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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Bugcrowd announced on May 23, 2024, that it had acquired Informer, a UK-based provider of external attack surface management (ASM) and continuous penetration testing. Bugcrowd said the acquisition would add Informer’s asset discovery, monitoring and expert-led testing to its broader crowdsourced security platform. It did not disclose the deal’s financial terms.
Why did Bugcrowd acquire Informer?
Bugcrowd presented the acquisition as a way to expand visibility into organizations’ externally exposed assets and strengthen its penetration-testing capabilities. Informer’s platform combined external asset discovery, vulnerability scanning and expert-led penetration testing. Bugcrowd said those capabilities complemented its existing ASM and testing services and would be integrated into its platform as part of its continuous threat and exposure management strategy. These are the company’s stated rationale and plans, not independent evidence of customer outcomes. Bugcrowd’s May 23, 2024 announcement describes the deal.
In the announcement, Bugcrowd COO Tanya Gay said Informer’s ASM software and penetration-testing capabilities would further enhance Bugcrowd’s AI-powered crowdsourced security platform. That is the company’s description of the product fit, rather than an independent assessment.
What did Informer’s platform do?
Informer focused on the external attack surface: the internet-facing assets and systems an organization needs to identify and assess. Its described capabilities brought together three functions:
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- Asset discovery and monitoring: identify externally visible assets and track them over time.
- Vulnerability scanning: look for security weaknesses in the discovered environment.
- Expert-led penetration testing: have security specialists test systems for vulnerabilities.
Bugcrowd said these functions complemented its existing ASM Risk and penetration-testing services. The announcement does not establish comparative performance, or show that combining the offerings produced particular security outcomes.
What did Bugcrowd say would change for Informer customers?
At the time of the announcement, Bugcrowd said Informer customers would continue to have access to the platform without service disruption. It also set a goal of fully integrating the combined portfolio and making it available globally by Q3 2024. That date was a forward-looking target, not confirmation that the integration was completed.
A May 2024 Bugcrowd datasheet refers to “Bugcrowd EASM (formerly Informer EASM),” indicating a naming transition in that document. It does not establish whether Informer is currently available as a standalone product, how the offering is packaged today, or the present status of every commitment made at announcement. Bugcrowd’s EASM datasheet contains that product name.
What is known about the acquisition?
Bugcrowd announced the acquisition on May 23, 2024, and did not disclose financial terms. Bugcrowd described it as the first acquisition following a $102 million fundraise. The announcement also cited a forecast that the ASM market would reach $3.3 billion by 2029 at a 29% compound annual growth rate; this was a projection quoted by Bugcrowd in 2024, not an independently verified market result.
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The companies’ accounts give some background to Informer’s development. Bugcrowd CEO Dave Gerry described Informer as founded in 2014 and based in the UK. Informer’s founder said the company launched the first version of its platform in 2018 to provide visibility into externally facing environments. Those dates are attributed company accounts. The acquisition announcement includes Bugcrowd’s statements about the transaction and market forecast.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Is Informer still available as a standalone product?
The available company materials do not confirm its current standalone availability. A May 2024 Bugcrowd datasheet uses the name “Bugcrowd EASM (formerly Informer EASM),” but that naming reference alone does not establish current product availability or packaging.
Did Bugcrowd disclose how much it paid for Informer?
No. Bugcrowd did not disclose the acquisition’s financial terms in its May 23, 2024 announcement.
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