Contrast Security
Contrast Security embeds sensors into applications for real-time vulnerability detection.
Contrast Security embeds runtime security sensors directly into application code to detect vulnerabilities and attacks in real time across the entire software lifecycle. Unlike traditional static or dynamic scanning tools, it uses patented deep security instrumentation to observe actual data flows and execution paths in development, testing, and production environments. The platform combines IAST (Interactive Application Security Testing) and RASP (Runtime Application Self-Protection) capabilities in a single solution, dramatically reducing false positives and enabling developers and security teams to act on real threats. Trusted by Fortune 500 companies including BMW, AXA, and NTT.
Problem solved
Development and security teams struggle to identify real vulnerabilities from noise in periodic security scans, delaying releases and creating manual work that slows shipping velocity.
Target customer
Enterprise software development organizations, Fortune 500 companies, and large-scale distributed development teams managing complex application portfolios requiring continuous security visibility across dev, test, and production.
Founders
J
Jeff Williams
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
20+ years security leadership; co-founded Aspect Security in 2002; founder and 8-year OWASP Board Chair; created OWASP Top 10, EASAPI, and ASVS; holds BA from University of Virginia, MA from George Mason, JD from Georgetown; invented instrumentation-based security and holds seven patents.
A
Arshan Dabirsiaghi
Co-Founder & Chief Scientist
Application security veteran; led R&D effort beginning in 2009 that resulted in patented deep security instrumentation technology; holds seven patents with Jeff Williams.
R
Rick Fitz
Chief Executive Officer
25+ years building enterprise software; previously Senior Vice President and General Manager of Splunk's IT Operations & Application Development Market Group; led acquisitions and new product launches.
Funding history
Series A
$8M
Unknown
Led by Unknown
· Unknown
Series E
$150M
November 9, 2021
Led by Liberty Strategic Capital
· Warburg Pincus, Battery Ventures, General Catalyst, Microsoft M-12 Fund, AXA Venture Partners, Acero Capital
Total raised:
$269M
Pricing
Subscription-based model with pricing varying by number of applications, workloads, and usage volume. Specific pricing not publicly disclosed; available upon request from vendor.
Notable customers
BMW, AXA, Zurich, NTT, Sompo Japan, The American Red Cross, plus numerous Fortune 500 enterprises
Website
Competitors
Synopsys (Seismic/Static Analysis Suite)
Broader application security portfolio with emphasis on static analysis scanning; less focused on runtime instrumentation and real-time detection.
Checkmarx
Primarily SAST-focused with added DAST capabilities; uses scanning approach rather than continuous runtime instrumentation.
Rapid7 (AppSpider/Dynamic Analysis)
Focuses on dynamic scanning and penetration testing; lacks the real-time runtime instrumentation approach that Contrast pioneered.
Veracode
Cloud-based application security testing platform emphasizing SAST and SCA; periodic scanning model rather than continuous runtime monitoring.
Why this matters: Contrast Security pioneered the instrumentation-based security approach that combines IAST and RASP in a single platform, fundamentally shifting application security from periodic scanning to continuous real-time monitoring. As a unicorn-status company backed by $269M in funding and trusted by Fortune 500 enterprises, it represents a major paradigm shift in how organizations approach runtime security and DevSecOps integration.
Best for: Large enterprises and Fortune 500 companies that need continuous, real-time security visibility across production applications without the false positives and delays of periodic security scanning.
Use cases
Production Vulnerability Detection
Security teams monitor running production applications in real time to detect actual exploited vulnerabilities and attacks as they occur, rather than waiting for quarterly security scans. Contrast's sensors observe real data flows, identifying which vulnerabilities are actually being triggered by real traffic patterns.
Accelerating Development Cycles
Development teams get immediate feedback on security issues during testing phases without waiting for dedicated security assessment periods. By instrumenting applications directly, developers see vulnerable code paths as they write them, enabling faster remediation cycles.
Runtime Attack Prevention
The RASP component blocks attacks in production as they're executed, providing an additional layer of defense even for unpatched vulnerabilities. This is critical for organizations where patching cycles are long due to change management requirements.
Reducing False Positives at Scale
Organizations managing hundreds or thousands of applications benefit from Contrast's ability to distinguish real vulnerabilities from noise. By observing actual execution and data flows, false positive rates drop significantly compared to static or periodic dynamic scanning.
Alternatives
Synopsys Seismic
Choose if you need broader application security portfolio with strong static analysis capabilities; less specialized in runtime instrumentation.
Checkmarx SAST
Choose if your primary need is static code analysis and supply chain component scanning; uses traditional scanning rather than continuous monitoring.
Veracode
Choose if you prefer a SaaS-based scanning platform with strong community benchmarking; less specialized in continuous runtime detection.
FAQ
What does Contrast Security do? +
Contrast Security embeds runtime sensors directly into applications to detect vulnerabilities and attacks in real time. Unlike traditional scanning tools that periodically test applications, Contrast uses instrumentation to continuously observe actual data flows and execution paths across the entire software lifecycle—from development through production. This approach dramatically reduces false positives and gives security and development teams real, actionable intelligence.
How much does Contrast Security cost? +
Contrast uses a subscription-based pricing model that varies based on the number of applications, workloads, and usage volume. Specific pricing is not publicly available and must be requested directly from the vendor. Organizations report that licensing can become complex when managing many applications.
What are alternatives to Contrast Security? +
Key alternatives include Synopsys Seismic (broader application security platform with emphasis on static analysis), Checkmarx (SAST-focused with added DAST), Rapid7 AppSpider (dynamic application scanning), and Veracode (cloud-based SaaS platform for application testing). Most competitors rely on periodic scanning rather than continuous runtime instrumentation.
Who uses Contrast Security? +
Contrast is used by large enterprises and Fortune 500 companies including BMW, AXA, Zurich, NTT, Sompo Japan, and The American Red Cross. The platform is designed for organizations managing large application portfolios that require continuous security visibility across development, testing, and production environments.
How does Contrast Security compare to Checkmarx? +
Contrast uses patented runtime instrumentation to continuously monitor applications and detect real vulnerabilities as they execute, while Checkmarx primarily uses periodic static application security testing (SAST) scans. Contrast observes actual data flows in production, reducing false positives; Checkmarx scans code at development time. For organizations needing continuous production monitoring, Contrast offers advantages; for comprehensive development-focused scanning, Checkmarx may be preferred.
Tags
application security
runtime instrumentation
IAST
RASP
vulnerability detection
enterprise security
DevSecOps
runtime monitoring
attack prevention