Menlo Security Raises $25M, Launches From Stealth With New Take On Email, Web Security

Menlo Security has emerged from stealth with $25 million in new funding to put toward developing its solution, which it says is a new take on email and web security that will overhaul the way security companies approach fighting malware.

The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company's Isolation Platform works by isolating all web and email content in the cloud before it reaches the endpoint, then uses its Adaptive Clientless Rendering solution to deliver a mirror presentation to the end user. The "magic" of the solution lies in being able to preserve the user experience while still isolating both good and bad content in the cloud to prevent it from reaching the endpoint, Co-Founder and CEO Amir Ben-Efraim said in an interview with CRN.

As malware threats continue to inundate the industry, Ben-Efraim said the security industry needs to take a new approach if it wants to eliminate malware for web and email. This type of isolation solution could make a "big impact," he said.

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"No one knows good from bad, even us," Ben-Efraim said. "The only safe play is to isolate all of it and not allow it to get to the endpoint. It is time for the security industry to start thinking of new ideas because the current ideas aren't working."

The concept of trying to figure out good from bad is failing us as an industry," he continued. "Even though we've got more and more layers of security ... they're [security companies] all trying to figure out good from bad. Largely speaking, they're all failing. We wanted to try a different approach."

Because it operates in the cloud, the solution does not require software to be installed on the endpoint. It is available as a public cloud or virtual appliance-based solution and is compatible with any hardware, OS and browser.

In tandem with coming out of stealth, Menlo Security also announced $25 million in Series B funding, led by Sutter Hill Ventures, and also includes General Catalyst, Osage University Partners and Engineering Capital. This money adds to the $10.5 million raised in the company's Series A funding round.

Ben-Efraim said the new funding will be used to grow product development and go-to-market efforts. "The goal for that funding is to accelerate across the board," he said.

Part of accelerating the go-to-market strategy involves building out the startup's channel program, Ben-Efraim said. Citing his own channel background, which included positions as vice president of cloud security at Juniper Networks and executive positions at Check Point Software and Altor Networks, Ben-Efraim said the company is still in the early stages of its go-to-market approach, but has already started the first stages of engaging with the channel community.

"We'd love to leverage the channel," Ben-Efraim said.

PUBLISHED JUNE 8, 2015