Vectra AI
 | |
| Formerly | TraceVector Vectra Networks |
|---|---|
| Company type | Privately held |
| Industry | Cybersecurity Network security Cloud security |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Mark Abene, James Harlacher, Marc Rogers, Steven Lutz |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 11 offices; 3 Security Operations Centers (2023) |
Area served | North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia/New Zealand, Japan and Asia-Pacific |
Key people | Hitesh Sheth (CEO)
Scott Dussault (CFO) Willem Hendrickx (CRO) Oliver Tavakoli (CTO) |
| Products | Vectra AI Cybersecurity Platform (formerly Cognito Platform), Vectra Detect, Vectra Recall, Vectra Stream |
| Services | MDR (Managed security service) |
Number of employees | 580 |
| Website | www |
Vectra AI, Inc. is a cybersecurity company specializing in AI applied to network detection and response (NDR) solutions. Established in 2012, Vectra AI now operates in 113 countries from its headquarters in San Jose, California.
History
The Origin as TraceVector
The history of Vectra AI, formerly known as TraceVector LLC, traces its roots back to 2008 when it was founded in New York City by a group of 4 cybersecurity professionals. Tracevector's mission was to offer security professionals an automated Network Intrusion Detection System that could address the escalating and sophisticated cyber-attacks that have increased dramatically in recent years.[1]
TraceVector raised $5.3 million in Series A funding in January 2012 and Hitesh Sheth became its President and CEO.
This move marked a significant turning point for the company, which also decided to relocate its headquarters to San Jose, California, to work on the beta version of the platform.
The Incorporation as Vectra Networks
With the new leadership, the company underwent a rebranding and emerged as "Vectra Networks" in 2014 adopting the tagline “Security That Thinks”.
In March 2014, Vectra launched the X-series platform. It monitors both internal and internet-bound traffic, offers automated reporting, and prioritizes alerts, helping security analysts swiftly address the most critical risks.
In March 2015, Vectra launched the S-series sensor,[2] announced record bookings growth of nearly 400 percent in 2015 over 2014 and expands its business[3] into EMEA.
Vectra Networks was granted its first U.S. patent on January 12, 2016. This patent covers a system for real-time network traffic monitoring to spot potential zero-day cyberattacks.
By the end of 2017, Vectra was issued seven additional U.S. patents and is on a rapid growth trajectory with 2017 revenue growth of roughly 140% compared to 2016.
The Rebranding as Vectra AI
In 2018, Vectra Networks underwent another rebranding, changing its name to Vectra AI and its product name to Cognito.
During the first half of 2018, the company experienced impressive growth, marking a 138% increase [4]compared to the same period in 2017.
On January 25, 2022, Vectra AI completed the acquisition of Siriux,[5] a network management software company.
Product
Vectra AI employs a unique array of artificial intelligence techniques,[6] including supervised (pre-trained), unsupervised machine learning and deep learning techniques, to detect and respond to in-progress cyberattacks in real time.
The product's algorithms continuously learn the behavioral norms of devices, user accounts, ports and protocols to identify signs of compromise across enterprise infrastructure. Threats are automatically triaged, scored and correlated[7] to compromised hosts, and attack behaviors are correlated across hosts to provide the “narrative” of developing attacks. These threats are prioritized on an intuitive user interface[8] while alerting and remediation actions are taken with other security technologies.[9]
Investors
Vectra AI has secured investments from a diverse group of investors, including Khosla Ventures, IA Ventures, Accel Partners, Atlantic Bridge, Wipro Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Intel Capital, DAG Ventures, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Junos Innovation Fund (Juniper), Nissho Electronics, Silver Lake, TCV, and Blackstone.[10]
Funding
Vectra AI raised a total of $350 million[11] in funding and is considered a Unicorn with its $1.2 billion valuation.
