Pwnie Express: The hit of #RSAC, #BSidesSF

In an oversaturated environment like RSA Conference, it can be tough for the upstarts to stand out. But this year, a security outfit with the simplest of booths got a lot of attention: Pwnie Express.

They were also a big hit at B-Sides, where they showed off such innovations as the PWN Phone — a smartphone rigged to penetrate networks everywhere in its path.

Pwnie Express was founded in Barre, Vermont in 2009 and specializes in penetration cyber-security testing hardware.  The company's flagship product, the Pwn Plug, is the first-to-market penetration testing drop box platform. The Pwn Plug provides remote security testing of internal corporate facilities and governmental agencies, allowing testing over the internet and eliminating travel expenses, the company says. 

Pwnie Express says its products have been incorporated into the cyber-security  toolboxes of over one hundred security service providers, several Fortune 50 companies and various federal agencies.

From one of their press releases:

"We deeply appreciate the tremendous outpouring of support that we have enjoyed as a result of attending the RSA Conference.  Our products are being well received and we  are gaining market traction in the pentesting drop box market space by the hour!," said Dave Porcello, CEO of Pwnie Express. Mark Hughes, Director of Marketing and Sales said, "We feel that the value proposition is clear in this product.  Remote internal pentesting travel costs are eliminated and pentesting capabilities are extended to evaluate physical security, data exfiltration and network access control.  Game-changer."

My impression on meeting them is that they are down-to-earth guys having a lot of fun. In my experience, that’s a good combination for success.

It’ll be interesting to see what they come up with in the future.