Cylance
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cybersecurity, Software |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Stuart McClure, Ryan Permeh |
| Headquarters | Irvine, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Stuart McClure, Ryan Permeh |
| Products | Antivirus and anti-malware software using artificial intelligence |
Number of employees | 760 (2021) |
| Parent | BlackBerry Limited (2019–present) |
Cylance Inc. is a United States-based software company located in Irvine, California, focusing on antivirus and anti-malware technologies. Established in 2012 by entrepreneurs Stuart McClure and Ryan Permeh, the company has created sophisticated cybersecurity solutions that utilize artificial intelligence to block malware and other cyber threats.
In February 2019, BlackBerry Limited acquired Cylance for $1.4 billion, incorporating its AI-powered cybersecurity technology while maintaining Cylance as an independent subsidiary headquartered in Irvine. This acquisition broadened BlackBerry’s cybersecurity product range and strengthened its position within the market.
By December 2024, Arctic Wolf Networks announced plans to acquire Cylance from BlackBerry for $160 million in cash along with approximately 5.5 million shares of Arctic Wolf common stock. The deal involves cash disbursements totaling about $120 million over the following year, reflecting BlackBerry’s strategic shift and Arctic Wolf’s expansion of its global cybersecurity services.
As of 2021, Cylance generated $189 million in revenue and employed 760 personnel, establishing itself as a prominent entity in the cybersecurity sector. Its business approach centers on AI-driven threat prevention aimed at enterprise customers seeking cutting-edge defense against sophisticated cyber risks.
Founding
Cylance was established in 2012 by Stuart McClure and Ryan Permeh. McClure brought extensive cybersecurity expertise, having co-founded Foundstone, which he sold to McAfee in 2004 before serving as Chief Technology Officer at McAfee.
Funding
By mid-2015, Cylance had raised $42 million from investors such as Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Dell, Capital One, and TenEleven Ventures. In June 2016, it secured an additional $100 million led by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities and Insight Venture Partners. The company also gained strategic backing from In-Q-Tel in September 2015, reinforcing its standing within the cybersecurity field.
Operation Cleaver
Operation Cleaver was a secret cyberwarfare initiative aimed at critical infrastructure worldwide, reportedly linked to the Iranian government. Cylance's 2014 analysis exposed major threats to global enterprises. Although Iranian authorities denied these claims, the FBI indirectly validated them, highlighting Cylance’s authority in cybersecurity intelligence.
Malware scandal
In November 2016, a systems engineer examining 48 malware samples supplied by Cylance for evaluating their "Protect" system discovered that seven samples were not genuine malware. This led to allegations that Cylance manipulated testing by submitting files unlikely to be detected as malware by other products. Cylance executives explained that repackaged malware samples had been employed solely for testing objectives.