“We are very excited to welcome the Cyphort team to Juniper, and we look forward to their contributions and solutions to bolster Juniper’s software-defined secure network solution. Cyphort will seamlessly integrate into Juniper’s Sky ATP platform to provide customers with improved performance, an increased range of supported file types and additional threat detection capabilities.”
– Kevin Hutchins, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Product Management, Juniper Networks
“In the world of cyber security it is difficult to stay ahead; however Cyphort provides customers with complete protection through its unique combination of an array of sandboxes, coupled with machine learning to identify advanced persistent threats on a real-time basis.”
– Jai Das, Managing Director, Sapphire Ventures
Transaction Overview
- On August 31, 2017, Cyphort, Inc. ("Cyphort") announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Juniper Networks ("Juniper")
- The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and expected to close by the end of September
- Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, Cyphort was founded in 2011 and provides a Security Analytics and Mitigation Platform for Advanced Threat Defense. The company was founded by experts in advanced threats from government intelligence agencies and premier network security companies, including co-founders Fengmin Gong (Chief Architect) and Ali Golshan (CTO)
- Cyphort is the only comprehensive Advanced Threat Protection platform, for on-prem and cloud across Web, Email, Lateral Spread, File & CASB upload
- Cyphort's machine learning and behavioral analytics target the SIEM "gap" by combining detection and analytics on raw data and ingested 3rd party sources
- The Cyphort platform detects advanced threats, evasion techniques and zero-day vulnerabilities using a combination of behavioral analytics, machine-learning and long-data security analysis. The platform can work across virtual infrastructure, cloud environments and edge devices
- Cyphort's solution is built with an open architecture that integrates with existing security tools to discover and contain the threats that bypass the first line of security defense. In addition to identifying threats, Cyphort creates real-time timelines of incidents and can integrate with network tools to update security postures
- Cyphort's software-based, distributed architecture offers a cost effective, high performance approach to detecting and protecting an organization's virtual, physical and cloud infrastructure against sophisticated attacks. Malware detection for Windows, OSX and Linux allows businesses to extract maximum value from IT assets without compromising security
- Manoj Leelanivas served as President and CEO of Cyphort since 2013. Prior to joining Cyphort, Leelanivas was a 14-year veteran at Juniper where he most recently served as Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Advanced Technologies
- Investors included Sapphire Ventures, Foundation Capital, Matrix Partners, Trinity Ventures, Zouk Capital and Dell Technologies Capital. Cyphort raised $53.7 million across four rounds of venture financing
Transaction Significance
- Acquisition strengthens Juniper's leadership position in the next-gen firewall market and is a critical addition to Juniper's Software-Defined Secure Network vision
- Cyphort will integrate into Juniper's Sky ATP platform to provide customers with improved performance, an increased range of supported file types and additional threat detection capabilities (e.g., on- and off-premises support, cloud email, analytics and improved malware detection)
- Cyphort marks Juniper's return to Cybersecurity M&A after an over 4 year absence. The acquisition comes as Juniper invests aggressively in building new breach prevention capabilities to reinvigorate its struggling security business. The security unit saw revenues decline 12 percent in the last quarter even as the company's total sales rose 7 percent
- Cyphort's technology complements traditional Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms, and in some cases provides a more efficient and simpler solution for enterprise customers. The Cyphort platform is often called the "anti-SIEM" but is actually complementary to traditional SIEM platforms due to its open architecture approach
- As cloud-based advanced threat prevention becomes an increasingly critical feature of next-generation firewalls, Juniper will continue to be a leader through forward-looking technology investments
- Cyphort's platform combines advanced threat detection, comprehensive threat analytics and one-touch threat mitigation. The platform employs an innovative approach by applying cyber threat intelligence to packet-level data, giving expert analysts the ability to identify compromises that are often missed by other technologies
- The ATP appliance is ICSA-certified and can speed time to remediation from an average of two hours to just 10 minutes
- Cyphort was named "Rookie Security Company of the Year" by SC Magazine, named a SINET 16 Innovator and recognized by Network World as one of the "Must-have security tools" in the enterprise
Momentum Cyber's Role
- Momentum Cyber served as exclusive financial and strategic advisor to Cyphort
If you’re navigating a critical inflection point in cybersecurity growth, M&A, or capital strategy, Momentum Cyber brings unmatched sector expertise and senior-level advisory to every engagement. Let us advise you today and help you maximize value with confidence in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.