Full Report
We’ve been big fans of Maltego and the team at Paterva for a very long time now, and we frequently use this powerful tool for all kinds of fun and interesting stuff, like Using Maltego to explore threat & vulnerability data; Snoopy: A distributed tracking and profiling framework, ‘Scraping’ time servers; Using Maltego to Data Mine Twitter; and even an analyse on the Use of Social Media by ISIS. We go way back with Andrew and Roelof, who was in fact a founder of SensePost, so today we’re super excited to be able to announce a new, strengthened partnership with them under which we have been accredited as an Approved Maltego Solutions Provider. Basically this means the that with Paterva’s help we plan to use the powerful Maltego toolset to become better at our job – that is to provide information and information systems to our customer with which they can make sound security decisions. Here’s the official news:
Analysis Summary
# Industry News: SensePost Accredited as Exclusive Maltego Solutions Provider
## Summary
SensePost has secured a strategic partnership with Paterva, becoming the world’s first and exclusive "Approved Maltego Solutions Provider" (AMSP) for the UK and Southern Africa. This accreditation formalizes SensePost's deep integration of the Maltego data mining and link analysis platform into its service offerings, aiming to enhance the insights provided to customers for sound security decision-making.
## Key Details
- Date: August 04, 2014
- Companies Involved: SensePost, Paterva (creator of Maltego)
- Category: Partnership/Service Accreditation
## The Story
SensePost, an established information security services company with roots linked to Maltego founder Roelof van der Merwe, announced a new partnership making them an Approved Maltego Solutions Provider (AMSP). This designation grants SensePost the authority to provide integration, consulting, support, and training for the Maltego suite of tools. The collaboration leverages Maltego’s capabilities in data mining, link analysis, and visualization to improve SensePost's ability to deliver actionable intelligence across various security domains, including OSINT, penetration testing infrastructure analysis, and cyber attack analysis. This move is framed as a strategic evolution of SensePost's services, aligning with the larger SecureData group's "Assess-Detect-Protect-Respond" framework.
## Business Impact
### For the Companies Involved
- **SensePost:** Gains a significant competitive differentiator by becoming the exclusive AMSP provider in key geographic regions (UK and Southern Africa). This enhances their service portfolio, allowing them to offer specialized support, training, and integration services around a highly valued security intelligence tool. Revenue streams from consulting and training related to Maltego are expected to increase.
- **Paterva:** Secures a high-profile, officially sanctioned partner to drive adoption, integration depth, and specialized service delivery for Maltego, particularly in the UK and Southern Africa markets.
### For Competitors
- Competitors offering similar intelligence or consulting services may face increased pressure, as SensePost now offers official, embedded Maltego expertise and support that rivals may lack, potentially making SensePost a preferred vendor for intelligence-heavy engagements.
### For Customers
- Customers, especially in the UK and Southern Africa, gain access to expertly integrated Maltego solutions, official training, and dedicated support directly from a trusted security advisory firm. This promises more sophisticated and actionable security intelligence derived from complex data analysis.
### For the Market
- This partnership reinforces the growing market need for sophisticated, data-driven security intelligence tools that bridge the gap between raw data and strategic decision-making. It validates Maltego’s standing as a core tool within the professional cyber security ecosystem.
## Technical Implications
The partnership focuses on leveraging Maltego's technical capabilities for data mining and link analysis. This implies SensePost is integrating bespoke data sources (transforms) and complex workflows using Maltego to convert disparate threat, vulnerability, and infrastructure data into visually coherent intelligence maps, thereby streamlining complex investigations for clients.
## Strategic Analysis
- **Market Positioning:** SensePost is positioning itself as a premium provider of intelligence-driven security consulting, moving beyond basic testing to offer deep data analysis capabilities anchored by the Maltego platform.
- **Competitive Advantage:** The "first and exclusive AMSP" status creates a strong moat in its defined territories for Maltego-related services. The long-standing relationship between the companies suggests a high level of product knowledge that external partners cannot easily replicate.
- **Challenges:** Maintaining the exclusive relationship and ensuring high-quality support aligned with Paterva's standards will be crucial. Success depends on successfully integrating Maltego’s technical depth into services that translate clearly into business value for clients.
## Industry Reactions
- **Analyst Opinions:** Analysts likely view this as a positive vertical integration move, showcasing how specialized tools are being bundled with high-end advisory services to create comprehensive security solutions.
- **Expert Commentary:** Experts familiar with Maltego will see this as a significant endorsement, formalizing a synergy that likely already existed informally due to founder connections.
- **Market Response:** The official announcement creates market clarity regarding where high-level, certified Maltego support and integration can be obtained in the covered regions.
## Future Outlook
- Paterva is expected to encourage SensePost to rapidly develop and showcase novel integration scripts or service packages built around Maltego. Watch for SensePost to launch specific training modules and detailed case studies demonstrating how their new AMSP status translates into superior threat intelligence deliverables.
## For Security Professionals
This development is highly relevant for professionals seeking training or integration support for Maltego, as SensePost becomes the authoritative source for such services in their geographic focus areas. It signals the increasing demand for skills in data visualization and link analysis within core security functions.