| Deal Type | Date | Amount | Investors |
| Seed Round | 01-Jan-2010 | $500k | |
| Series A | 03-Jan-2012 | $5.3M[12] | Khosla Ventures, IA Ventures |
| Series B | 26-Aug-2013 | $8M[13] | Khosla Ventures, IA Ventures |
| Series C | 05-Aug-2014 | $25M[14] | Accel Partners, Khosla Ventures, IA Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, Intel Capital, Juniper Networks (Junos Innovation Fund) |
| Series D | 18-Mar-2016 | Undisclosed[15] | Wipro |
| Series D | 20-Feb-2018 | $36M[16] | Atlantic Bridge, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Nissho Electronics Corp, Khosla Ventures, Accel Partners, IA Ventures, AME Cloud Ventures, DAG Ventures and Wipro Ventures |
| Series E | 10-Jun-2019 | $100M[17] | TCS, Accel, Khosla Ventures |
| Series F | 29-Apr-2021 | $130M[18] | Blackstone |
Patents references
US patent 20160149936, Lopes Pegna, David & Beauchesne, Nicolas, "Method and system for detecting threats using passive cluster mapping", published 2016-05-26, issued 2018-05-29, assigned to Vectra Networks, Inc.
US patent 20150264068, Beauschesne, Nicolas, "Method and system for detecting bot behavior", published 2015-09-17, issued 2018-03-27, assigned to Vectra Networks, Inc.
US patent 20150312211, Beauchesne, Nicolas; Sher Gill, Monty & Kourosh Tavakoli, Oliver, "Method and system for generating durable host identifiers using network artifacts", published 2015-10-29, issued 2017-12-19, assigned to Vectra Networks, Inc.
US patent 20160191551, BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS; PEGNA, DAVID LOPES & LYNN, KARL, "Method and system for detecting threats using metadata vectors", published 2016-06-30, issued 2017-12-26, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US patent 2015264083, PRENGER, RYAN JAMES; BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS & LYNN, KARL MATTHEW, "Malicious relay detection on networks", published 2015-09-17, issued 2017-04-18, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US patent 10033752, PEGNA, DAVID LOPES; MHATRE, HIMANSHU & BRDICZKA, OLIVER, "System for implementing threat detection using daily network traffic community outliers", issued 2018-07-24, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS
US patent 9602533, BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS & YOON, SUNGWOOK, "Detecting network reconnaissance by tracking intranet dark-net communications", published 2015-09-17, issued 2017-03-21, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US patent 2016191563, BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS & PEGNA, DAVID LOPES, "System for detecting threats using scenario-based tracking of internal and external network traffic", published 2016-06-30, issued 2018-02-20, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US application 2015264073, TAVAKOLI, OLIVER KOUROSH; MA, TAO & HUANG, VENABLE et al., "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING INTRUSIONS THROUGH REAL-TIME PROCESSING OF TRAFFIC WITH EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE", published 2015-09-17, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US patent 2015264069, BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS & RYAN JAMES, PRENGER, "Method and system for detecting external control of compromised hosts", published 2015-09-17, issued 2016-08-02, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US application 20210105290, BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS & MANCINI, JOHN STEVEN, "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING MALICIOUS PAYLOADS", published 2018-03-15, assigned to VECTRA AI INC
US patent 10050985, MHATRE, HIMANSHU; DAVID LOPES, PEGNA & BRDICZKA, OLIVER, "System for implementing threat detection using threat and risk assessment of asset-actor interactions", issued 2018-08-14, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US patent 10404730, VENABLE, SR JEFFREY CHARLES, "High-volume network threat trace engine", issued 2019-09-03, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US patent 2015082433, HARLACHER, JAMES & ABENE, MARK, "Systems and methods for capturing, replaying, or analyzing time-series data", published 2015-03-19, issued 2016-01-12, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
