Cloud security firm gets IC investment arm's backing

Cloud computing security firm StackRox has received an investment from the intelligence community’s venture capital arm In-Q-Tel to further push the company’s technology into the government market.

Silicon Valley-based StackRox’s strategic investment and technology agreement with In-Q-Tel also seeks to accelerate the protection of applications inside a containerized environment, both entities said Wednesday.

StackRox’s primary customer base in the commercial arena includes financial services, technology and e-commerce.

StackRox developed its software to ensure an organization’s IT assets are in line with security policies, plus identify and stop malicious actors. The software also applies a feedback loop for use across all lifecycle phases.

“Given the increasing use of containers and microservices in our community, this technology is crucial for securing critical IT infrastructure without slowing innovation,” IQT Managing Partner George Hoyem said in a statement.

The StackRox software also works to reduce attack surfaces and profile runtime risks.

Started in 1999, In-Q-Tel is a nonprofit organization that partners with and makes investments in companies to further develop new technologies for potential usage in national security missions. In-Q-Tel works to identify and adapt the technologies for application across the intelligence community.