Lacework

Lacework is a cloud security company offering solutions for enterprises to protect their cloud and container workloads at scale. These include tools that employ automation and machine learning in order to enable developers to build cloud applications securely, along with tools to monitor multi-cloud environments, detect misconfigurations and threats, and identify behavioral anomalies during runtime. As of November 2021, Lacework recorded more than 3x YoY growth in revenue and a 3.5x YoY increase in the customer base, which includes the likes of LogicMonitor, Hypergiant, and Sprinklr. Lacework employed over 1,000 staff as of March 2022, five times its headcount in January 2021. The company was however forced to lay off 20% of its headcount in May 2022 in a bid to improve its liquidity position amid uncertain economic conditions.

Lacework announced its first-ever acquisition—the cloud-native security startup Soluble, in November 2021. Soluble provides automated testing and policy management to detect and remediate cloud misconfigurations and policy violations at the source code. Lacework will integrate Soluble’s technology into its automated cloud security platform to expand into IaC remediation capabilities, which will enable Lacework to enhance existing workflows and protect software development lifecycles—at build, runtime, and the source code level. The company also launched new developer-focused features in its platform—vulnerability scanner, admission controller, risk-based scoring, extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) support—to detect and remediate container vulnerabilities in the development process.

Key customers and partnerships

Lacework partnered with Google Cloud in February 2022, to launch its new patented Polygraph Data Platform in Google Cloud Marketplace to strengthen multi-cloud capabilities for joint customers, including a commitment to partner on integrations with Google Cloud Security Command Center (SCC) and jointly develop features in the future. The Lacework Polygraph Data Platform delivers automated visibility and threat detection across multi-cloud environments from build time through runtime without requiring manual oversight from security teams. Following this, Lacework also announced an undisclosed investment from Google Ventures (GV).

Lacework partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in June 2023 to incorporate its composite alerts into Amazon’s GuardDuty threat detection service, providing AWS users with enhanced threat alerts and context for investigation.

Funding and financials

In November 2021, the company raised USD 1.3 billion in Series D funding at a valuation of USD 8.3 billion, co-led by Sutter Hill Ventures, Altimeter Capital, D1 Capital Partners, and Tiger Global Management. The company will utilize the funds to fuel product development; pursue strategic acquisitions; accelerate go-to-market efforts; hire additional staff; and expand its global presence. Along with the funding round, the company also announced plans to go public via an IPO or a direct listing in the future.