Nudge Security
Nudge Security provides a SaaS and AI security governance platform using patented email-based discovery and browser telemetry to surface shadow SaaS and AI agents. The Austin-based company serves mid-market and enterprise security, IT, and compliance teams.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Nudge Security does
Nudge Security is an Austin, Texas-based cybersecurity company founded in 2021 that provides a unified SaaS and AI security governance platform targeting mid-market and enterprise customers. The platform delivers perimeterless discovery of SaaS, AI tools, and AI agents through three vantage points: a patented email-based discovery engine that analyzes transactional emails from Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace to surface accounts created before deployment, a lightweight browser extension that monitors AI tool usage and shadow AI agent activity without requiring network proxies or endpoint agents, and API integrations with identity providers and business-critical applications. Core capabilities include AI agent discovery and governance, AI conversation monitoring, security nudges delivered via email/Slack/Teams, automated human-in-the-loop playbooks for remediation, and access to security profiles for over 200,000 SaaS and AI vendors.
The company monetizes primarily through annual SaaS subscriptions, with pricing delivered via sales-led enterprise demos and a self-serve two-week free trial that drives top-of-funnel conversion. Revenue is increasingly sourced through an MSSP and reseller channel program, complementing direct enterprise sales led by the company's first CRO appointed in April 2026. Customer segments include enterprise security, IT, and compliance teams, with named customers spanning technology (Reddit, Netflix, Snowflake), financial services (Blue Owl Capital), and other industries. Documented case studies include KarmaCheck (150% ROI within six months) and Wallace Plese + Dreher (160+ hours of discovery condensed to 6 hours). Named partners and integration targets include Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Okta, Salesforce, Snowflake, and Zoom.
As of November 2025, the company has raised approximately $30 million in total disclosed funding across a $7 million seed round in April 2022 led by Ballistic Ventures and a $22.5 million Series A led by Cerberus Ventures with participation from Ballistic Ventures, Forgepoint Capital, and Squadra Ventures. The company has publicly reported tripling annual recurring revenue for two consecutive years and onboarding more than 200 customers since its October 2022 public launch, with Series A capital explicitly earmarked for international expansion and continued investment in AI security governance product development.
Nudge Security firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nudge Security
- Legal name
- Nudge Security
- Website
- https://nudgesecurity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Nudge Security provides a SaaS and AI security governance platform using patented email-based discovery and browser telemetry to surface shadow SaaS and AI agents. The Austin-based company serves mid-market and enterprise security, IT, and compliance teams.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nudge Security industry classification
Industry- Product category
- SaaS Security Posture Management
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Secure Model Deployment & Runtime Protection (sandboxing, isolation) (HDAAAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- AI Privacy Engineering & Data Governance (PII, consent, retention) (HDAAAKAB), Content Authenticity, Watermarking & Deepfake Detection (HDAAAKAK), Regulatory Readiness & Audit Automation (e.g., EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001) (HDAAAMAE)
Keywords
Where Nudge Security is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Nudge Security business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SaaS subscription platform: Primary revenue stream from recurring SaaS subscriptions to the AI and SaaS security governance platform. ARR has tripled for two consecutive years, consistent with land-and-expand subscription economics. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
- Free trial onboarding: Two-week free trial with full access, no credit card required, used as a sales-led onboarding funnel into paid subscriptions.
- Channel and partner-sourced deals: Revenue is increasingly sourced through partner channels including MSSPs and resellers, supported by a "Become a Partner" and "Register a Deal" program; the CRO organization includes partner ecosystem operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free trial - 2 weeks full access, no credit card |
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise subscription (quote-based) |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Nudge Security product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nudge Security sells a SaaS and AI security governance platform that discovers shadow SaaS and AI applications, accounts, and integrations using a patented email-based discovery method combined with a browser extension and API integrations with identity providers (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Okta). The platform inventories AI agents, monitors AI chatbot usage for sensitive data leakage, delivers security nudges to drive secure employee behavior, and provides automated playbooks for SaaS offboarding, OAuth revocation, and SSO/MFA enforcement. It is sold as a subscription to security, IT, and compliance teams at mid-market and enterprise organizations, plus through MSSP and reseller channels.
