Upwind Debuts Identity Security Solution, Enhancing Cloud CIEM With Runtime Insights

Today marks a significant development in the realm of cloud security as Upwind unveils its latest addition to the Cloud Security Platform: identity security. This innovative approach is designed to bolster the protection of cloud infrastructure and applications against external threats, focusing on securing both human and machine identities through Cloud Identity Entitlement Management (CIEM). Upwind's solution is distinctive, utilizing runtime application and infrastructure data from various sources including Applications, VMS, Kubernetes, and Identity providers. This enables a comprehensive understanding of how identities utilize their permissions, thereby identifying and highlighting critical risks.

In the face of escalating identity-based attacks, this advancement comes at a crucial time. The IDSA's 2022 Trends in Securing Digital Identities report reveals that 84% of organizations encountered an identity-related breach in the last year. The CIEM market is responding to these challenges, with projections indicating growth from USD 1.2 billion in 2023 to USD 7.5 billion by 2028, showcasing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 44.2%. The management of identity security encompasses various hurdles, including the need for comprehensive auditing, compliance reporting, and the proactive identification and mitigation of risks linked to high-privileged identities.

Upwind's approach leverages runtime insights to provide organizations with deep identity context and risk assessments. This simplifies identity management and enhances auditing and compliance processes while minimizing potential security risks through strengthened Cloud Identity Entitlement Management. The goal is to enable seamless control over data access across cloud environments and to proactively address risks with an in-depth exploration of cloud AIM, thereby understanding the true permissions of all human and machine identities.

Amiram Shachar, Co-Founder and CEO of Upwind, emphasizes the benefits of their Identity Security offering: "Our Identity Security offering reduces the attack surface through proactive identity risk resolution, performs sophisticated identity-related threat detection and mitigation, optimizes policies for streamlined least privilege and makes it easy to run executive reports for compliance and auditing."

About Upwind: A leader in runtime-powered cloud security, Upwind was founded by Amiram Shachar alongside his founding partners from Spot.io, which NetApp acquired for $450 million. The company enjoys the backing of top cybersecurity investors such as Greylock, Cyberstarts, Leaders Fund, Craft Ventures, Cerca Partners, Sheva (founded by former NBA player Omri Casspi), and Penny Jar (backed by NBA superstar Steph Curry). Within a mere 11 months, Upwind secured $80 million in funding, positioning itself as a pivotal player in cloud security.