Appthority

Appthority was a cybersecurity firm specializing in Mobile Threat Defense (MTD), founded in 2011 by Domingo Guerra, Anthony Bettini, and Kevin Watkins. The company established itself by focusing on the protection of enterprise data from threats originating from mobile devices, applications, and networks.

The founding of Appthority was driven by the founders' direct experiences with the burgeoning mobile landscape within corporate environments. Domingo Guerra, with a background in engineering and an MBA from Santa Clara University, identified the market need while observing the shift from company-issued Blackberrys to unsupported personal iPhones for work. During his MBA program, he developed the initial business plan, focusing on the security risks posed by mobile apps. He teamed up with Kevin Watkins, a colleague from McAfee, who joined after his own projects were cut following Intel's acquisition of McAfee. Anthony Bettini, another co-founder, had a history of creating successful cybersecurity companies, including FlawCheck, which was acquired by Tenable.

Appthority's core business was providing a mobile threat protection platform to large enterprise clients, including many Fortune 1000 companies. The company operated on a B2B model, offering its software to help security teams gain visibility into mobile risks. The platform was designed to analyze mobile applications for malicious code, data vulnerabilities, and unsafe behaviors, such as data leakage or privacy-invasive actions. This enabled IT departments to enforce security policies, manage which apps could be used by employees, and ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR. The technology integrated with existing Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions, adding a critical layer of app reputation and risk analysis.

In November 2018, after raising over $25 million in funding from investors like US Venture Partners and Venrock, Appthority was acquired by Symantec for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was a strategic move for Symantec to enhance its own mobile security offerings. Appthority's team and its app analysis technology were integrated into Symantec's Endpoint Protection Mobile (SEP Mobile) product, which itself was born from the acquisition of Skycure a year prior. This integration created a more comprehensive solution capable of defending against a wide array of mobile threats, from malware and network attacks to risky app behaviors.

Keywords: mobile security, mobile threat defense, MTD, enterprise mobility management, app security, data protection, cybersecurity, mobile app analysis, Symantec, mobile threat protection, endpoint security, app vetting, BYOD security, Domingo Guerra, Anthony Bettini, Kevin Watkins, mobile risk management, application reputation, data loss prevention, regulatory compliance