Illusive Networks
Israeli deception and identity-threat security firm, the first Team8 spin-out; acquired by Proofpoint in 2022
| Illusive Networks | |
|---|---|
| Trade name | |
| Logo | |
| Type | Acquired |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder(s) | Ofer Israeli |
| Defunct | |
| Headquarters | |
| Industry | Deception security / identity threat detection and response |
| Services | |
| Parent | Proofpoint (acquired 2022) |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Revenue | |
| Number of employees | |
| Homepage | |
Illusive Networks (later styled Illusive) was an Israeli cyber-security company founded in 2014 by Ofer Israeli as the first company to come out of the Team8 venture group.[1][2] It began by planting deceptive data to trap attackers inside corporate networks and later sold identity threat detection and response (ITDR) software. Proofpoint completed its acquisition of the company on 28 December 2022.[3]
Team8 and Unit 8200
Team8 described the company as "Team8's illusive networks", saying it had raised $5 million "to trap attackers in the act".[4] Lincoln International, which advised on the sale, said Illusive was "the first company spun out of the company-building venture group Team8, which was co-founded by veterans of Israel’s military intelligence division, Unit 8200".[2]
Ofer Israeli had worked at Check Point Software Technologies before founding Illusive. In a 2021 interview he said he built Team8 and Illusive in parallel with Nadav Zafrir and Israel Grimberg for the first nine months. The interviewer wrote that "Illusive prides itself on leveraging the best Israeli talent and hiring graduates of the IDF’s signal intelligence unit 8200".[1] When it announced the acquisition, Proofpoint said Illusive was "Founded by nation-state cyber experts".[5] None of the sources opened names a military unit in which Ofer Israeli served.
See also
- Team8
- Nadav Zafrir
- Unit 8200
- Cyber and tech firms founded by ex Unit 8200 or occupation forces veterans
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tom Davis, Ofer Israeli, CEO of Illusive, building a team based on excellence, Microsoft for Startups (blog), 7 September 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lincoln International, Illusive Networks has been sold to Proofpoint, a portfolio company of Thoma Bravo, Lincoln International.
- ↑ Ryan Kalember, Proofpoint Closes Acquisition of Illusive, Proofpoint, 28 December 2022.
- ↑ Team8, Team8's illusive networks raises $5 million to trap attackers in the act, Team8.
- ↑ Proofpoint, Proofpoint Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Illusive, Proofpoint, 12 December 2022.