CyberWire: Daily Briefing on BlackCloak's Series A
The CyberWire Daily Briefing talks about BlackCloak’s Series A Funding in its Marketplace section.
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BlackCloak Series A Funding Covered in Managed Security Services Provider News
Today’s MSSP, MDR and cybersecurity news alerts covers BlackCloak’s $11 million in Series A funding from lead investor TDF Ventures with participation from both TechOperators and DataTribe.
Read The Article: Managed Security News
Fenwick Represents BlackCloak in $11 Million Series A Financing
Fenwick represented BlackCloak, the cybersecurity industry’s first Digital Executive Protection platform for Executives and High-Profile Individuals, in its $11 million Series A financing. The round was led by TDF Ventures and included participation from both TechOperators and DataTribe.
Read the Article: Fenwick Represents BlackCloak in $11 Million Series A Financing
Security Week: BlackCloak Raises $11 Million for Its Executive Protection Platform
July 29, 2021 – This Security Week article talks about BlackCloak’s recent Series A funding round. The round was led by TDF Ventures, with participation from TechOperators and DataTribe. The investment will be used to improve the company’s technology offering, and to expand team and sales operations.
Read the full article here: https://www.securityweek.com/blackcloak-raises-11-million-its-executive-protection-platform
BlackCloak Announces $11 Million Series A Funding To Expand Digital Executive Protection Platform
Orlando, FL, July 29, 2021 — BlackCloak, the cybersecurity industry’s first Digital Executive Protection platform for Executives and High-Profile Individuals, announced today the company’s $11 Million Series A funding from lead investor TDF Ventures with participation from both TechOperators and DataTribe.
“This investment in BlackCloak highlights where the cybersecurity market is heading,” said Jim Pastoriza, Managing Partner, TDF Ventures. “Attackers are keenly focused on Board members, senior executives, and other key personnel in companies across every industry. They realize that if they can penetrate this inner circle through their personal accounts and devices, they can hit the jackpot in terms of a corporate breach, intellectual property, or other sensitive data.”
In 2020 BlackCloak published original research from hundreds of individuals on the State of Personal Cybersecurity. That research showed 40% of executives were already compromised on their devices or home networks. Furthermore, 70% had exposed passwords on the deep/dark web, and 87% had no security installed on their personal devices.
“It is a known issue that our online activities and devices have been at risk for some time, but what is new is the idea that personal digital lives can have a direct impact on the company,” said Dr. Chris Pierson, CEO & Founder, BlackCloak. “From unemployment fraud impacting entire executive teams to the exposure of corporate information through personal email, the risks and consequences are very real. BlackCloak is exclusively solving this issue.”
“High-profile individuals often find themselves outside the umbrella of protection provided by their companies and are forced to rely on weak, consumer grade-products,” said Tom Noonan, General Partner, TechOperators. “BlackCloak gives security teams, and the executives they support, security and peace of mind.“
BlackCloak has been honored with multiple awards including being named a SC Media 2021 Trust Award Finalist and being awarded the 2021 Global InfoSec Award for Digital Executive Protection.
With this Series A raise, BlackCloak is expanding its proprietary technology offering in both the cybersecurity and privacy space, deepening its relationship with members, and expanding its team and sale operations.
Jim Pastoriza will be joining John Funge from DataTribe on BlackCloak’s Board of Directors.
About BlackCloak
BlackCloak protects corporate executives and high-profile individuals from cybersecurity, privacy, financial, and other reputational risks. Used by Fortune 500 companies across all industries, the BlackCloak Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy™ Platform is a holistic solution including mobile and desktop apps as well as concierge support. Executives and high-profile individuals get peace of mind knowing their family, reputation, and finances are secured. Companies rest assured that their brand, intellectual property, data, and finances are protected against threats coming through executives without having to invade their personal lives. Learn more at www.blackcloak.io, follow them on Twitter @BlackCloakCyber, or watch the product video.
Media Contact:
Danielle Ostrovsky
Hi-Touch PR
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Dr. Pierson Comments: Group Behind SolarWinds Attack Targeted Microsoft Customers
June 26, 2021 – Dr. Chris Pierson was quoted in the Gov Info Security article: “Group Behind SolarWinds Attack Targeted Microsoft Customers.”
The article talks about how the Russian-linked cyberespionage group behind the supply chain attack against SolarWinds recently targeted Microsoft’s customer support system as part of a new campaign.
Pierson says that it’s no surprise that Russian-linked activity has not died down, and organizations need to continue to focus on improving their cybersecurity defenses.
“The ability to successfully target the U.S. and other interests globally using credential stuffing and other spray attacks will only escalate,” Pierson says. “Unless dual-factor authentication is implemented globally on every account, these attacks will succeed. Unless companies have controls on every endpoint, patching, and other remote desktop protocol service accounts blocked, we’ll see successful intrusions.”
Read the full article here: https://www.govinfosecurity.com/group-behind-solarwinds-attack-targeted-microsoft-customers-a-16945
Lawmakers Unveil Cybersecurity Legislation - Dr. Chris Pierson Comments
June, 21, 2021 – Dr. Chris Pierson was quoted in Bank Info Security’s article, “Lawmakers Unveil Cybersecurity Legislation.”
The article outlines that lawmakers have introduced several cybersecurity-related bills that seek to address issues ranging from tougher penalties for cybercriminals to improving protection of school districts.
