Pioneering Pentest as a Service (PtaaS) for Enhanced Offensive Security
At BlackHat, we had the opportunity to speak with Jason Lamar, Cobalt’s Senior Vice President of Product, about the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and how Cobalt is addressing the critical need for robust, scalable offensive security solutions. As the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks continue to rise, organizations are under immense pressure to defend their assets and maintain trust. A staggering 68% of companies have experienced at least one serious data breach in the past year, often due to vulnerabilities that could have been identified and mitigated with more rigorous testing.
Jason Lamar highlighted a critical issue: “Cybersecurity teams must evolve their strategies to protect the increasing adoption of AI tools. They must use offensive security practices like penetration testing, which has significantly reduced successful breaches, to balance innovation with risk management.” This challenge is compounded by the fact that many organizations struggle with vulnerability backlogs caused by budget cuts and talent shortages.
Cobalt addresses these challenges with its innovative Pentest as a Service (PtaaS) offering, built on the Cobalt Offensive Security Testing Platform. This solution combines cutting-edge technology with a network of seasoned security experts to provide comprehensive, on-demand security testing. Unlike traditional penetration testing approaches that can be slow and resource-intensive, Cobalt’s platform allows companies to launch a pentest within days, directly addressing the increasing demand for rapid, continuous security assessments. The platform centralizes testing activities, enabling seamless collaboration between internal teams and external security experts, which accelerates the identification and remediation of vulnerabilities.
Jason Lamar emphasized the critical role of AI and automation in Cobalt’s approach. By leveraging advanced tools and large language models like ChatGPT, Cobalt is enabling even small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen their defenses, despite limited resources. This is particularly vital in today’s landscape, where budget cuts and talent shortages have left many organizations vulnerable. With Cobalt’s platform, organizations can automate routine tasks, streamline processes, and focus their efforts on addressing the most critical security issues.
Furthermore, Jason highlighted Cobalt’s commitment to flexibility and integration. The platform is designed to adapt to the unique needs of each organization, whether it’s a startup or a large enterprise. With capabilities like Attack Surface management and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), Cobalt offers a comprehensive view of an organization’s risk profile, enabling proactive defense strategies that evolve alongside emerging threats. The platform’s seamless integration with DevSecOps tools ensures that security practices are embedded into the development lifecycle, reducing the risk of breaches and enhancing overall security posture.
Clients have praised Cobalt for its transformative impact on their security strategies. Eric Galis, CISO at Cengage, shared, “Cobalt has allowed us to effectively scale our team. We can get a pentest up and running within 24 hours — regardless of whether we want to launch one test or five simultaneously. It gives us this ability to take the methodology that we want to apply to a pentest and scale it across different teams.”
Cobalt’s platform is more than just a tool—it’s a comprehensive solution designed to integrate with your existing workflows and enhance your organization’s security posture. By combining the latest in AI-driven automation with expert-led testing, Cobalt enables organizations to stay ahead of threats, reduce risk, and accelerate innovation. Cobalt is revolutionizing the way organizations approach offensive security. By providing a comprehensive, flexible platform for security testing, Cobalt empowers teams to stay ahead of potential threats and maintain a robust security posture. With its innovative features and access to expert testers, Cobalt is setting new standards in the offensive security industry, helping organizations of all sizes protect their digital assets more effectively than ever before. Learn more at: Cobalt: Offensive Security Services.
About the Author
Samridhi Agarwal is an Award-Winning Woman in Cybersecurity, a reporter for Cyber Defense Magazine, and currently pursuing a master’s degree in information security at Carnegie Mellon University. She is passionate about emerging technology and cybersecurity, with four years of industry experience as a cybersecurity associate and solution advisor. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with various clients and industries, analyzing their security infrastructure and implementing measures to address vulnerabilities in alignment with industry standards such as NIST and ISO27001. She is committed to continuous learning and exploring advancements to enhance global security and safeguard data. Samridhi can be reached online at [email protected].
