CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

DefenseStorm vs Thoropass

DefenseStorm sells a cyber risk management platform designed exclusively for U.S. banks and credit unions. Thoropass is a licensed auditor that delivers audits, supported by purpose built software. CISO Tribune files both under Compliance automation. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

Change the companies

Up to four companies side by side.

  • DefenseStorm
  • Thoropass
DefenseStorm vs Thoropass: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
DefenseStormDefenseStorm sells a cyber risk management platform designed exclusively for U.S. banks and credit unions.defensestorm.comThoropassThoropass is a licensed auditor that delivers audits, supported by purpose built software.thoropass.com
What it sells
  • Collaborative SOC[1][2]A 24X7 SOC of banking-fluent cybersecurity analysts.
  • GRID Active[1][2][4][8][9]DefenseStorm's intelligent data engine.
  • GRID Active Threat Surveillance[4]Gathers and analyzes data from many sources and identifies threats in the customer's environment.
  • GRID Active Risk Assessment and Governance Package[8]Aligns an institution's risk and governance to evidence the effectiveness of control in its risk assessment.
  • GRID Active Reporting[4]Reporting for financial institutions based on consistent metrics.
  • Vulnerability Management Services[4]An option integrated with the GRID Active platform.
  • Audit Lifecycle Platform[4][6][11][17][18]A centralized system that manages the audit process from readiness through final reporting.
  • First Pass[11]AI-powered evidence review that runs before evidence reaches the auditor.
  • Smart Sort[11][12][17]Analyzes incoming evidence and maps it to the appropriate audit requirement.
  • Thoropass MCP ServerLets customers use the Audit Lifecycle Platform from AI tools such as Claude or ChatGPT.
  • Thoropass Risk Register[5][16]Reviews and mitigates risk in the same platform used for readiness and audit.
  • Thoropass Trust Center[14]A public-facing portal that shows a customer's compliance posture.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesNew York, United States[3]
Founded
Not stated on its pages2019[2][3]
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
Not stated on its pages
  • July 9, 2026Thoropass launched an MCP server that lets customers connect their organizations' AI agents with its Audit Lifecycle Platform.[18]
  • January 29, 2026Thoropass launched Smart Sort AI, a feature in its Audit Lifecycle Platform that turns exports from any GRC tool into audit-ready evidence.[17]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: listed, seen October 31, 2026[3]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: listed, seen November 4, 2026[10]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
DefenseStorm describes its solution as designed for the cyber threat and compliance demands facing the financial services industry. DefenseStorm describes solutions designed for the needs of banks and credit unions and for efficiencies at community financial institutions. DefenseStorm's co-managed approach lets customer teams view configuration logs while DefenseStorm cybersecurity experts monitor the environment 24/7.From its own pages, Thoropass sells mainly to organizations pursuing audits and certifications such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS and HIPAA. Thoropass says it serves organizations getting started on a first framework and those looking to maintain a compliance program. Companies with multiple products or environments can organize evidence and controls in the platform. Its pages address healthcare organizations that need HIPAA compliance. Organizations with unique industry or internal frameworks can manage them directly in Thoropass.
Last verified
September 30, 2026November 2, 2026

Where they overlap

  • DefenseStorm and Thoropass are both filed under Compliance automation.

Where they differ, field by field

  • DefenseStorm's primary category is MDR and managed SOC; Thoropass's is Compliance automation.
  • DefenseStorm is also filed under SIEM and EDR and XDR. Thoropass is also filed under Third-party risk and security ratings.
  • DefenseStorm lists Collaborative SOC, GRID Active, GRID Active Threat Surveillance, GRID Active Risk Assessment and Governance Package, GRID Active Reporting and 1 more. Thoropass lists Audit Lifecycle Platform, First Pass, Smart Sort, Thoropass MCP Server, Thoropass Risk Register and 1 more.
  • Thoropass is headquartered in New York, United States.
  • Thoropass was founded in 2019.

What it sells: DefenseStorm

What Collaborative SOC does[1][2]
A US-based, senior banking-fluent cybersecurity analyst collaborates with the customer on a case, 24x7x365. DefenseStorm analysts work alongside AI-enhanced triage to investigate with banking context.
What GRID Active does[1][2][4][8][9]
GRID Active unifies threat operations, risk intelligence, governance, and AI. Seven Built for Banking (B4B) AI Principles govern every AI capability inside GRID Active. Customers can add EDR functionality and Vulnerability Management Services, both integrated with the GRID Active platform.
What GRID Active Threat Surveillance does[4]
GRID Active Threat Surveillance gathers and analyzes data from all types of sources, technology, tools, and systems and identifies threats in the customer's environment. GRID Active Threat Surveillance includes an Incident Similarity feature that applies machine learning to incident monitoring and management.
What GRID Active Risk Assessment and Governance Package does[8]
GRID Active Risk Assessment and Governance Package aligns an institution's risk and governance to evidence the effectiveness of control in its risk assessment. Institutions can filter risk assessments to create smaller assessments such as an eBanking risk assessment, or one large information security risk assessment encompassing all risks in the register. Pre-mapped Task Schedule templates schedule program activities, and the activities map into framework and self-assessment directives as evidence.
What GRID Active Reporting does[4]
GRID Active Reporting supports decision-making by financial institutions through consistent metrics. Financial institutions can customize reports based on audience and timing.
What Vulnerability Management Services does[4]
Customers can add Vulnerability Management Services, integrated with the GRID Active platform, to their cybersecurity risk management solution. DefenseStorm vulnerability scanning lets customers assess their system and discover weaknesses an adversary may be able to exploit.

