Reconnex

Founded in 2002 by Shaun Coleman, Reconnex emerged as a key player in the data loss prevention (DLP) sector from its base in Mountain View, California. The firm specialized in developing an appliance-based system engineered for the visibility and protection of enterprise data across all ports and connection types. Reconnex's core offering was a data leakage prevention solution that provided a comprehensive defense for enterprise information.

The company's technology was designed to protect a network's informational assets without needing prior knowledge of what specific data to secure, adapting regardless of how that information was stored or communicated. A standout feature was its patented learning application, which utilized analytics and data mining to automatically identify sensitive data and business processes, thereby offering organizations better insight into potential risks. This adaptive technology indexed, classified, and understood the context of all content, helping businesses to find, analyze, and classify their data without manual pre-configuration. Reconnex offered products like the iGuard appliance for data-in-motion, iDiscover for data-at-rest, and solutions for data-in-use, creating a full suite of DLP tools. Its clientele included enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions, with notable customers such as WebEx Communications and The George Washington University.

Demonstrating significant market traction, Reconnex secured a total of $37 million in funding over two rounds, with a notable Series C round of $16 million in 2006 led by investors including August Capital and Norwest Venture Partners. The company's trajectory culminated in its acquisition by McAfee on July 31, 2008, for $46 million. The deal was intended to enhance McAfee's data protection portfolio by integrating Reconnex's adaptive learning technology, addressing the complexity and time-consuming nature of typical DLP deployments. Following the acquisition, which closed in August 2008, Reconnex's technologies were integrated into McAfee's Data Protection business unit.

Keywords: data loss prevention, DLP, information protection, enterprise security, network security, data security, content monitoring, insider threat protection, McAfee acquisition, Shaun Coleman, adaptive security, data discovery, iGuard, information risk management, compliance, network monitoring, data leakage, cybersecurity appliance, enterprise data