Human layer security vendor Egress has announced the acquisition of Aquilai, an anti-phishing provider based in Cheltenham.
Aquilai leverages machine learning and natural processing technology that stops targeted email attacks, including business email compromise (BEC), spear phishing and impersonation attempts.
The acquisition aims to strengthen Egress’ Intelligent Email Security platform, helping the offering to better protect against the complex issue of insider risk.
Egress said the combination of the two companies will deliver increased protection against all inbound cyber attacks targeting employees, as well as real-time outbound email security for shared data, including inadvertent data loss and email encryption.
“Organisations face a daily onslaught of targeted attacks via email that are designed to exploit employees,” commented Tony Pepper, CEO of Egress. “By acquiring Aquilai, Egress will expand its protection over our customers’ human layer to ensure they can defend against targeted inbound attacks and outbound data loss as employees share content.”
The acquisition will go into immediate effect with the launch of Egress Defend, which incorporates Aquilai’s anti-phishing technology. The Aquilai Ajax brand has been retired as a result.
The new solution boasts machine learning and natural language as a method to detect and mitigate all zero-day phishing attacks, including advanced threats such as BEC and brand forgery, CEO fraud and impersonation attempts, as well as spear phishing.
Egress Defend also provides content analysis for inbound email traffic to detect BEC and social engineering attacks – including those utilising open-source intelligence (OSINT).
Additionally, there’s streamlined user engagement for enhanced cybersecurity awareness among employees – which includes traffic light warnings and insight summaries to provide education about threats.
As part of the takeover, Aquilai CTO Jack Chapman joins Egress as Vice President of Threat Intelligence. Chapman founded the business back in 2018 and oversaw the development of its anti-phishing solution.
“Aquilai is the perfect fit to advance Egress’ mission to secure the human layer, adding sophisticated anti-phishing capability to existing products that secure outbound content as it is shared by employees,” Chapman commented.
“I’m also delighted to be joining Egress as VP of Threat Intelligence to further accelerate the company’s high growth in EMEA and North America.”
