where Contrast Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Altos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Contrast Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscription: Software-as-a-service subscription model with Services specified on Order Forms. Fees are invoiced in advance (for direct purchases) and payable in U.S. dollars within 30 days. Services are provided for the duration of the applicable term with licensed applications counting toward maximum allowable Applications.
- Professional Services: Custom consulting and implementation services provided under Statements of Work, including setup, training, and success planning services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | SaaS subscription with application-based licensing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Contrast Security product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Contrast Security sells a unified runtime application security platform that instruments applications from within to observe real behavior, detect vulnerabilities, and block exploits in real time. The platform centers on Application Detection and Response (ADR) for runtime attack detection and blocking, combined with Application and API Security Testing (AST) capabilities covering IAST, SAST, and SCA, and is supplemented by the Contrast One managed runtime security service for organizations that want outsourced operations.
Product overview
Contrast Security offers a unified runtime security platform centered on Application Detection and Response (ADR), complemented by Application and API Security Testing (AST) capabilities. The platform consists of Contrast ADR (the core runtime protection and detection product), Contrast AST with Assess (IAST), SCA, and Scan (SAST) modules, and Contrast One managed service. Solutions are organized by team experience (Developer, AppSec, SecOps, CISO) and by industry vertical (Financial Services, Healthcare, Insurance, Technology). The company pioneered runtime application self-protection (RASP) technology and has evolved to position itself as the only security model that works from inside the application, observing real behavior and blocking real attacks in real time.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Contrast Application Detection and Response (ADR): Runtime application security platform for detecting and responding to attacks on applications and APIs.
- Contrast Application and API Security Testing (AST)
- Contrast One
Products and services
- Contrast Runtime Security Platform The umbrella Contrast runtime security platform that instruments applications from within using lightweight distributed threat sensors to monitor runtime behavior and feed vulnerability and attack telemetry through a modern data streaming architecture. Sold to enterprise security and development organizations seeking unified runtime protection and testing.
- Contrast Application Detection and Response (ADR) Detects and responds to attacks on applications and APIs in real time by instrumenting applications and APIs from within, providing continuous visibility into the security behavior of the entire software stack for enterprise security operations teams.
- Contrast Application and API Security Testing (AST) Application and API Security Testing suite that combines Interactive Application Security Testing (Assess / IAST), Software Composition Analysis (SCA), and Static Application Security Testing (Scan / SAST) to identify software vulnerabilities in custom code, open-source components, and source code with high accuracy and detailed contextual remediation guidance. Sold to enterprise development and application security teams.
- Contrast One Managed runtime security service delivered by Contrast Security's own experts, providing outsourced runtime protection for organizations that prefer not to operate the platform themselves.
Quantifiable outcome
- 66% reduction in CVE triage workload — Backbase
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Contrast Security
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Contrast Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration14 records
AI capability5 records
Feature8 records
Contrast Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Google Security OperationscoreIntegration of Contrast ADR with Google Security Operations brings runtime application telemetry directly into security operations workflows. Surfaces confirmed application exploits as cases, providing runtime-verified evidence including execution paths, stack traces, and exploit outcomes. Maps verified code-execution data into Google's Unified Data Model (UDM).
- ServiceNowcoreIntegration with ServiceNow's Application Vulnerability Response (AVR) platform sends verified, runtime-backed vulnerability data directly into ServiceNow workflows. Automates ticket creation, provides bidirectional sync, and delivers vulnerability context including type, details, and code location. Contrast is a Registered Build Partner in the ServiceNow Partner Program. Available in the ServiceNow Store.
- DatadogcorePartnership to integrate Contrast ADR with Datadog Cloud SIEM, enabling rapid detection and response to application-layer threats. The integration aims to reduce Mean Time to Respond from days to minutes by providing verified runtime threat intelligence into Datadog Workflows.
- DatadogcoreNew integration with Datadog Cloud SIEM to improve incident response times by providing verified signals into Datadog Workflows. Enhances data accuracy and automates responses, reducing MTTR from days to hours.
- IBM QRadarsupportingNative integration partner. Contrast provides native integrations for leading SIEM partners including IBM Qradar for streaming security events and data.
- Microsoft SentinelsupportingNative integration partner. Contrast ADR integrates with Microsoft Sentinel for application security data and alerts.