What it sells: Thoropass

What Audit Lifecycle Platform does[4][6][11][17][18]
The Thoropass Audit Lifecycle Platform combines AI-powered workflow automation, evidence collection, control management and auditor collaboration in one place. The platform is designed to replace fragmented tools like spreadsheets and email chains.
What First Pass does[11]
First Pass checks evidence for common issues such as missing information, inconsistencies and timing problems before it reaches the auditor. It is meant to help teams reduce rework and improve audit readiness.
What Smart Sort does[11][12][17]
Smart Sort analyzes incoming evidence from external systems and maps it to the appropriate audit requirement. It is currently available for customers pursuing SOC 2 Type I or Type II audit cycles.
What Thoropass Risk Register does[5][16]
With the Thoropass Risk Register, customers review and mitigate risk in the same platform they use for compliance readiness and the audit process. The risk dashboard can be set up in a flexible 4×4 or 5×5 risk configuration. Risks are linked back to relevant controls.
What Thoropass Trust Center does[14]
The Thoropass Trust Center is available to all customers as a public-facing portal that shows a customer's compliance posture. Customers control visibility with NDA gating and access requests.

Questions about DefenseStorm and Thoropass

What do DefenseStorm and Thoropass sell?
DefenseStorm sells Collaborative SOC, GRID Active, GRID Active Threat Surveillance, GRID Active Risk Assessment and Governance Package, GRID Active Reporting and 1 more. Thoropass sells Audit Lifecycle Platform, First Pass, Smart Sort, Thoropass MCP Server, Thoropass Risk Register and 1 more.
Are DefenseStorm and Thoropass in the same category?
They share Compliance automation. DefenseStorm's primary category is MDR and managed SOC and Thoropass's is Compliance automation.
Where are DefenseStorm and Thoropass headquartered?
Thoropass is headquartered in New York, United States.
When were DefenseStorm and Thoropass founded?
Thoropass was founded in 2019.
Who are DefenseStorm and Thoropass sold to?
DefenseStorm describes its solution as designed for the cyber threat and compliance demands facing the financial services industry. From its own pages, Thoropass sells mainly to organizations pursuing audits and certifications such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS and HIPAA.
What have DefenseStorm and Thoropass announced recently?
July 9, 2026: Thoropass launched an MCP server that lets customers connect their organizations' AI agents with its Audit Lifecycle Platform.

About DefenseStorm

DefenseStorm sells a cyber risk management platform designed exclusively for U.S. banks and credit unions. DefenseStorm backs its platform with a 24X7 Collaborative SOC of banking-fluent cybersecurity analysts. DefenseStorm cites 200+ banks and credit unions alongside 16,000+ banking-specific controls mapped across industry control frameworks, regulatory guidance, and exam procedures.[1]

DefenseStorm governs its AI capabilities with seven Built for Banking AI Principles, mapped to NIST AI RMF and CRI FS AI RMF. DefenseStorm states that every AI output is explainable to a non-technical professional. DefenseStorm describes AI capability as growing step by step, under explicit policy, with human-in-the-loop boundaries. DefenseStorm says 12 years of banking-only threat patterns, examiner expectations, and industry control frameworks inform every AI output.[1]

DefenseStorm offers managed detection and response (MDR) built for the attack patterns, industry control frameworks, and operational realities of financial institutions. DefenseStorm states that a US-based, senior banking-fluent cybersecurity analyst collaborates with the customer on a case, 24x7x365. DefenseStorm analysts work alongside AI-enhanced triage to investigate with banking context and generate structured evidence for governance reporting. DefenseStorm describes a co-managed approach in which customers view configuration logs showing how their environment is monitored 24/7 by DefenseStorm cybersecurity experts.[4]

