Shadow Networks

Shadow Networks, Inc. operated as a provider of advanced threat detection services, focusing on the enterprise and government sectors. Founded in 2010 by Eric Winsborrow, the company was initially known as Zanttz. Winsborrow, who served as CEO, has an extensive background in the high-technology sector, with executive roles at major security and networking companies including McAfee, Symantec, and Cisco. This experience shaped the company's approach to cybersecurity, which was centered on combating threats that had already infiltrated a network's perimeter.

The company's core business was providing active threat deception solutions. Its technology was built upon patented virtualization and software-defined networking (SDN) principles to create "shadow networks." These were essentially decoy systems designed to look and behave like real components of a client's network. The purpose was to lure attackers who had already bypassed traditional defenses, allowing Shadow Networks to observe, record, and analyze their methods without putting the client's actual assets at risk. This approach assumed that sophisticated attackers were already inside the network and focused on deception and disruption as the primary mitigation strategy. The business model targeted demanding and security-sensitive organizations, including entities like the US Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Over its history, the company secured approximately $16.2 million in funding over several rounds, including a significant Series A round in March 2015 that raised $13.6M. Key investors included Rho Canada Partners, Paladin Capital Group, and angel groups like Alliance of Angels and Keiretsu Forum. In February 2016, Shadow Networks was acquired by Acalvio, a competitor in the threat deception space, marking its exit as a venture-backed entity.

Keywords: active threat deception, advanced threat detection, software-defined networking, network virtualization, honeypots, cyber deception, Advanced Persistent Threat, network security, enterprise security, government cybersecurity, threat intelligence, insider threat detection, breach detection, Eric Winsborrow, Zanttz, Acalvio, network traffic analysis, attack disruption, cyber espionage defense, virtualization-based security, SDN security, Paladin Capital Group