How Does Crowdsourced Security Work?
Crowdsourced security connects organizations with security researchers who test systems for vulnerabilities. The process is structured and follows a clear set of steps to ensure safety, consistency, and impact.
1. Define Scope and Goals
The first step is deciding what systems or applications are in scope for testing. This can include web apps, APIs, cloud infrastructure, or other digital assets. It’s also important to define what’s out of scope and set rules for participation. Goals vary—some organizations want to find critical vulnerabilities, others want to meet compliance needs, or add a layer of continuous testing.
2. Choose a Program Type
There are several types of crowdsourced security programs:
- Bug Bounty Programs pay researchers for valid vulnerability reports.
- Vulnerability Disclosure Programs (VDPs) provide a way for anyone to report issues, typically without financial rewards.
- Pentest as a Service (PTaaS) is time-bound and scoped testing, often used for audits or product releases.
Each program type offers different benefits depending on security goals.
3. Recruit Security Researchers
Most programs use a platform to connect with vetted security researchers. Organizations can choose to invite specific researchers based on skillset, or open programs more broadly. Researchers may specialize in different areas such as mobile apps, cloud environments, or AI systems.
4. Launch the Program
Once the scope, rules, and program structure are finalized, the program is launched. Researchers begin testing based on the defined guidelines. They use real-world techniques to identify issues and submit reports through the platform.
5. Triage Reports
Submitted reports are reviewed to determine severity, accuracy, and relevance. Triage teams, either internal or provided by the platform, help validate submissions and ensure the highest-risk issues are prioritized.
6. Fix and Retest
Confirmed vulnerabilities are passed to engineering or development teams to fix. Some programs include retesting, where the original researcher verifies that the fix works and the issue is resolved.
7. Measure Results
Programs often track metrics such as time to remediation, vulnerability types, and volume of valid reports. These metrics help teams understand performance, identify trends, and report results to stakeholders.
8. Improve and Expand
Over time, programs are refined. Organizations can add more assets, raise reward tiers, or expand the researcher pool. As the program grows, it can become a core part of the organization’s broader security testing strategy. Findings integrate with SIEMs, issue trackers (e.g., Jira), and vulnerability management platforms so teams can remediate and retest without disrupting DevSecOps pipelines. Webhooks and native connectors keep ownership clear and velocity high.
Frequently asked questions
Crowdsourced security includes bug bounty programs, vulnerability disclosure programs (VDPs), and pentest-as-a-service (PTaaS). Each serves different goals—from continuous vulnerability discovery, to compliance-driven testing, to structured audits.
Platforms use screening, reputation scoring, and skill-based matching to ensure researchers meet enterprise-grade requirements. Organizations can run invite-only programs or open programs depending on their risk tolerance.
Structured rules of engagement, defined scope, and triage teams ensure only valid, high-severity findings reach security teams. This reduces false positives and ensures impact.
Key metrics include mean time to remediation (MTTR), number of critical vulnerabilities uncovered, cost per validated finding, and contribution to compliance frameworks (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001). Return on investment for any cybersecurity initiatives should demonstrate the impact of avoided breaches.
Crowdsourced security findings can be integrated directly into SIEMs, issue trackers (like Jira), or vulnerability management platforms, enabling seamless remediation and retesting without disrupting existing DevSecOps pipelines.