Censys, an Ann Arbor-based provider of internet intelligence for attack surface management and threat hunting, has raised $40M in Series D funding led by Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital. The round forms part of a $70M strategic raise including $30M in debt, with participation from Decibel Partners, Greylock, GV, and Intel Capital. The capital will accelerate AI-driven solutions on its Internet Intelligence platform. Censys delivers real-time visibility into global internet infrastructure, mapping billions of assets for security teams.
ASM Funding Heats Up in 2026
The raise coincides with heightened investor interest in exposure management tools, as depthfirst secured $80M Series B on the same day for vulnerability management. This dual funding signals capital flowing into solutions addressing expanding digital footprints from cloud, IoT, and hybrid environments per ResearchAndMarkets. Censys' approach emphasizes first-party, real-time scanning over third-party aggregations. Its platform outperforms rivals in speed and accuracy for discovering exposed assets.
Internet Exposures Drive Breach Risks
Attack surfaces have ballooned with IoT proliferation and cloud adoption, leaving critical infrastructure vulnerable to sophisticated threats. Sectors like energy, utilities, and government rely on internet-connected systems increasingly targeted by nation-states. Current tools often suffer from stale data or limited coverage, delaying remediation. Censys counters this with continuous internet-wide scanning originated from University of Michigan research.
Real-Time Internet Map Enables Defense
Built on ZMap scanning technology invented by CEO Zakir Durumeric, Censys indexes over 740B assets annually. The platform offers structured data on protocols, services, and historical trends for attack surface management (ASM), threat hunting, and critical infrastructure protection. Recent launches include the AI Assistant for natural language queries and Censys ARC research collective. These features integrate cloud metadata from AWS, Azure, and Wiz for faster triage.
As Zakir Durumeric, Co-Founder and CEO, noted:
"AI is accelerating both sides—attackers and defenders. But AI is only as effective as the data behind it."
Strategic Capital Backs AI Expansion
Morgan Stanley Expansion Capital's lead investment validates Censys' growth trajectory following a $50M Series C in 2023. Existing backers re-upped, signaling conviction in internet intelligence as foundational for AI-powered SOCs. The debt component supports scaling without heavy dilution. This mix positions Censys for enterprise and government expansion.
Attack Surface Market Scales Rapidly
The ASM market stands at $2.03B in 2026, projected to reach $5.98B by 2030 at 31.1% CAGR. Competitors like Shodan focus on device search but lag in enterprise ASM integration and data freshness. Censys serves over half of Fortune 500 firms, CISA, and DHS with 350,000+ users. Trends like AI agentic attacks and regulatory mandates from CISA amplify demand for proactive visibility.
Stanford Researcher Leads Proven Team
CEO Zakir Durumeric, a Stanford Assistant Professor, invented core scanning tech during his University of Michigan PhD, earning MIT '35 Under 35' recognition. Execs bring acquisition experience: CRO Sarah Ashburn (Attivo to SentinelOne $615M), VP Federal Todd Helfrich (four exits). This blend of research prowess and sales expertise fuels platform evolution from open-source roots to commercial leader.
AI Workflows Target Global Growth
Funds target AI enhancements for security operations and global expansion. Recent product moves like ICS/OT scanning for critical infrastructure and Middle East partnerships position Censys for regulated sectors. With deployments securing 96% of exposed U.S. water facilities, the company eyes SOC modernization worldwide.