Application security startup Contrast Security Inc. has raised additional funding from Microsoft Ventures and AXA Strategic Ventures as an extension of its previous $30 million Series C round announced in October.

Founded in 2014, Contrast Security offers “self-protecting” security software that is designed to protect enterprise software applications from within by enabling enterprise developers to build in security functions through an embeddable module. The company claims that the module can be set up and installed in about a minute because it doesn’t require changes to code or configuration settings and that once in place can immediately start monitoring an application’s internal components using a threat detection method described as “deep security instrumentation.”

Microsoft Corp.’s interest in the company is directly related to security with its own services. Rashmi Gopinath, partner at Microsoft Ventures, said Contrast Security’s platform covers developers using Microsoft Visual Studio as well as organizations running their critical applications in the Azure cloud “with a high-end real-time application security to protect against serious security threats.”

AXA is already an existing Contrast Security customer, using the platform in its offices in Switzerland and Germany to detect software vulnerabilities early in development and to maintain continuous application attack monitoring and blocking into production while also protecting customer data.

The amount of the additional funding from AXA and Microsoft was not disclosed, but including the previously disclosed Series C funding, Contrast Security has now raised at least $54 million to date. The earlier part of the round also included Battery Ventures, General Catalyst and Acero Capital.

The company previously said it intended to use the new funding to accelerate its technology development and global expansion.

Image: Contrast Security