Ironwood Cyber

Ironwood Cyber is a cybersecurity company founded in 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas, by two former Lockheed Martin Fellows, Dr. Aaron Estes and Ethan Puchaty. The company was initially established to address ransomware detection using side-channel analysis, before evolving its focus toward autonomous penetration testing. The company's primary product is Enlight™, an autonomous continuous penetration testing platform. Enlight™ incorporates an AI-driven decision engine called Catalyst, which is designed to perform ongoing offensive security assessments without requiring manual consultant engagements. The platform targets organizations that need enterprise-grade security assessments but cannot afford traditional consulting-based penetration testing engagements, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized businesses. Ironwood Cyber has served enterprise customers across healthcare, energy, and government sectors. The company has also pursued government contracts, including winning a TSA Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) award, validating its approach for securing critical transportation infrastructure. In addition to its autonomous platform, Ironwood Cyber offers managed cybersecurity services through strategic partnerships with companies such as Zivaro, Cetrec, and Tier One. The company also develops a secondary product, Firethorn, though detailed public information about this product is limited. The company has a notable presence in the offensive security research community, with team members earning black badges at DEF CON CTF competitions and placing first at the Wild West Hackin' Fest 2023 CTF. In 2025, James Cao was appointed CEO to lead a transition focused on platform development.