Dasient

Dasient was an internet security company founded in 2008 in Sunnyvale, California, by former Google employees Neil Daswani and Shariq Rizvi and former McKinsey strategy consultant Ameet Ranadive. The company focused on cloud-based protection against threats delivered through websites and online advertising, including web malware and malvertising. Dasient launched its first product in June 2009. Its principal technology was the Web Malware Analysis Platform, a service designed to identify malicious behavior on web pages and advertisements. Rather than relying only on static signatures, the platform used dynamic and behavioral analysis, anomaly-detection techniques, and continuously updated malware intelligence. Its analysis environment included highly instrumented virtual machines that simulated the experience of a real user visiting a web page or viewing an online advertisement. This approach was intended to reveal attacks that could evade conventional scanning methods or that changed their behavior depending on the visitor and browsing context. The company attracted early support from technology investors including Mike Maples, former Verisign chief executive Stratton Sclavos, and former 3Com and Palm chairman Eric Benhamou. In February 2011, Google Ventures was reported to have invested in Dasient. Network World subsequently included the company among its ten startups to watch in 2010, reflecting interest in its security focus and cloud-oriented delivery model. Dasient's business scope centered on helping organizations, websites, and advertising ecosystems detect and block malicious content distributed through the web. Its technology addressed a security problem that was particularly relevant to publishers and online advertising networks: a legitimate site or advertisement could be compromised or used as a vehicle for malware without the publisher immediately recognizing the threat. Twitter acquired Dasient in January 2012. The reported transaction value was $19.1 million. Following the acquisition, Dasient ceased operating as an independent company and its personnel and technology became part of Twitter. Because the business was absorbed into its acquirer, Dasient is best understood as a defunct cybersecurity company rather than an active standalone security brand.

Dasient was established in 2008 in Sunnyvale, California, by Neil Daswani, Shariq Rizvi, and Ameet Ranadive. Daswani and Rizvi had previously worked at Google, while Ranadive came from strategy consulting. Their company was created to address security risks associated with the rapidly expanding web and online advertising environment, where malicious code could be delivered through compromised pages, injected scripts, or advertising networks. The company developed cloud-based anti-malware services rather than positioning its technology as a conventional desktop security product. Its central offering, the Web Malware Analysis Platform, examined web pages and online advertisements with a dynamic, behavioral-based engine. The system used algorithms, anomaly detection, and current malware intelligence to identify suspicious activity. A notable part of the platform was its use of highly instrumented virtual machines. These machines simulated the actions and environment of an actual visitor, allowing Dasient to observe what a user might encounter when opening a page or viewing an advertisement. Dasient launched its first product in June 2009. Its target problem was significant for businesses that depended on websites and digital advertising: a site could appear legitimate while hosting or distributing malicious content, and an advertisement could be weaponized without the publisher immediately knowing. By analyzing behavior in an isolated environment, Dasient sought to detect threats that might be missed by approaches based solely on known signatures or page inspection. The company received seed funding from Mike Maples, former Verisign chief executive Stratton Sclavos, and former 3Com and Palm chairman Eric Benhamou. Network World named Dasient one of ten startups to watch in 2010. In February 2011, Google Ventures was announced as an investor. These developments gave Dasient additional visibility and funding while the market for cloud-delivered security services was developing. Dasient did not remain independent for long. Twitter acquired the company in January 2012 in a transaction reported at $19.1 million. The acquisition brought Dasient's people and technology into Twitter and ended the standalone Dasient business. Public reference material does not establish a continuing Dasient product portfolio or a separate post-acquisition operating structure, so the brand is classified as defunct.

1. 2012Acquired by Twitter

   Twitter acquired Dasient in January for a reported $19.1 million, ending its independent operation.

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2. 2011Google Ventures investment

   Google Ventures invested in Dasient in February, according to the cited reference material.

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3. 2010Recognized as a startup to watch

   Network World selected Dasient as one of ten startups to watch.

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4. 2009First product launched

   Dasient launched its first product in June, beginning commercial delivery of its web-security technology.

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5. 2008Company founded

   Neil Daswani, Shariq Rizvi, and Ameet Ranadive founded Dasient as an internet security company in Sunnyvale, California.

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Cloud-based web security focused on behavioral detection of malware and malvertising, using instrumented virtual environments and continuously updated threat intelligence.

• Web Malware Analysis PlatformWeb security and malware analysis

  Dasient's Web Malware Analysis Platform was a cloud-based service for examining websites and online advertisements for malicious behavior. It used dynamic, behavioral analysis, anomaly-detection techniques, and updated malware intelligence rather than relying only on static signatures. The platform incorporated highly instrumented virtual machines that simulated how a real user might experience a particular web page or advertisement, helping expose threats delivered through browsing and digital advertising.

• 2012Twitter acquisitionM&A

  Dasient had developed cloud-based technology for detecting web malware and malvertising and had received seed and venture investment.

  What changed. Twitter acquired Dasient in January 2012 for a reported $19.1 million.

  Aftermath. Dasient ceased operating as an independent company and its personnel and technology were absorbed by Twitter.

  Reported acquisition price. $19.1 million (January 2012)

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• 2012Twitter acquires Dasient

  Twitter acquired Dasient in January 2012 for a reported $19.1 million. The acquisition ended Dasient's existence as an independent company.

  M&A
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• 2011Google Ventures invests in Dasient

  Google Ventures was reported to have invested in Dasient in February 2011, adding institutional backing to the company's earlier seed support.

  Other
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• 2010Dasient named among startups to watch

  Network World listed Dasient as one of ten startups to watch, highlighting the company's web-security technology and early-stage market position.

  Other
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• 2009Dasient launches its first product

  Dasient launched its first product in June 2009, beginning its commercial work in cloud-based protection against web malware and malvertising.

  Product launch
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1. Dasient