GRID Active Threat Surveillance gathers and analyzes data from all types of sources, technology, tools, and systems and identifies threats in the customer's environment. GRID Active Threat Surveillance now includes an Incident Similarity feature that applies machine learning to incident monitoring and management. Customers can add EDR functionality and Vulnerability Management Services, both integrated with the GRID Active platform, to their cybersecurity risk management solution. DefenseStorm vulnerability scanning lets customers assess their system and discover weaknesses an adversary may be able to exploit. Employee Activity Monitoring is included with Threat Surveillance and monitors user access, permissions and actions. DefenseStorm integrations can include tools for intrusion detection, firewalls, threat intelligence platforms, and identity and access management systems. DefenseStorm has a team of cybersecurity experts covering implementation, product training and ongoing platform support. A DefenseStorm security engineer who began in 2020 developed DefenseStorm's EDR Service. DefenseStorm appointed its Director of Cyber Threat Intelligence in 2022, and that role is responsible for nearly all facets of the EDR service. DefenseStorm uploads IOCs related to a vulnerability into its ThreatMatch Feed.[1][4][5][6]

DefenseStorm turns every alert, investigation, and decision into structured evidence mapped to CRI Profile, NIST CSF 2.0, and exam procedures. DefenseStorm offers continuous control monitoring across 16,000+ controls. DefenseStorm risk scoring is shaped by real alerts and incidents. DefenseStorm governance aligns to FFIEC examination procedures, GLBA Safeguards requirements, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (including CSF 2.0), NCUA expectations, and the CRI Profile.[7]

GRID Active Risk Assessment and Governance Package aligns an institution's risk and governance to evidence the effectiveness of control in its risk assessment. GRID Active Risk Assessment and Governance Package lets institutions filter risk assessments to create smaller assessments such as an eBanking risk assessment, or one large information security risk assessment encompassing all risks in the register. Pre-mapped Task Schedule templates schedule program activities, and the activities map into framework and self-assessment directives as evidence. DefenseStorm lets customers schedule governance and monitoring activities to align with their cyber security compliance program cadences. GRID Active Reporting lets financial institutions customize reports based on audience and timing. DefenseStorm's governance product is integration-ready across core banking, digital banking, authentication, and cloud platforms.[1][4][7][8]

DefenseStorm unifies threat operations, risk intelligence, governance, and AI in GRID Active, its intelligent data engine. DefenseStorm states that one provider replaces separate SIEM, EDR, SOC, risk assessment, vulnerability management, brand management, security awareness training, and governance tools. DefenseStorm runs risk and governance on the same platform as its threat operations. DefenseStorm's governance product connects cyber risk assessments, control monitoring, evidence collection, and board reporting into one continuous program.[7]

DefenseStorm describes its solution as co-managed, cloud-based and compliance-automated, designed specifically for the cyber threat and compliance demands facing the financial services industry.[1][4][7]

DefenseStorm on the record

Sources

DefenseStorm full record

  1. [1]defensestorm.comDefenseStorm · defensestorm.com · undated page, accessed September 30, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Cyber Risk Management Platform for Banks | DefenseStormDefenseStorm · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]DefenseStorm Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier C
  4. [4]Threat Detection for Financial InstitutionsDefenseStorm · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Evolve Bank and Trust Breach - DefenseStormDefenseStorm · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Barracuda ESG Vulnerability CVE-2023-2868 Reported - DefenseStormDefenseStorm · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Cyber Risk Management for Financial Institutions | DefenseStormDefenseStorm · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Cyber Security Risk and Governance for Financial InstitutionsDefenseStorm · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Executive Leadership at DefenseStormDefenseStorm · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A

Thoropass full record

  1. [1]Readiness and audit in one compliance automation platform - ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Thoropass ceo sam li honored by goldman sachs for entrepreneurship excellenceThoropass · thoropass.com · published October 17, 2024 · Tier A
  3. [3]6001423004Thoropass · job-boards.greenhouse.io · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]AI-powered, expert-led | ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed October 29, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]The only all-in-one solution for infosec compliance and audits - ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed October 29, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Audit Lifecycle Platform | ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed October 29, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Augment your experience with service partners - ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed October 29, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Save time and money with AWS and Thoropass - ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed October 29, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Integrations that streamline your compliance journey - ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed October 29, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Thoropass Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & FeaturesG2 · undated page, accessed October 29, 2026 · Tier C
  11. [11]AI-Native IT Audits | Thoropass Audit Lifecycle PlatformThoropass · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Smart Sort AI: Automated Evidence Mapping | ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Thoropass leading the charge on AI-powered technology - ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Product Updates - ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Thoropass vs. Traditional Audit Firms: A Smarter Way to Compliance | ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Efficiently track, analyze, and mitigate risk in one, central platform - ThoropassThoropass · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]Thoropass Launches Smart Sort AI to Turn Any GRC Export Into Audit-Ready EvidenceThoropass · published January 29, 2026 · Tier A
  18. [18]Thoropass Launches MCP Server to Further Streamline AI-native Audit CapabilitiesThoropass · published July 9, 2026 · Tier A

Spot a factual error? Request a correction.