Ridgeback Network Defense

Ridgeback Network Defense is a Baltimore, MD-based cybersecurity company that develops and deploys an interactive network defense platform designed to engage threats at the point of first contact. The platform operates by deploying large numbers of "phantom" decoys across Layer 2 network segments, enabling real-time observation and disruption of adversary reconnaissance, enumeration, and lateral movement activity without requiring extensive configuration or maintenance. The core product is an enterprise security platform that provides continuous visibility into Layer 2 network activity, including VLANs, where traditional tools such as firewalls, NAC, EDR, and SIEM typically lack real-time coverage. When hostile activity is detected — such as network scanning or enumeration — the platform responds automatically, interrupting the attacker's actions while providing defenders with verified, evidence-based data rather than inferred alerts. Ridgeback is positioned as a complement to existing security stacks, including AI-driven analytics tools, by supplying high-fidelity, directly observed network signals rather than log-based or heuristic inferences. The platform can be deployed quickly and is designed to run with minimal operational overhead. It targets enterprise organizations seeking to address gaps in internal network visibility and reduce attacker dwell time. The company's advisory board includes former U.S. military officers with backgrounds in cyber operations, as well as former government CISOs and IT executives, reflecting an orientation toward both commercial enterprise and government/defense sector customers.