Product overview
Nudge Security offers a single unified SaaS & AI Security Platform rather than a portfolio of standalone products. The platform is composed of a core discovery engine (AI & SaaS Discovery, AI Agent Discovery, AI Conversation Monitoring) backed by a Workspace Integration (Microsoft 365/Google Workspace) and a Browser Extension, layered with risk assessment, the Security Nudges behavioral engine, and Workflow Automation (Playbooks) for remediation. These capabilities are organized into named use-case modules — Shadow IT/Shadow AI, AI Security & Governance, SaaS Security Management, SSPM, Identity Governance, SaaS Management, Supply Chain Security, Employee Offboarding, SaaS Spend Management, SaaS Attack Surface, Third-Party Risk Management, and Audit & Compliance — which are positioning packages that describe how the underlying platform features apply to specific buyer roles and problems rather than separate products. The platform is also exposed to customers' downstream security stacks via a public REST API.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Nudge Security Platform Unified SaaS and AI security governance platform that delivers perimeterless discovery, real-time risk posture assessment, and automated policy-driven guardrails to secure the 'Workforce Edge' — the employee-driven adoption of AI and SaaS tools beyond the traditional network edge. Composed of a discovery engine (SaaS/AI discovery, AI agent discovery, AI conversation monitoring), a workspace integration, a browser extension, a security nudges behavioral engine, and workflow automation playbooks for remediation. Exposed to downstream SIEM/SOAR tooling via a public REST API.
- Nudge Security Workspace Integration Read-only integration with corporate email providers (Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace) that analyzes inbound SaaS provider emails to discover account creation, app adoption, and OAuth grants — including apps created before deployment.
- Nudge Security Browser Extension Lightweight browser extension that captures AI tool usage, file uploads, password hygiene, login authentication methods, and AI agent activity directly in the browser to extend the platform's perimeterless discovery capabilities.
- Browser-based Shadow AI Agent Discovery Browser-extension-based capability that passively observes AI agent context to discover, inventory, and govern AI agents built on platforms without public APIs; maps each agent to its human creator with permissions, connections, and risk insights.
- AI Agent Discovery (RSAC 2026) AI agent discovery module announced at RSAC 2026 that inventories agent permissions and integrations, surfaces risks such as publicly accessible agents and hardcoded credentials, and maps agents to creators and connected systems.
- Claude Managed Agents Discovery Support Discovery support for Anthropic Claude Managed Agents, extending the platform's AI agent inventory capability to a new enterprise AI agent platform.
- AI Security Governance Platform Expansion December 2025 expansion of the AI security governance platform with new capabilities to identify and mitigate risks associated with AI across the SaaS ecosystem, with emphasis on visibility into AI data sharing, OAuth integrations, and policy enforcement.
- Nudge Security REST API Public REST API that exposes the platform's SaaS and AI security governance data and actions to downstream security tooling such as SIEM and SOAR platforms, enabling automation of alerts, activity, and remediation workflows. Documentation is hosted on a developer portal (ReadMe).
Quantifiable outcome
- 10 min average deployment vs. 18-month legacy rollouts
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use Nudge Security
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Nudge Security technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration19 records
AI capability12 records
Feature9 records
Nudge Security partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core integration and strategic integration.
- Microsoft 365core integrationNative integration partner; Nudge Security uses read-only access to Microsoft 365 mailboxes for email-based discovery and OAuth grant analysis, enabling SaaS and AI inventory, shadow IT detection, SSO/MFA assessment, and offboarding automation. Microsoft Entra ID is also supported as an identity provider.
- Google Workspacecore integrationNative integration partner; Nudge Security ingests Google Workspace email signals and OAuth grants for SaaS and AI discovery, and supports revocation of risky Google Workspace OAuth grants from within the platform.
- Oktacore integrationNative integration partner; Nudge Security integrates with Okta to detect authentication methods, drive SSO onboarding, identify accounts lacking MFA, and support offboarding via SSO-managed account revocation.
- Salesforcestrategic integrationNative integration partner; Nudge Security connects to Salesforce for API-based discovery (including Salesforce Agentforce AI agents) and posture monitoring of business-critical app configuration.
- Snowflakestrategic integrationNative integration partner; Nudge Security provides a Snowflake integration page covering data access security and SaaS-to-AI integration discovery. Snowflake is also separately a customer (VP of Security Mario Duarte testimonial on the homepage).
- Zoomstrategic integrationNative integration partner; Nudge Security integrates with Zoom for SaaS posture monitoring and, per product updates, supports browser-based discovery of AI agents built with Zoom Workflows.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Nudge Security competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Zluri: Zluri is a SaaS Management Platform for IT and FinOps teams providing discovery, license optimization and governance. It overlaps with Nudge Security's SaaS management and identity-governance modules and represents an emerging competitor for IT-team-driven use cases.
