Founded in 2013, Corelight is transforming the field of network detection and response (NDR) by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to address prevalent security challenges. The recent $150 million Series E funding round, spearheaded by Accel and involving notable contributions from Cisco Investments and CrowdStrike Falcon Fund, underscores the company’s potential and investor confidence. This substantial financial boost brings Corelight’s total funding to $309.2 million, setting the stage for further innovations and market expansion.Recognizing the dynamic and increasingly sophisticated nature of cyber threats, Corelight has made significant strides in enhancing its NDR solutions to better equip Security Operations Centers (SOC). The company’s platform has become integral for organizations looking to achieve comprehensive visibility across physical, cloud, and hybrid environments, all while streamlining security operations.
Evolution and Foundation
Corelight’s Origins and Development
Corelight owes its inception to the expertise of its founders, Dr. Vern Paxson, Dr. Robin Sommer, and Seth Hall, who played pivotal roles in developing the Zeek (formerly Bro) open-source security monitoring platform. Since its establishment in 2013, Corelight has focused on commercializing and enhancing the capabilities of Zeek, bringing valuable network visibility and threat detection tools to the enterprise sector. By building on Zeek’s robust foundation, Corelight has managed to integrate advanced features that have made it a trusted partner for many organizations in their quest to fortify network defenses against evolving cyber threats.From the outset, Corelight aimed to provide high-performance NDR solutions for complex network environments. The company’s early emphasis was on transforming the foundational principles of Zeek into commercially viable products that could scale to meet enterprise demands. Over the years, Corelight has continuously innovated to address the pressing needs of modern SOC teams. This ability to adapt and enhance its offerings has established Corelight as a leader in its domain, making it a formidable player in the competitive landscape of network security solutions.Financial Milestones and Market Confidence
April 2024 marked a significant milestone for Corelight with the completion of a $150 million Series E funding round. This latest infusion of capital, led by Accel with participation from Cisco Investments and CrowdStrike Falcon Fund, brings the company’s total funding to a robust $309.2 million. This financial backing not only highlights the market’s confidence in Corelight’s innovative trajectory but also provides the resources necessary to amplify its product development and market reach. Such substantial investment allows Corelight to delve deeper into AI and ML research, consequently driving forward advanced solutions for detecting and responding to sophisticated cyber threats.The fundraising success reflects Corelight’s compelling value proposition and the tech community’s recognition of its potential to reshape network security. With these financial resources, Corelight is well-positioned to scale its operations, enhance its technological capabilities, and expand its market presence. This influx of capital enables the company to not only improve existing products but also explore new avenues for innovation in NDR, solidifying its standing as a trailblazer in the cybersecurity sphere. The trust shown by heavyweight investors like Cisco and CrowdStrike speaks volumes about Corelight’s strategic direction and long-term growth prospects.Addressing Core NDR Challenges
The Triad of SOC Issues
Corelight has identified three key challenges that SOC teams commonly face with traditional NDR systems: stealthy attacks, alert overload, and tool sprawl. Stealthy, low-and-slow attacks blend seamlessly into normal network traffic, making them notoriously difficult to detect. Further complicating matters is the overwhelming volume of alerts generated by traditional systems, which can paralyze SOC teams with indecision and response delays. Lastly, the proliferation of disparate security tools often results in a fragmented and inefficient security posture. These issues collectively hamper the effectiveness of SOC teams, causing delays in identifying and mitigating threats, and increasing the risk of undetected breaches.The challenge posed by stealthy attacks also highlights the need for advanced threat detection technologies. Traditional NDR systems might miss these low-and-slow attacks because they do not stand out within the vast expanse of normal network activity. Simultaneously, when SOC teams are inundated with an excessive number of alerts, distinguishing between genuine threats and false positives becomes a herculean task. This leads to alert fatigue, wherein significant threats could be overlooked due to the overwhelming noise created by less critical alerts. Lastly, the use of multiple, disconnected security tools often necessitates manual intervention to correlate data, further complicating security operations and increasing the probability of human error.AI and ML-Driven Solutions
To address these formidable challenges, Corelight has integrated advanced AI and ML capabilities into its NDR platform. These technologies enable it to detect subtle anomalies and aberrant behaviors that traditional systems might miss. By automating key aspects of threat detection, investigation, and remediation, Corelight enhances the SOC teams’ efficiency and effectiveness, allowing for quicker and more accurate responses to emerging threats. The AI and ML models employed by Corelight continuously learn from new data, becoming more proficient at identifying sophisticated attack patterns and reducing the reliance on manual analysis.AI-driven threat detection helps Corelight mitigate the issue of stealthy attacks by recognizing malicious behavior patterns that may otherwise go unnoticed. Meanwhile, machine learning algorithms can prioritize alerts based on threat severity, helping SOC teams make informed decisions swiftly. This is particularly crucial in handling alert overload, as it filters out noise and emphasizes alerts that require immediate action. Additionally, Corelight’s automated processes streamline investigations by correlating data from various sources, thereby addressing the tool sprawl issue. These enhancements collectively ensure that SOC teams are well-equipped to respond to threats efficiently and maintain a robust security posture.Comprehensive Visibility and Integration
