Rubrik, a data backup and cybersecurity vendor, has announced the acquisition of Laminar Security, a cloud data security provider. This move is aimed at enhancing data visibility and security in customer cloud and data lake environments. Rubrik has been working to redefine itself as a cybersecurity vendor, expanding beyond its data backup origins. The company already offers visibility into customer data centers and software-as-a-service (SaaS) environments, along with data backup and vaulting capabilities.

While the specific details of the acquisition, including costs and plans for Laminar’s employees, have not been disclosed, the deal is expected to be finalized in the coming week. Rubrik plans to establish Laminar’s offices in Tel Aviv, Israel as a new research and development (R&D) center, adding to its existing R&D facilities in Bengaluru, India and Palo Alto, California.

As data protection becomes increasingly crucial in today’s digital landscape, data backup vendors need to expand the range of their offerings to cater to the diverse environments that customers are utilizing. It is essential for companies to have uncompromised backups to support cyber-recovery efforts and identify vulnerable data that could be targeted by attackers. According to Krista Macomber, an analyst at Futurum Group, understanding and improving security measures will only grow in importance as backup data and tools become more attractive to attackers.

Laminar, established in 2020, specializes in data governance and data visibility tools for major public clouds like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, as well as data lake software such as Snowflake. The platform provided by Laminar scans data within customer environments, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to categorize information based on metadata. It notes data owners, content types, access dates, and associated compliance risks.

Rubrik executives have not provided specific details on how they will integrate Laminar’s platform into their existing products or how the additional capabilities will be sold. Mike Tornincasa, Chief Business Officer at Rubrik, highlighted that the approval of both the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) is crucial for their sales, as protecting against ransomware and ensuring recovery has become a comprehensive task for all aspects of IT.

According to Jack Poller, an analyst at TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group, both data protection and data security are essential components of cybersecurity. Data protection focuses on ensuring data availability, while data security is about maintaining strict controls over data access and usage. Laminar’s security posture tools are expected to complement Rubrik’s existing cybersecurity capabilities, especially in safeguarding cloud infrastructure. In a more complex and fluid cloud environment, it is critical for enterprises to have visibility and knowledge of their backups, as well as the ability to protect them effectively.

While the addition of cloud visibility and security posture tools is beneficial for IT administrators managing backups, relying on a single software package may not be sufficient for comprehensive IT protection. Macomber emphasizes the importance of backup vendors understanding the language of security but also collaborating with partners for complementary capabilities. The main buyers of backup tools still reside within the IT realm, so it is vital for data protection vendors to stay within their expertise while partnering with other security providers.

In conclusion, Rubrik’s acquisition of Laminar Security represents a strategic move to enhance data visibility and security in various cloud and data lake environments. As companies increasingly prioritize data protection and cybersecurity, it is essential for backup vendors to expand their offerings and collaborate with partners to ensure comprehensive IT protection. This acquisition positions Rubrik to strengthen its position as a data backup and cybersecurity vendor, providing customers with the tools they need to safeguard their data in today’s ever-evolving threat landscape.

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