EP patent 3355547, SILVER, MATTHEW R & KAZEROUNIAN, SOHROB, "Method and system for learning representations of network flow traffic", published 2018-08-01, issued 2020-12-29, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
EP patent 3484122, MHATRE, HIMANSHU & BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS, "Malicious relay and jump-system detection using behavioral indicators of actors", published 2019-05-15, issued 2021-11-23, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US patent 2015264061, IBATULLIN, OSKAR; PRENGER, RYAN JAMES & BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS et al., "System and method for detecting network intrusions using layered host scoring", published 2015-09-17, issued 2017-02-07, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
EP patent 3117557, HARLACHER, JAMES PATRICK; SOOD, ADITYA & IBATULLIN, OSKAR, "Method and system for detecting algorithm-generated domains", published 2017-01-18, issued 2017-10-31, assigned to EP3117557
US patent 10623428, BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS & NI, KEVIN SONG-KAI, "Method and system for detecting suspicious administrative activity", issued 2020-04-14, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US application 2018115570, OLLMANN, GUNTER DANIEL, "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CATEGORIZING MALWARE", published 2018-04-26, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC
US patent 11330005, BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS; MHATRE, HIMANSHU & HANNAH, DANIEL CARLTON, "Privileged account breach detections based on behavioral access patterns", issued 2022-05-10, assigned to VECTRA NETWORKS INC and VECTRA AI INC
US application 2021092140, KAZEROUNIAN, SOHROB; HANNAH, DANIEL CARLTON & OIKARINEN, TUOMAS P, "METHOD, PRODUCT, AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING MALICIOUS NETWORK ACTIVITY USING A GRAPH MIXTURE DENSITY NEURAL NETWORK", published 2021-03-25, assigned to VECTRA AI INC
US patent 11595416, CHEN, HSIN; BEAUCHESNE, NICOLAS & MHATRE, MANCINI et al., "Method, product, and system for maintaining an ensemble of hierarchical machine learning models for detection of security risks and breaches in a network", issued 2023-02-28, assigned to VECTRA AI INC
References
- ^ "Archive of TraceVector's website".
- ^ "Vectra Networks ships a new sensor for its attack-detection gear". Network World.
- ^ "Vectra Networks Expands into EMEA". Vectra Networks website.
- ^ "Vectra announces 138% growth in new annual recurring revenue during the first half of 2018, AI platform expansion and key cybersecurity partnership". Vectra.ai.
- ^ "Vectra Acquires Siriux Security Technologies to Extend Leadership in Identity and SaaS Threat Management". PR Newswire.
- ^ "The data science behind Vectra AI threat detection models" (PDF).
- ^ "Understanding Vectra AI" (PDF).
- ^ "Vectra Analyst User Experiences (Respond vs Quadrant)".
- ^ "29 Integrations with Vectra AI". SourceForge.
- ^ "Vectra AI's Investors". Vectra AI's website.
- ^ "Vectra AI Joins Security Unicorn Pack at $1.2B Valuation". SDX Central.
- ^ "TraceVector Closes $5.3M". VC News Daily.
- ^ "Network security startup TraceVector raises $8M". Silicon Valley Business Journal.
- ^ "Vectra Networks Receives $25M in Series C Financing". FINSMES.
- ^ "Wipro Ventures Invests In US-Based Cyber Security Startup Vectra". VC Circle.
- ^ "Hacker Detection Firm Vectra Networks Raises $36 Million". Security Week.
- ^ "Vectra lands $100M Series E investment for AI-driven network security". TechCrunch.
- ^ "Vectra AI picks up $130M at a $1.2B valuation for its network approach to threat detection and response". TechCrunch.
Further reading
- Lawson, Craig; Nevia, Claudio. "Magic Quadrant for Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems". Gartner.
- "Global and United States Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021-2027". Kingpin Market Research. 20 September 2021.
- "Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IPS) Software Market Analysis 2022: Industry Size, Share, Emerging Trends, Growth Opportunities And Forecast To 2028". Stratagem Market Insights. January 2022.