#USA #Series A #Charlotte, NC #NetFoundry #Cisco Investments

NetFoundry Secures Investment from Cisco in Series A

In a notable development for the tech industry, NetFoundry has announced that Cisco Investments is joining its Series A funding round as a strategic investor. This funding initiative, which is spearheaded by SYN Ventures, has now surpassed $15 million with the latest contributions from Cisco Investments. This substantial influx of capital is set to bolster NetFoundry’s innovative Identity-First Overlays™, a platform that is already delivering over one billion secure sessions on a monthly basis.

The Identity-First Overlays™ Strategy

NetFoundry’s unique approach focuses on ingraining security within its network architecture. The Identity-First Overlays™ utilize identity-based micro-segmentation to directly embed authentication protocols and enforce policies. This technology facilitates secure-by-default connections among endpoints, APIs, and applications, functioning effectively across diverse operating environments. This security-centric framework not only enhances transactional security but also significantly simplifies network architecture for enterprises.

Galeal Zino, the co-founder and CEO of NetFoundry, expressed enthusiasm about Cisco’s new role as a strategic partner, stating, “Our team is thrilled to welcome Cisco Investments to our group of strategic partners. This funding enables us to expand our reach and continue our momentum in unifying identity, authorization, networking, and security for the benefit of our customers.”

The Future of Networking and Security

Reflecting on the future of networking, Janey Hoe, Vice President of Cisco Investments, emphasized the importance of integrating networking with security. She stated, “The future of both networking and security lies in their fusion, where identity and policy are embedded directly into the network.” Cisco Investments is optimistic about aiding NetFoundry as they advance this integrated approach, which is pivotal for modern enterprise operations.

Furthermore, Jay Leek, the Founder and Managing Director of SYN Ventures, noted the remarkable momentum NetFoundry has gained recently, mentioning, “The addition of Cisco Investments further strengthens NetFoundry's mission and expands their market opportunity.” This collaborative partnership marks a crucial point in NetFoundry’s journey to enhance security frameworks across various industries.

Enhancing Enterprise Security and Flexibility

NetFoundry's approach prioritizes security without compromising flexibility in enterprise environments. By adopting a zero-trust model for every session, they aim to safeguard organizations' critical infrastructure while ensuring seamless connectivity across various platforms. The secure-by-default, identity-driven method promotes enterprise agility, reliability, and security, catering to the increasing demands of a distributed and dynamic ecosystem.

Impact on the Industry

This latest funding round and Cisco’s involvement is set to amplify NetFoundry's existing capabilities dramatically. Businesses, including two of the five largest companies in the USA, utilize NetFoundry's cloud services for creating secure overlays effortlessly. Additionally, software providers leverage NetFoundry's technology for incorporating zero-trust connectivity into their products.

NetFoundry has risen to prominence in the tech landscape, being the inventor and maintainer of OpenZiti, the world’s leading open-source zero-trust software. With investments from major players like Cisco, NetFoundry is positioned to continue its trajectory of growth, ensuring secure and efficient networking solutions for businesses worldwide.

For more details about their services, visit netfoundry.io or contact them via email at [email protected].