CloudNews & Analysis

IBM Consolidates Its Hybrid-Cloud Strategy with Randori Acquisition

This marks the company's threat detection and response solution, following its purchase of end-point security firm ReaQta last year

In the past six months, IBM has been focusing on its hybrid cloud solutions and the company’s latest acquisition of Boston-based offensive security startup Randori indicates a clear effort at streamlining its threat detection and response solutions portfolio. 

The decision to acquire Randori was made public on Monday though IBM doesn’t share any financial details via its blogpost. The addition of Randori helps further simplify threat detection and response, building on our recent acquisition of ReaQta and the launch of QRadar XDR, the blog says adding that the move brings automation and skills to IBM X-Force’s elite offensive cybersecurity team while bringing attackers’ point-of-view into security operation center. 

 

The Randori story

Randori, founded in 2018 and led by co-founder and CEO Brian Hazzard, claims to be a leader in attack surface management and offensive security, performing the role of a trusted adversary for customers. The company website says “The Randori Attack Platform mirrors today’s adversaries, helping security teams discover gaps, assess risks, and improve over time by delivering an unrivaled attack experience at scale.”

Given the exponential growth in exposure points in the hybrid cloud operating environments due to the remote and hybrid working models, the continuous discovery, inventory, classification and monitoring of an enterprise’s IT infrastructure is mission critical. In fact, ESG data suggests 67% of companies saw the external attack surface expand over the past two years with 69% of them being compromised. 

On its part, the hacker-led Randori helps clients continuously identify external facing assets, both on-premise or in the cloud, that are visible to attackers – and prioritize exposures which pose the greatest risk. The company had raised $30 million in two funding rounds and as per the data with Crunchbase, could be valued at between $50 and $100 million. 

 

Why is this acquisition important?

The latest acquisition of Randori makes it more clear that IBM is continuously moving away from its legacy business to cloud software and AI-powered cybersecurity services. In November last, the company had acquired endpoint security platform ReaQta and with the latest purchase now stands second to Microsoft in the list of cybersecurity vendors globally. 

The company would now integrate Randori’s attack surface management software with the extended detection and response capabilities of the IBM Security QRadar suite, helping security teams to get real-time attack surface visibility. Randori’s technology will also be used to bolster IBM’s X Force Red offensive security services. 

Randori is IBM’s fourth acquisition in 2022 as the company continues to bolster its hybrid cloud and AI skills and capabilities, including in cybersecurity. IBM has acquired more than 20 companies since Arvind Krishna became CEO in April 2020.

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