Network security startup Portnox, officially Access Layers Ltd., today announced that it has closed a $22 million funding round to support growth initiatives.

Elsewhere Partners led the Series A investment.

A large company’s corporate network can include upwards of thousands of devices ranging from employee workstations to “internet of things” systems such as factory sensors. Each device connected to the network represents a channel through which hackers can potentially launch a cyberattack. Portnox provides a cloud-based platform, Portnox Clear, that helps mitigate the risk.

Portnox’s platform automatically detects devices that attempt to connect to a corporate network and gleans technical details about each system. Information technology teams can consult the insights provided by the startup to identify potential cybersecurity risks. 

Using the data that Portnox collects about devices connecting to the network, administrators can also create access rules to block malicious requests. The startup’s platform makes it possible to create multiple sets of access rules. An IT team could, for example, create one set of cybersecurity policies to manage traffic from employee workstations and another to secure network requests generated by industrial sensors.

Portnox says its platform can help secure not only a company’s network but also the individual devices connected to it. The startup has built features that scan devices in the corporate network for potential cybersecurity issues. If the platform identifies a vulnerability in a system, it can automatically resolve the issue based on rules set by the company’s IT department.

The company says it designed its platform to be easier to use than competing products. The initial setup process takes days instead of the months usually required, the startup says. Portnox’s emphasis on ease of use is helping its platform gain traction among midmarket companies.

“While the risks and costs associated with network breaches proliferate each year, traditional solutions do not account for the needs of mid-size companies, especially as staffing shortages, skillset gaps and budget constraints continue in today’s volatile market,” said Portnox Chief Executive Officer Denny LeCompte, who recently took the helm at the startup. “The founders and their exceptional team built the only cloud-native NAC solution that can effectively meet the needs of mid-market organizations.”

Portnox says that its platform has been adopted by nearly 1,000 companies to date. One of the startup’s highest profile customers is Databricks Inc., the data analytics provider valued at $38 billion last year. 

Portnox plans to use its newly closed funding round to acquire more customers with a particular focus on the midmarket segment. The startup will grow its operations, sales, marketing and customer success teams as part of the effort.

Portnox competes with Cisco Systems Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.’s Aruba networking division. 

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