Proactive cyber security measures

A bug bounty platform is a service that connects organizations with ethical hackers to identify and fix security vulnerabilities in their systems. Organizations create programs offering rewards for discovering and reporting specific types of bugs, such as vulnerabilities in software, websites, or applications. Ethical hackers participate by testing the systems within the agreed-upon scope, providing detailed reports of their findings. The platform facilitates secure communication, manages submissions, and ensures payments are made to defenders who contribute valuable discoveries. This model helps organizations enhance their cyber security posture cost-effectively by leveraging a network of experts.

Defend Iceland is a unique, nationwide bug bounty platform that aims to accelerate bug bounty uptake for SMEs and governmental institutions in Iceland by providing an innovative bug bounty platform that eliminates common barriers that have so far prevented rapid uptake of such solutions. 

Over 95% of the security vulnerabilities that our ethical hackers identify were previously unknown. This percentage can be attributed to the fact that ethical hackers working for Defend Iceland simulate real-world attacks and discover new vulnerabilities in the custom-built software infrastructures used by our customers. Traditional scanning tools rely on known vulnerabilities (https://www.cvedetails.com/), which indicates that, according to Defend Iceland’s statistics, it is more likely for unknown vulnerabilities to exist than known ones within Defend Iceland’s client base.

Defend Iceland’s bug bounty platform is a proactive cyber security initiative that leverages the expertise and skills of ethical hackers for the benefit of our society. This crowdsourced approach harnesses collective efforts to identify and address security vulnerabilities in companies’ systems before they lead to serious breaches, ransomware incidents, or data leaks.

Defend Iceland’s vision is for all companies and organizations in Iceland to have access to the bug bounty platform. This way, we strengthen the security of Iceland's digital infrastructure and enhance the resilience of society.