Microsoft Corp. is reported to have acquired Software-as-a-service (SaaS) cloud cybersecurity company Adallom, Inc. for $320 million.

Founded in 2012 by Assaf Rappaport, Ami Luttwak and Roy Reznik, former members of the Israeli Intelligence Corps’ Unit 8200, Adallom offers a cloud access security platform which delivers visibility, governance and protection for cloud applications.

Available as a SaaS-based or on-premises solution, the company’s solutions are said to offer an innovative platform, that in their own words, means that “you don’t have to be a data scientist to understand risks and threats.”

Adallom’s platform works for any user on any device on any network, with no need for an agent, or network configuration, and can be deployed within eight minutes.

The platforms API mode integrates into the framework of enterprise cloud applications, with their SmartProxy architecture seamlessly directing users through the Adallom cloud, providing the enterprise with complete control without breaking application functions.

For those users needing more, the platform supports deployment of hybrid modes, with one example given being API mode for normal usage and proxy mode for unmanaged device access.

As well as their core cybersecurity service, Adallom’s platform also offers support for governance, risk management and compliance, offering enterprise users meaningful insights on their employees, the data they’re accessing, and their activities in the cloud. Each insight is said to be actionable, so the enterprise is able the apply the applicable policies.

As Globes rightfully reports, the acquisition takes Microsoft full circle as it was Adallom in December 2013 that exposed the break into the security server of Microsoft Office 365, news that garnered widespread reporting at the time.

Cybersecurity is hot

The acquisition of Adallom comes at a time that cybersecurity startups and related firms are in serious demand, in terms of both acquisitions and venture capital, driven in large part due to recent high profile hacks of Target, Sony, Anthem and even the United States Government driving growth for services in the sector, not only with large enterprises but also with small to medium enterprises (SMEs) as well.

The acquisition is also yet another uptick from the quality of startups founded by folks previously in the Israeli military, particularly ex-spooks; the list is already way too long in terms of how many now, but as a startup founder incubator, the Israeli military is top of the class.

Based in Menlo Park, CA, Adallom raised $49.5 million over three rounds prior to acquisition. The happy venture capital funds today include BDS Venture Fund, Hewlett Packard Ventures, Index Ventures, Rembrandt Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, and Zohar ZIsapel.

According separately to Hareetz (who also confirmed the acquisition) the last round of $30 million in April this year was on a $100 million valuation.

Image via Adallom