Chris Pierson says that the legislative activity is a response to the surge in ransomware and other cyberattacks. He asserts that “many of these efforts are purely perfunctory, and while some can assist in prosecution of cybercriminals, most won’t actually solve or mitigate the risk to the U.S. or its critical infrastructure.”
Read the full article here: https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/lawmakers-unveil-cybersecurity-legislation-a-16918
Dr. Pierson Comments: DOJ Seizes 2 Domains Linked to USAID Phishing Campaign
June 1, 2021 – Dr. Chris Pierson was quoted in the Gov Info Security article: “DOJ Seizes 2 Domains Linked to USAID Phishing Campaign.”
This article talks about how the Department of Justice seized two domains that were used during a recent phishing campaign that targeted a marketing firm used by the U.S. Agency for International Development – USAID – to send malicious messages to thousands of potential victims.
Pierson notes that this latest incident continues a pattern of attackers targeting trusted third parties as a way to maximize a campaign.
“When we review the past 24 months of nation-state attacks, we see an increasing trend to attack trusted providers, third party solutions, or integrators as weak points,” Pierson says. “Assurance reviews can only go so far in determining the risks. Companies really need to assume their providers will be targeted and find ways to wall off further access or impact for critical systems.”
Read the full article here: https://www.govinfosecurity.com/doj-seizes-2-domains-linked-to-usaid-phishing-campaign-a-16782
Dr. Chris Pierson Comments: Colonial Pipeline CEO Confirms $4.4 Million Ransom Payment
May 19, 2021 – Dr. Chris Pierson was quoted in Bank Info Security’s article, “Colonial Pipeline CEO Confirms $4.4 Million Ransom Payment.”
The article talks about Colonial Pipeline Co.’s CEO, Joseph Blount’s decision to authorize the payment of a $4.4 million ransom just hours after the company was hit by a DarkSide ransomware attack.
Pierson notes that Colonial Pipeline is a large company with facilities spanning more than a dozen states, which complicates the decision-making process.
“Reaching an answer is made a lot easier if the company does not have a large number of impacted systems, has backups and a way to rapidly refresh their IT infrastructure, and has time – sometimes the most important factor,” Pierson says. “A strong negative in any one of these areas can limit the options that a CEO has.”
Read the full article here: https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/colonial-pipeline-ceo-confirms-44-million-ransom-payment-a-16696
BlackCloak Named Winner of the Coveted Global InfoSec Awards during RSA Conference 2021
San Francisco, CA – May 18, 2021 – BlackCloak is proud to announce we have won the following award from Cyber Defense Magazine (CDM), the industry’s leading electronic information security magazine:
“We’re thrilled to receive one of the most prestigious and coveted cybersecurity awards from Cyber Defense Magazine. We knew the competition would be tough and with top judges who are leading infosec experts from around the globe, we couldn’t be more pleased,” said Dr. Chris Pierson, Founder and CEO of BlackCloak.
“We scoured the globe looking for cybersecurity innovators that could make a huge difference and potentially help turn the tide against the exponential growth in cyber crime. BlackCloak is absolutely worthy of this coveted award and consideration for protecting your executives, board members, and key personnel’s personal accounts, devices, and home networks,” said Gary S. Miliefsky, Publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine.
We’re thrilled to be a member on this coveted group of winners, located here: http://www.cyberdefenseawards.com/
Please join us virtually at the #RSAC RSA Conference 2021, https://www.rsaconference.com/usa today, as we share our red carpet experience and proudly display our trophy online at our website, our blog and our social media channels.
About BlackCloak
BlackCloak protects corporate executives and high-profile individuals from cybersecurity, privacy, financial, and other reputational risks. Used by Fortune 500 companies across all industries, the BlackCloak Concierge Cybersecurity & Privacy™ Platform is a holistic solution including mobile and desktop apps as well as concierge support. Executives and high-profile individuals get peace of mind knowing their family, reputation, and finances are secured. Companies rest assured that their brand, intellectual property, data, and finances are protected against threats coming through executives without having to invade their personal lives. Learn more at www.blackcloak.io, follow them on Twitter @BlackCloakCyber, or watch the product video.
About CDM InfoSec Awards
This is Cyber Defense Magazine’s ninth year of honoring global InfoSec innovators. Our submission requirements are for any startup, early stage, later stage or public companies in the INFORMATION SECURITY (INFOSEC) space who believe they have a unique and compelling value proposition for their product or service. Learn more at www.cyberdefenseawards.com
About the Judging
The judges are CISSP, FMDHS, CEH, certified security professionals who voted based on their independent review of the company submitted materials on the website of each submission including but not limited to data sheets, white papers, product literature and other market variables. CDM has a flexible philosophy to find more innovative players with new and unique technologies, than the one with the most customers or money in the bank. CDM is always asking “What’s Next?” so we are looking for Next Generation InfoSec Solutions.
About Cyber Defense Magazine
With over 5 Million monthly readers and growing, and thousands of pages of searchable online infosec content, Cyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of IT Security information for B2B and B2G with our sister magazine Cyber Security Magazine for B2C. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and special editions exclusively for the RSA Conferences. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group. Learn more about us at https://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com and visit https://www.cyberdefensetv.com and https://www.cyberdefenseradio.com to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives. Join a webinar at https://www.cyberdefensewebinars.com and realize that infosec knowledge is power.