Broad incumbents
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is the hyperscaler-bundled CASB/SSPM that ships with Microsoft 365 E5 and is increasingly extending into shadow AI and AI agent visibility. It is the most consequential broad incumbent because Nudge's core discovery vantage point is itself Microsoft 365 mailboxes.
- BetterCloud: BetterCloud is a longer-tenured SaaS Management Platform that delivers SaaS discovery, lifecycle management and spend optimization for IT teams. While broader and more IT-focused than Nudge Security, it overlaps in the SaaS management and offboarding use cases that Nudge now bundles into its platform.
- Netskope: Netskope is a leading SASE/CASB platform that has expanded into SSPM and SaaS security posture capabilities. As a broad incumbent selling into CISOs and security architects, Netskope is a frequent competitor in larger enterprise RFPs where Nudge Security positions its SaaS and AI governance platform.
Direct peers
- Grip Security: Grip Security offers SaaS Security Posture Management with a strong emphasis on SaaS discovery, identity-centric controls and shadow IT/AI visibility - conceptually overlapping with Nudge Security's discovery + governance positioning and competing for similar enterprise security buyers.
- Adaptive Shield (CrowdStrike): Adaptive Shield, acquired by CrowdStrike in 2024, was a pure-play SSPM provider offering SaaS misconfiguration monitoring and identity threat detection. It is now bundled into CrowdStrike's Falcon platform, providing an incumbent reference point for Nudge Security's SSPM capabilities.
- Obsidian Security: Obsidian Security delivers SaaS application security posture management with a focus on identity, data and configurations across interconnected SaaS ecosystems. Like Nudge Security, it targets security teams managing sprawling SaaS estates and competes for similar mid-market and enterprise accounts.
- AppOmni: AppOmni is a leading SSPM (SaaS Security Posture Management) vendor that continuously monitors the configuration of SaaS applications for security risks. It is the closest direct competitor to Nudge Security's SSPM use case, competing head-to-head for enterprise security team budgets.
- Astrix Security: Astrix Security focuses on securing third-party app integrations and AI agent connections (e.g., OAuth grants, MCP servers). It is a direct competitor in the AI/agent governance use case that Nudge Security has made a centerpiece of its 2026 roadmap.
- Reco: Reco is an AI-driven SaaS security platform that provides SaaS discovery, posture management and identity governance with an emphasis on generative-AI and AI agent discovery. Its product scope and target persona closely overlap with Nudge Security's AI/SaaS governance platform.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights8 records
Customer concentration
Nudge Security social profiles
Digital presenceNudge Security compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Nudge Security financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nudge Security leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Nudge Security funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nudge Security M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nudge Security
What does Nudge Security do?
Nudge Security sells a SaaS and AI security governance platform that discovers shadow SaaS and AI applications, accounts, and integrations using a patented email-based discovery method combined with a browser extension and API integrations with identity providers (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Okta). The platform inventories AI agents, monitors AI chatbot usage for sensitive data leakage, delivers security nudges to drive secure employee behavior, and provides automated playbooks for SaaS offboarding, OAuth revocation, and SSO/MFA enforcement. It is sold as a subscription to security, IT, and compliance teams at mid-market and enterprise organizations, plus through MSSP and reseller channels.
Is Nudge Security a public or private company?
Nudge Security is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Nudge Security founded?
Nudge Security was founded in 2021. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Nudge Security based?
Nudge Security is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nudge Security make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. SaaS subscription platform is the primary driver. The others are free trial onboarding and channel and partner-sourced deals.
Who are Nudge Security's main competitors?
Zluri is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, BetterCloud and Netskope. Direct peers are Grip Security, Adaptive Shield (CrowdStrike), Obsidian Security, AppOmni, Astrix Security and Reco.
Does Nudge Security have an API?
Yes. Nudge Security offers a public REST API for integrating its SaaS and AI security governance capabilities with downstream security tooling such as SIEM and SOAR platforms. The API enables developers to automate security actions both in and outside of the platform, route alerts and activity data into existing security workflows, and update external systems to reflect SaaS asset and offboarding changes. Documentation is hosted on a developer portal (ReadMe). Developer documentation is at nudgesecurity.readme.io/reference/post_api-1-0-accounts-search.
What industry is Nudge Security in?
Nudge Security's product category is SaaS Security Posture Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAKAH, Secure Model Deployment & Runtime Protection (sandboxing, isolation), with a secondary code of HDAAAKAB, AI Privacy Engineering & Data Governance (PII, consent, retention). Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.