Unified Security Functions
One of Corelight’s standout features is its ability to consolidate various security functions within a single platform. By integrating Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Packet Capture (PCAP), and threat detection, Corelight removes the inefficiencies associated with navigating multiple tools. This unified approach simplifies security management and enhances operational coherence, ensuring that SOC teams have a streamlined process when dealing with potential threats. This consolidation is vital for improving response times and reducing the complexity of security operations, enabling security professionals to focus on critical tasks rather than managing disparate systems.The integration of IDS, PCAP, and threat detection into one cohesive platform not only simplifies workflows but also improves the overall accuracy and efficacy of threat detection. With all major functions centralized, SOC teams can access comprehensive insights from a single interface, enabling quicker data analysis and correlation. This unified system reduces the friction inherent in transitioning between tools and ensures all security components work harmoniously. As a result, organizations can achieve more reliable and faster threat mitigation, ultimately strengthening their defense mechanisms against a wide array of cyber threats.Cross-Environment Visibility
In today’s complex network landscapes, maintaining comprehensive visibility across various environments is essential. Corelight’s platform is designed to provide in-depth oversight in physical, cloud, and hybrid settings. This all-encompassing visibility is crucial for identifying threats that might exploit the nuances of these varied environments, ensuring that organizations are robustly protected on all fronts. The adaptability of Corelight’s NDR platform to diverse infrastructural environments highlights its versatility and applicability across different industry sectors, making it a valuable asset for enterprises with multifaceted operational landscapes.The ability to maintain visibility across different environments ensures that security teams can detect and respond to threats irrespective of where they emerge within the network. Corelight’s platform leverages AI and ML to analyze vast amounts of data across these environments seamlessly, offering real-time insights into potential vulnerabilities and threats. This capability is particularly important in hybrid and cloud environments where dynamic resource allocation can create visibility gaps that traditional NDR systems might miss. By providing a unified view across all network components, Corelight enables organizations to ensure comprehensive security and compliance, thereby safeguarding their critical assets effectively.Competitive Landscape and Future Prospects
Market Position and Rivals
Operating in a competitive arena, Corelight stands out with its innovative approach to NDR. Its direct competitors include other NDR providers such as ExtraHop and Vectra, while major cybersecurity and networking firms like Cisco, CrowdStrike, and Microsoft pose indirect competition. Despite this competitive pressure, Corelight’s unique integration of AI and ML sets it apart, offering advanced solutions that are highly relevant in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. Corelight’s comprehensive approach to addressing NDR challenges has earned it a significant foothold in the market, and its continual innovation positions it well against both established and emerging competitors.The competitive landscape of NDR and broader cybersecurity solutions necessitates constant innovation and adaptability. Corelight’s ability to integrate advanced AI and ML capabilities distinguishes it from its rivals, providing SOC teams with more efficient and effective tools for detecting and responding to threats. This technological edge, combined with the company’s robust financial backing, allows Corelight to invest heavily in research and development, ensuring it remains ahead of the curve. As the cybersecurity domain continues to evolve, Corelight’s focus on leveraging emerging technologies to enhance its platform will be crucial in maintaining its competitive advantage and expanding its market share.Scaling and Expansion
Corelight was founded by Dr. Vern Paxson, Dr. Robin Sommer, and Seth Hall, all of whom were instrumental in developing the Zeek (formerly known as Bro) open-source security monitoring platform. Since its inception in 2013, Corelight has been dedicated to commercializing and expanding Zeek’s capabilities, providing the enterprise sector with invaluable tools for network visibility and threat detection. By leveraging Zeek’s robust foundation, Corelight has incorporated advanced features, establishing itself as a trusted partner for numerous organizations intent on bolstering network defenses against evolving cyber threats.From the beginning, Corelight aimed to deliver high-performance Network Detection and Response (NDR) solutions tailored for complex network environments. Initially, the company focused on transforming Zeek’s core principles into scalable, enterprise-ready products. Over the years, Corelight has consistently innovated to meet the urgent needs of modern Security Operations Center (SOC) teams. This continuous adaptation and enhancement have positioned Corelight as a leader in network security solutions, making it a formidable competitor in a crowded industry landscape.
