Baffle Raises $20M Series B to Revolutionize Data Encryption

Baffle Secures $20 Million in Series B Funding for Data-Centric Security

Baffle, a California-based startup focused on preventing data breaches, has successfully raised $20 million in Series B funding. The company’s core mission is to maintain data encryption throughout its entire lifecycle – from production to processing.

Addressing Evolving Enterprise Security Needs

Founded in 2015, Baffle was created to address the escalating security challenges faced by enterprises utilizing both public and private cloud environments. Unlike conventional security measures that focus solely on data in transit or at rest, Baffle’s approach emphasizes continuous encryption.

The company’s “security mesh” encrypts data while it is actively being processed by databases and applications. This system de-identifies sensitive information, and Baffle asserts that this process does not negatively impact performance for its customers.

Making Data Breaches Irrelevant

Baffle aims to render data breaches inconsequential by implementing efficient data encryption across all locations. This ensures that even in the event of a security compromise, the stolen data remains inaccessible and unusable to malicious actors.

The startup contends that many existing encryption methods are improperly implemented and offer limited protection against contemporary hacking techniques. They argue that commonly used safeguards are ineffective against modern breaches.

Broad Platform Support and Significant Customer Base

Baffle provides support for all major cloud platforms, including AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Currently, the company’s technology protects over 100 billion records across diverse sectors like financial services, healthcare, retail, industrial IoT, and government.

According to Baffle, they safeguard data belonging to five of the world’s largest financial services companies and five organizations within the top 25 globally.

The Importance of Data-Level Security

“Securing IT infrastructure – encompassing networks, devices, databases, data lakes, and warehouses – is an ongoing process,” explains Ameesh Divatia, co-founder and CEO of Baffle. “The constant evolution of technology makes achieving a true zero trust security posture impossible without directly protecting the data itself.”

Funding Details and Future Plans

This Series B funding round, arriving over three years after a $6 million Series A investment, was spearheaded by Celesta Capital. Additional contributions came from National Grid Partners, Lytical Ventures, and Nepenthe Capital, bringing the company’s total funding to $36.5 million.

Baffle reports a threefold increase in revenue over the past year. The newly acquired funds will be allocated to expanding operations to meet growing market demand and to accelerate product development initiatives.

The company also intends to double its workforce from 25 to 50 employees within the next 12 months.

“This investment empowers us to address the increasing demand for data-centric cloud data protection,” Divatia states. “It will enable responsible digital information sharing and disrupt the recurring cycle of data and privacy breaches.”