Cloud Passage Raised 14 Million Dollars To Secure Cloud Computing
April 11, 2012
When computing data was focused in data centers securing it was a relatively easy task—just build a big wall around the center and lock the door with a really strong lock. But as cloud computing has brought data, well, everywhere, keeping it secure has become quite a task.
That mission has brought attention to companies like 2-year-old cloud security provider CloudPassage, which faces the hard-to-wrap-your-mind-around task of securing the cloud. Today, the company announced a $14 million series B fundraising round, bringing the company’s total funding to $21 million…
“Security has been a key barrier to cloud adoption, and the company’s comprehensive cloud server security platform is well positioned to solve this problem,” said Brian Melton, the newly appointed director, who also partook in the round as an investor via his role as managing director at Tenaya Capital. “We invested in CloudPassage based on the company’s ability to deliver innovative products that address a large market opportunity.”
Carson Sweet is the co-founder and chief executive of CloudPassage, but he is by no means a tech security “lifer.” Before working in tech positions at several startups, some of which, such as RPM Consulting and TimeBridge Technologies, were acquired by larger companies, Sweet served in the U.S. military as a heavy anti-armor weapons specialist and then as a firefighter paramedic.
Oh yeah, and he studied emergency health sciences and neuropsychology to boot.
The diverse background seems to be paying off for CloudPassage’s CEO, who now counts Foursquare, StrongMail and Exois among his customers.
The CloudPassage method for protecting the cloud is called Halo, and it is free for up to 25 computers.
TechCrunch today reported:
What makes CloudPassage’s offering unique is that it provides security in cloud hosting environments where consistent physical location, network control and perimeter security are not guaranteed. And the company says it can be deployed in minutes.
The startup’s Halo architecture automates multiple server security functions and allows companies to deploy security in public cloud environments. Halo combines an ultra-lightweight guest VM software component with an elastic compute grid optimized for security operations.
The round was led by Tenaya Capital, with participation from existing investors Benchmark Capital and Musea Ventures.