Virtual networking startup ZeroTier Inc. announced today that it has raised $13.5 million in new funding to boost product development and geographic expansion.

Along with the funding, ZeroTier also announced that Andrew Gault is joining the company as its chief executive. Gault was the co-founder of streaming platform Gaikai, which sold to Sony for $380 million in 2012, an early investor in Oculus VR and a founding partner at 7 percent ventures.

Founded in 2015, ZeroTier is a software-defined networking company that focuses on creating secure, flexible and easy-to-use network solutions that allow devices to connect seamlessly over the internet as if they were on the same local network. The company’s solutions address the complexities and limitations of traditional networking methods such as virtual private networks and other infrastructure-heavy solutions.

ZeroTier’s offerings are focused on creating virtual networks that connect devices no matter where they are, with network virtualization at its core. The company allows users to treat anywhere as a single data center to facilitate seamless communications across physical boundaries, connecting businesses that require global connectivity without the complexities of traditional networking.

The company’s platform establishes direct connections through peer-to-peer networks between devices that minimize latency and improve data flow. The peer-to-peer architecture ensures that data does not need to traverse unnecessary routes and hence enhances performance and reliability.

Security is also a core focus of ZeroTier, with all data transmitted over its network protected by 256-bit end-to-end encryption.

Other features include multicloud connectivity, with ZeroTier supporting the creation of mesh networks that span various cloud providers to facilitate communication between different cloud services. The functionality is also said to enhance operation flexibility for DevOps and information technology teams.

ZeroTier currently supports more than 3 million connected devices and 600,000 network administrators across more than 230 countries and territories worldwide.

Battery Ventures LP led the Series A round, with Bonfire Ventures, Anorak Ventures, Grand Enterprises B.V., Airbridge Equity Partners B.V. and First In Ventures also participating.

“With internet-connected devices outnumbering humans by a factor of three, the need for secure connectivity between devices is skyrocketing. Unfortunately, there are very few scalable, flexible and vendor-agnostic options available to enterprises today,” Gault said. “ZeroTier lives at the crux of this market need, creating global private networks that easily connect devices directly to each other, no matter where they are in the world.”

Image: ZeroTier