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US-based Cylance uses AI and machine learning algorithms to anticipate and prevent attacks even on zero-day. The company was among the highest funded in 2016, raising US $100 million in a Series D, led by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and Insight Venture Partners.

Steve McClure and Ryan Permeh are no laymen to the field of cybersecurity, particularly network and endpoint security. While McClure, the founder of ex-venture Foundstone (which was later acquired by McAfee), co-authored the popular book on information security titled Hacking Exposed, Permeh is more commonly credited for being the brain behind architecting a fresh approach to security, what with his rich history of working as a security architect and scientist at giants such as Intel and McAfee.

The founders came together to start Cylance in 2012, when they realized that they wanted to use math as a base to deliver proactive cybersecurity services to organisations. In other words, the company uses machine learning and algorithmic science to anticipate, prevent and tackle attacks.

Headquartered in Irvine, California, the company has thus far raised US $177 million in funding, from 14 investors, with its last round being US $100 million in Series D led by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and Insight Venture Partners, and supported by TenEleven Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Dell Technologies Capital and the like.

With clients such as Toyota, WWE and Panasonic on board, the company, in its August 2017 press release stated that it has recorded a 283 per cent growth in overall revenue and sold over five million endpoints that year.

The Product Portfolio

Cylance currently has five products in its stable. The first is, CylancePROTECT, which uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to prevent a variety of attacks such as memory-based attacks, spear phishing, zero-day malware and privilege escalations even before they are executed. The second, CylancePROTECT+ ThreatZERO combines the first product with the deployment of a skilled team which will educated teams within client organisations on current malware trends, best security practices and deployment strategies. The third product, the Cylance Home Edition was launched in August 2017, wherein it offers the enterprise-grade platform to end consumers. The fourth product, CylanceOPTICS, which has been designed to be lightweight and scalable, uses AI-based prevention and in-depth analytics to expose and stop attacks, and establish the root cause in no time. Lastly, CylanceV uses mathematical models to detect and identify malware on endpoints.

Snapshot 

Category: AI & Machine Learning

Founded: 2012

Founders: Ryan Permeh, Stuart McClure

Investors: Khosla Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, DFJ Growth, Fairhaven Capital Partners, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities

Headquarters: Irvine, California