NetFoundry Secures $12 Million in Funding to Revolutionize Secure Networking with a Software-First Approach
In a groundbreaking move poised to redefine secure networking, NetFoundry, the leader in secure-by-design networking solutions, has announced a $12 million investment led by SYN Ventures, a prominent cybersecurity venture capital firm. This marks NetFoundry’s first venture capital infusion, despite already serving eight of the top ten U.S. banks and critical infrastructure across three continents. The company is pioneering a revolutionary approach to secure networking, bringing military-grade security to enterprises while simplifying operations through its innovative software-first model.
The ‘iPhone Moment’ for Secure Networking
According to Galeal Zino, Founder and CEO of NetFoundry, this funding milestone represents the “iPhone moment” for secure networking. He explained:
“NetFoundry’s approach is revolutionary in that it enables military-grade security with the speed and extensibility of software. Organizations can no longer tolerate the trade-offs of traditional WAN/SASE/firewall architecture – that old model is shredded by an AI-accelerated world.”
Industry Leaders Trust NetFoundry’s Secure Networking Solutions
NetFoundry’s technology is already trusted by two of the top five companies on the Fortune 500 list and powers secure IT, IoT, and OT solutions from global leaders such as Arrow, Capgemini, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and the U.S. military. Publicly available case studies highlight its versatility, showcasing applications ranging from financial services to military drones and industrial automation.
One of NetFoundry’s standout features is its ability to enable both enterprise IT teams and product providers through its OEM model. For instance, some of the world’s largest industrial and cloud service providers embed NetFoundry’s zero-trust networking into their products, akin to the “Intel Inside” approach. This allows them to deliver secure-by-design solutions without the complexity of managing underlying network infrastructure.
Why Secure Networking Matters in the AI Era
As industries increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the demand for robust, agile, and secure networking solutions has never been greater. Sectors like financial services, which have long been leaders in adopting infrastructure-as-code practices, are now embracing network-as-code deployments to complete their digital transformation journeys.
Josh Schertzer, former CTO of Enterprise Technology at Blackstone, emphasized the importance of this shift:
“Finance firms benefited from being the infrastructure-as-code leaders and are now taking the final step by completing the platform with network-as-code deployments. NetFoundry’s reinvention of secure networking was the missing link – the way to complete the journey to an infrastructure-independent, secure-by-design enterprise platform.”
By enabling a “develop once, deploy anywhere, deliver everywhere” model, NetFoundry empowers teams to leverage distributed compute resources without worrying about the complexities of traditional network layer integration.
Eliminating Barriers to Business Agility
Traditional networking models often rely on cumbersome dependencies such as IP addresses, underlay networks, specific clouds, and firewall ACLs. These barriers hinder business velocity, security, and agility. Dan Burns, Partner at SYN Ventures and former CEO of cybersecurity leader Optiv, highlighted the transformative potential of NetFoundry’s approach:
“Only software can keep up with software. Dependencies on infrastructure, IP addresses, underlay networks, specific clouds, and firewall ACLs are barriers to business velocity, security, and agility. By eliminating these barriers, NetFoundry enables enterprises to simplify, secure, and accelerate digital transformation.”
NetFoundry’s platform offers end-to-end encryption with keys sovereign to the endpoints, ensuring data remains secure whether deployed on-premises or in cloud-native environments. Unlike SASE clouds, which divert and decrypt sensitive data, NetFoundry ensures that encryption remains intact throughout the entire communication process.
Real-World Applications of NetFoundry’s Zero-Trust Networking
Public case studies demonstrate NetFoundry’s adaptability across diverse industries. For example:
- Financial Services: Just-in-time zero-trust networking ensures secure transactions and compliance with stringent regulatory requirements.
- Military Drones: Secure connectivity enables real-time communication and data transfer in mission-critical scenarios.
- Industrial Automation: Reliable, encrypted connections support IoT devices and operational technology (OT) systems in manufacturing and logistics.
These examples underscore NetFoundry’s ability to address the unique challenges faced by various sectors while maintaining a focus on security, scalability, and ease of deployment.
A New Era of Secure Networking
The $12 million investment from SYN Ventures underscores the growing recognition of NetFoundry’s role in shaping the future of secure networking. As businesses navigate the complexities of an AI-driven world, NetFoundry’s software-first, secure-by-design approach offers a clear path forward.
With its ability to simplify operations, eliminate infrastructure dependencies, and provide military-grade security, NetFoundry is well-positioned to lead the charge in transforming how organizations connect, communicate, and collaborate. This funding round not only validates NetFoundry’s vision but also sets the stage for further innovation and expansion in the secure networking space.
