Contrast Security has launched Northstar, the industry’s first unified Application Detection and Response (ADR) platform that brings development, AppSec, and SecOps teams together in a shared, real‑time view of application‑layer threats, enabling them to detect live attacks, halt breaches, and remediate vulnerabilities with AI‑driven precision. At the core of Northstar is the Contrast Graph, a digital twin of live application and API environments that dynamically maps attack paths, runtime behavior, vulnerabilities, and assets—delivering the context needed for accurate, automated prioritization and remediation. This platform integrates agentic AI workflows (Contrast AI SmartFix) to generate fix plans, secure code patches, test cases, and pull requests in minutes, turning detection into resolution within production environments. This leap forward is reinforced by dynamic risk scoring, which assesses exploitability, impact, live threats, and business context—helping teams focus on what truly matters rather than drowning in low-risk alerts.
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The release also introduces user experience enhancements, including role‑tailored views, seamless integration with dev, CNAPP, and SIEM tools, and deployment tools like Deployment Hub and Flex Agent to simplify onboarding and management at scale. Notably, Martha Gamez‑Smith, CISSP, PMP, SSCP, Information Security Officer at Texas Computer Cooperative, praises the innovation: “We are excited to see the new features and feel that Contrast is set apart from other competitors, beyond reach. It makes our jobs better and easier. The real data will allow our team to take action more efficiently”. Jeff Williams, CTO and OWASP founder, adds: “Northstar is the culmination of everything we’ve learned about defending modern software. … This is the platform I’ve wanted since OWASP’s earliest days—one that doesn’t just generate alerts, but actually defends the software that powers our world.” This comprehensive launch also includes the Contrast MCP Server, offering secure runtime data access for in‑house AI agents, and integrations with Splunk, Wiz, and Sumo Logic. With Northstar generally available today, Contrast is setting a new standard for application‑layer defense by providing runtime observability, contextual intelligence, and automated remediation to stop breaches before they start.