Highlights:

  • Adaptive Security leverages large language models (LLMs) to generate simulated phishing emails.
  • As part of today’s funding announcement, the company revealed that its platform has been adopted by over 100 enterprises since its launch.

Adaptive Security Inc. secured USD 43 million in the latest funding. The startup helps businesses test their cybersecurity status with simulated social engineering attacks.

The Series A round was co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and the OpenAI Startup Fund, with participation from more than half a dozen additional investors, including executives from Google LLC, Workday Inc., and other leading tech companies.

Cybercriminals don’t rely solely on malware to infiltrate corporate systems. Many attacks exploit social engineering tactics to deceive employees into revealing passwords or sensitive data. The rise of artificial intelligence has further amplified the effectiveness of such threats.

Adaptive Security’s platform helps organizations mitigate the risks posed by AI-driven social engineering attacks. It simulates cyberattacks, identifies employees who fall for them, and delivers personalized cybersecurity training to prevent future breaches.

Adaptive Security leverages large language models (LLMs) to generate simulated phishing emails. For instance, the platform can craft an email appearing to come from a customer inquiring about a newly launched product, tailoring the message using publicly available information.

Deploying these simulated phishing emails often requires adjustments to a company’s email settings. However, Adaptive Security simplifies the process with a feature called Direct Email Injection, which eliminates the need to modify cybersecurity or filtering configurations.

Beyond emails, the platform can engage employees through other communication channels. It can replicate an executive’s voice and deliver phishing messages via text, which typically sees higher engagement than email. Additionally, it includes features to impersonate a company’s supplier support staff, further enhancing the realism of simulated attacks.

The platform provides administrators with a centralized dashboard to track cyberattack simulations in real time. It displays key metrics, including the number of simulated phishing emails sent, their effectiveness, and other relevant data. This insight helps cybersecurity teams pinpoint vulnerabilities and strengthen their organization’s security defenses.

Employees, on the other hand, can access a library of interactive, gamified cybersecurity training modules. Additionally, Adaptive Security allows companies to leverage AI to create customized training materials tailored to their specific needs.

Another function of the company’s platform enables employees to alert the cybersecurity team upon receiving a genuine phishing message. “When someone reports a suspicious message, our AI doesn’t just forward it to IT — it analyzes the message in real time, scores the risk, and helps security teams act fast,” said Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Brian Long.

As part of today’s funding announcement, the company revealed that its platform has been adopted by over 100 enterprises since its launch. Adaptive Security plans to use the new capital to expand its research and development teams.