Cybersecurity firm Critical Start Inc., which sells a managed detection and response solution to enterprises, said today it has closed on a bumper $215 million strategic growth investment from Vista Equity Partners.

Critical Start’s managed detection and response or MDR offering is designed to help simplify breach prevention in enterprises. It does this by helping organizations to identify, assess and respond to cyberthreats in real time. The company also analyzes the data from all of the threats it identifies in order to improve its future responses to those dangers.

The responses to any active threats it detects are led by a team of security operation center analysts that leverage a deep pool of behavioral data to resolve the vast majority of incidents. The team also provides expert readiness training, incident response and forensic investigation services for enterprise security teams.

Critical Start founder and Chief Executive Rob Davis said the company’s goal is to be the most effective and easy-to-consume managed detection and response service provider around. He promised that the investment from Vista will be used to expand the differentiation in how it helps to protect customers.

“For the past 10 years, we have been laser-focused on protecting our customers from the most sophisticated cyber threats by building a best-in-class technology platform and team,” Davis added.

Critical Start’s differentiation is one of the main drivers behind its rapid growth over the last few years. The company claims that as a result of rising threats and a growing cybersecurity talent gap, its annual recurring revenue has increased by 400% in the last three years, off an undisclosed base. It said it now serves hundreds of midsized and large enterprises across industries such as financial services, energy, healthcare, government, manufacturing and retail.

Critical Start said the funding will enable it to scale the breadth and scope of its managed detection response services and reach a wider range of customers.

Vista Managing Director Ryan Atlas believes he has found a winner with Critical Start, which provides a way for companies to get around the lack of experienced cybersecurity personnel.

“Differentiated technology, working together with their expert service and support teams, makes Critical Start the managed solutions provider of choice for organizations looking to improve their security posture and protect themselves cost-effectively against the rapidly evolving cyberthreats,” Atlas said.

Image: Critical Start