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AvalonX Unveils Groundbreaking AI Security Solution

After spending 18 months in stealth mode, AvalonX, an innovative AI security startup, has launched its continuous penetration testing platform aimed at small and midsize businesses (SMBs). With an impressive funding boost of $10 million from Ridown Capital, this platform aims to bring high-level security testing to companies often overlooked in the cybersecurity market. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, small organizations need robust defenses similar to those large enterprises possess, but often lack the resources. AvalonX's new service is designed to bridge that gap.

Addressing Security Gaps in Small Businesses

Small and midsize companies are frequently targeted by cybercriminals, yet they typically operate with smaller security teams, less budget, and limited opportunities to test the effectiveness of their defenses. A concerning statistic from Verizon's 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report highlights that ransomware accounted for a staggering 88% of breaches involving SMBs, compared to just 39% for larger firms. This alarming trend has motivated AvalonX to offer continuous penetration testing as a service, empowering organizations to proactively defend against attacks.

The founder and CEO of AvalonX, Craig Goodwin, explains the need for such a solution: "While large enterprises conduct constant testing with red teams and consultants, smaller organizations often face the same threats without similar resources. Many only manage to conduct penetration tests once a year, and attackers don’t wait for them to catch up. Our goal is to provide SMBs the same rigorous testing quality that larger organizations have relied upon for years."

The Power of Continuous Testing

AvalonX's platform, named Artemis, utilizes autonomous agents to simulate attacks just like a real cybercriminal would. By mimicking these threat vectors, the software can identify vulnerabilities, revealing how deeply an attacker could penetrate a business’s defenses. Powered by AvalonX's proprietary Aether security AI, which has been trained on nine years of real-world offensive-security data, the testing platform promises to deliver rapid and effective results.

What sets AvalonX apart is its integration of human expertise with automated testing. The platform can autonomously identify and simulate attacks, while also allowing expert penetration testers to add valuable insights when required. This dual approach promises businesses actionable findings rather than an overwhelming number of automated alerts.

User-Friendly Experience

Despite the sophisticated technology behind AvalonX, the user experience is designed to be straightforward. Clients simply input their domain, select the parameters for testing, and receive detailed yet easily understandable reports within a day. This ensures that organizations can quickly comprehend their security posture and take necessary actions based on the findings, all without needing to install complex software.

The testing results from AvalonX also align with essential compliance frameworks like SOC 2, ISO/IEC 27001, PCI DSS v4.0, and HIPAA, making it easier for SMBs to meet regulatory requirements.

Strong Backing from Investors

Ridown Capital, the investment arm associated with Onecom, has played a crucial role in supporting AvalonX’s mission. Co-founders Aaron Brown and Darren Ridge, who have a long history serving SMBs, have recognized the critical need for affordable but high-quality security solutions tailored towards smaller businesses. "At Onecom, we understand that small businesses face enterprise-level threats with startup-level resources," remarked Brown. "That’s why we believe in AvalonX and its mission—they solve a problem we’ve been hearing about for decades."

With a focus on making enterprise-level capabilities accessible, Ridown Capital’s investment marks a significant shift in how security services can be delivered to smaller entities. As Ridge notes, "We’ve dedicated our careers to empowering smaller businesses, and AvalonX is helping us realize that vision in the cybersecurity realm."

Future of AvalonX

AvalonX is led by a team of cybersecurity veterans with over 50 years of collective experience, including Goodwin, Ricardo Valdes, and Ben O'Nion. With AvalonX officially launched, the company is now positioned to redefine how small businesses approach cybersecurity. Businesses interested in safeguarding their operations can take advantage of a free initial test available through the AvalonX website at www.avalonx.ai.

In a world where cyber threats are constantly evolving, AvalonX promises to deliver continuous, proactive security management, ensuring that businesses no longer must wait for annual assessments to protect their digital assets.