Censys is a cybersecurity company that specializes in providing continuous visibility, measurement, and analysis of the global attack surface.
Censys was founded in 2017 by a group of researchers from the University of Michigan, including Zakir Durumeric, David Adrian, Alex Halderman, Dave Corcoran, and Brian Kelly.
Stay One Step Ahead of Cyber Threats
It aims to help organizations understand their cyber risks and improve their overall security posture.
The company’s platform is built upon the foundations of the ZMap Project, an open-source internet scanning tool developed by the same researchers.
Censys collects and analyzes data from various sources, such as publicly accessible networks, devices, and certificates, and creates a comprehensive view of the digital landscape.
This enables organizations to identify potential vulnerabilities and stay ahead of emerging threats.
9 Key Offerings by Censys
1. Internet Scanning
Censys regularly scans the entire IPv4 address space and millions of IPv6 addresses, collecting data on open ports, exposed services, and other relevant information.
2. Certificate Transparency Logs
Censys processes and analyzes data from Certificate Transparency (CT) logs, allowing users to monitor SSL/TLS certificates for their domains and detect potentially malicious or unauthorized certificates.
3. Database and API
Censys maintains a database of the information it gathers, which can be accessed via a web interface or through its RESTful API. Users can search and filter the data to gain insights into specific aspects of the internet infrastructure.
4. Asset Discovery and Inventory
Censys enables organizations to discover and track their digital assets, such as IP addresses, domain names, and SSL/TLS certificates, which can help them identify potential security risks and manage their online presence effectively.
5. Vulnerability Management
By providing continuous visibility into an organization’s attack surface, Censys helps identify vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in devices, services, and networks.
It allows organizations to prioritize remediation efforts based on the severity and potential impact of the identified issues.
6. Threat Intelligence
Censys offers insights into emerging threats and potential attack vectors, which can help security teams proactively defend against cyberattacks.
It also enables organizations to monitor their networks for suspicious activities and indicators of compromise.
7. Third-Party Risk Management
Censys aids in evaluating the security posture of vendors and partners by assessing their digital footprint and identifying potential risks associated with their online presence.
8. Security Research
The data collected by Censys is invaluable for security researchers, who use it to study the evolving nature of the internet and uncover new vulnerabilities, threats, and trends.
The company also collaborates with academic institutions and the wider cybersecurity community to promote knowledge sharing and improve overall security awareness.
9. Compliance and Governance
Censys helps organizations meet regulatory requirements by providing visibility into their security posture and ensuring that they adhere to best practices and standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
For What Purposes Would You Use Censys?
A company would use Censys to gain continuous visibility into their digital assets, identify vulnerabilities, manage cyber risks, monitor threats, assess third-party risks, ensure compliance, and improve overall cybersecurity posture.
Summary
Censys has gained recognition as a valuable tool in the cybersecurity industry, with customers ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies and cybersecurity researchers.
By offering a comprehensive view of the global attack surface, Censys empowers organizations to make informed decisions, improve their security posture, and ultimately protect their digital assets from cyber threats.
"Amateurs hack systems, professionals hack people."
-- Bruce Schneier, a renown computer security professional
