Barricade

Barricade.io operated as a security-as-a-service firm, providing a cloud-based application security management platform with real-time visibility and monitoring. The company was established in Cork, Ireland, in November 2014 by tech entrepreneur David Coallier. Coallier, a serial entrepreneur with a background in data science and pattern recognition, previously co-founded Orchestra, a platform for PHP applications that was acquired in 2011, and was an early investor in companies like Intercom and Trustev. His experience spans various fields, including facial detection and real-time voice recognition, which informed Barricade's technological approach.

The core of Barricade's offering was an early warning system designed to protect cloud infrastructure from hackers. It utilized machine learning and artificial intelligence to identify suspicious behavior and potential security breaches on servers. In the event of a serious threat, the system would notify the client and provide detailed steps for resolution. The business model was centered on offering Intrusion Detection as a Service, making enterprise-grade security accessible through a monthly subscription without long-term contracts. This service was aimed at businesses that needed robust server security without necessarily having in-house security experts.

In January 2015, Barricade secured €1.2 million in a seed funding round from investors including Frontline Ventures, Tribal Ventures, and Hemisphere Ventures. The company had plans for significant expansion, announcing a hiring drive to increase its team. However, in November 2016, Barricade was acquired by the global cybersecurity firm Sophos for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was driven by Sophos's interest in Barricade's behavior-based analytics engine to enhance its own security offerings. At the time of the acquisition, Barricade was reportedly close to securing a new, larger funding round but opted for the acquisition to accelerate its vision with Sophos's extensive resources and customer base. Following the acquisition, the Barricade team, including Coallier, joined Sophos's Cloud Security Group to continue developing the technology.

Keywords: cybersecurity, cloud security, machine learning, intrusion detection, security as a service, David Coallier, Sophos acquisition, server security, threat analytics, network security, behavior-based analytics, data breach protection, real-time monitoring, cloud infrastructure security, artificial intelligence security, venture capital, Frontline Ventures, startup security, Cork tech, Orchestra founder