- WizsupportingIntegration with Wiz CNAPP platform allows security teams to gain holistic view of infrastructure and security posture, bridging gap between infrastructure and AppSec. Enables mapping of full security architecture of applications.
- SplunksupportingIntegration with Splunk SIEM enables financial services organizations to visualize Contrast application security data, correlate application attacks with other data sources, and streamline incident response workflow.
- Sumo LogicsupportingNative integration partner. Contrast provides integrations for Sumo Logic SIEM platform.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Contrast Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Snyk: Snyk is a developer-first security platform offering SAST, SCA, and IAST capabilities. Direct competitor to Contrast's AST product line, targeting similar enterprise and developer personas with cloud-native SaaS delivery.
- Veracode: Veracode is a long-standing application security testing platform covering SAST, DAST, IAST, and SCA. Direct competitor to Contrast Assess, SCA, and Scan modules, with similar enterprise sales motion.
- Checkmarx: Checkmarx provides SAST, IAST, SCA, and API security products primarily to enterprise development teams. Direct competitor across Contrast's AST portfolio with overlapping target buyers and deployment models.
- Invicti (Netsparker/Acunetix): Invicti provides DAST and IAST-based application security testing with a focus on accuracy and automated scanning. Direct competitor to Contrast's AST capabilities, particularly in the DAST/IAST overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Synopsys (Software Integrity Group): Synopsys Software Integrity is a broad application security testing suite including SAST, SCA, and fuzzing. Larger incumbent serving similar enterprise AppSec buyers with a wider portfolio beyond runtime security.
- GitHub Advanced Security: GitHub Advanced Security bundles SAST, SCA, and secret scanning directly into the GitHub developer platform. Represents a competitive threat given developer mindshare and platform-bundled economics, especially for organizations standardizing on GitHub.
- CrowdStrike: CrowdStrike Falcon platform is expanding into cloud workload protection and ASPM, with runtime visibility into application-layer threats. Large incumbent with broader endpoint and identity security footprint competing for enterprise security budgets.
Emerging players
- Dynatrace: Dynatrace extends its observability platform into runtime application security and vulnerability detection. Adjacent player competing for the same SOC/observability budget and offering overlapping runtime telemetry capabilities.
- Datadog: Datadog Cloud SIEM and observability platform is integrating runtime security signals and is both a Contrast integration partner and an emerging competitor as it expands into application-layer detection.
- Wallarm: Wallarm provides API security and runtime application protection with a focus on cloud-native deployments. Competes in the adjacent API security and runtime protection niches that Contrast ADR addresses.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Contrast Security social profiles
Digital presenceContrast Security compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Contrast Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Contrast Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Contrast Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Contrast Security M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Contrast Security
What does Contrast Security do?
Contrast Security sells a unified runtime application security platform that instruments applications from within to observe real behavior, detect vulnerabilities, and block exploits in real time. The platform centers on Application Detection and Response (ADR) for runtime attack detection and blocking, combined with Application and API Security Testing (AST) capabilities covering IAST, SAST, and SCA, and is supplemented by the Contrast One managed runtime security service for organizations that want outsourced operations.
Is Contrast Security a public or private company?
Contrast Security is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Contrast Security founded?
Contrast Security was founded in 2014. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Contrast Security based?
Contrast Security is headquartered in Los Altos, United States, in the North America region.
How does Contrast Security make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscription is the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Who are Contrast Security's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Snyk, Veracode, Checkmarx and Invicti (Netsparker/Acunetix). Broad incumbents are Synopsys (Software Integrity Group), GitHub Advanced Security and CrowdStrike. Emerging players are Dynatrace, Datadog and Wallarm.
Does Contrast Security have an API?
Yes. Contrast Security offers a public API accessible at api.contrastsecurity.com. The API supports communication between instrumented applications and the Contrast platform. Additionally, Contrast released an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that connects IAST vulnerability data to IDE-based AI coding agents, enabling developers to identify and remediate vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and JNDI injection directly within their IDE. Developer documentation is at api.contrastsecurity.com.
What industry is Contrast Security in?
Contrast Security's product category is Application Security Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDADACAC, Application Security Testing (SAST/DAST/IAST/SCA), with a secondary code of HDADACAB, API Security (Discovery, Testing, Runtime Protection). Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7371.