Eclypsium, a startup specializing in infrastructure supply chain security, recently secured $45 million in Series C funding to combat nation-state threats and protect AI workloads. The company, founded in 2017 and based in Portland, Oregon, plans to use the funding to bolster security measures for the supply chain, network edge, and infrastructure supporting AI models and applications.
According to Co-Founder and CEO Yuriy Bulygin, the complexity of the supply chain necessitates a deep understanding of the various components involved in building devices. With each device being assembled by multiple suppliers, including developers responsible for firmware and software, Eclypsium aims to address vulnerabilities in network devices, embedded tools, data center infrastructure, and AI-related hardware components.
Since its inception, Eclypsium has raised a total of $84 million through multiple rounds of funding, with the most recent being a $25 million Series B round in October 2022 led by Ten Eleven Ventures. Bulygin, who previously worked in Intel’s security practice and as chief threat researcher for McAfee, has been leading the company since its establishment.
The Series C funding, which was co-led by Ten Eleven Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures, will enable Eclypsium to expand its capabilities in securing AI data centers and critical infrastructure. Bulygin emphasized the importance of addressing vulnerabilities in network appliances such as VPNs, firewalls, and load balancers, which are often overlooked by traditional security solutions.
With the shift towards AI data centers that rely on specialized hardware, there are new vulnerabilities that adversaries can exploit to compromise AI models. Bulygin highlighted the interconnected nature of the hardware stack in AI workloads, making components like BMCs and GPUs potential targets for cyber-attacks.
The complexity of the supply chain for network devices and embedded systems poses significant challenges, with each component potentially introducing vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. Eclypsium primarily serves enterprises and government agencies in critical infrastructure sectors, providing protection against malware implants, firmware tampering, and backdoor introductions.
Looking ahead, Eclypsium aims to sustain its revenue growth by expanding its customer base and enhancing relationships with existing clients. Bulygin emphasized the company’s focus on sustainable growth metrics, such as burn rate per employee, to ensure long-term success in the market.
Overall, the Series C funding will enable Eclypsium to advance its mission of safeguarding AI workloads and critical infrastructure against evolving cyber threats, ultimately enhancing security in the supply chain ecosystem.