Adallom
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cloud security |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Assaf Rappaport, Ami Luttwak, Roy Reznik |
| Fate | Acquired by Microsoft Corporation in July 2015 |
| Headquarters | Menlo Park , United States |
Area served | Enterprise SaaS platforms |
Key people | Michael Nicosia (joined 2013) |
| Products | Cloud security platform for SaaS applications |
| Parent | Microsoft Corporation (from 2015) |
Adallom was a cloud security firm based in Menlo Park, California, focusing on safeguarding enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms by monitoring user activities and defending digital resources against potential threats.
In July 2015, Microsoft Corporation purchased Adallom for $320 million. Prior to this acquisition, the company had secured $49.5 million in funding and operated a research and development center located in Tel Aviv. Following the acquisition, Adallom's solution was rebranded as Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS), which became generally available in April 2016. Later, in November 2021, MCAS was renamed Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, further integrating into Microsoft's comprehensive security offerings.
History
Established in 2012 by Assaf Rappaport, Ami Luttwak, and Roy Reznik—former members of the Israeli Intelligence Corps’ Unit 8200 and graduates of the Talpiot program—the company’s name is inspired by Ad Halom, translating to "last line of defense." In 2013, Michael Nicosia joined the founding team, leading to a shift in strategic direction. The company raised $4.5 million during its Series A round from Sequoia Capital and Zohar Zisapel, followed by a $15 million Series B investment led by Index Ventures with continued support from Sequoia Capital Israel.
Adallom earned industry acclaim when it was recognized as one of CRN’s 10 Coolest Security Startups of 2013.
Product
Adallom created a security platform that targets risks associated with SaaS utilization rather than the SaaS platforms themselves. Introduced in November 2013, the platform monitors user activities across various SaaS applications to improve IT oversight and control while maintaining user productivity. It allows organizations to apply uniform security policies throughout cloud environments.
The company’s Smart Engines technology offers near real-time detection of unusual behaviors, similar to mechanisms used for credit card fraud detection, giving it a distinct edge in cloud security solutions.
In December 2013, Adallom uncovered a token hijacking vulnerability (CVE-2013-5054) affecting Microsoft Office 365. This flaw enabled attackers to impersonate users and access confidential information. The discovery, led by Noam Liran, Adallom’s chief software architect, prompted Microsoft to issue Security Bulletin MS13-104 to address the security issue.