CipherCloud was a cloud access security broker acquired by Lookout in 2021 and later sold to Fortra. Learn its history, features, and current status.
Category
Security
Pricing
Enterprise licensing, historically quoted per organization; CipherCloud is no longer sold as a standalone product, from Custom enterprise pricing (product line discontinued under the CipherCloud name following its 2021 acquisition and 2025 resale)
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2010
Headquarters
Originally San Jose, California, United States, with former regional offices in London, England and Australia
Founding and Early Product Expansion
CipherCloud was founded in 2010 by Pravin Kothari, a repeat security entrepreneur who had previously co-founded ArcSight. The company launched its first product in February 2011 focused on protecting Salesforce.com data through encryption and tokenization, then quickly broadened coverage to Amazon Web Services, Gmail, Office 365, Force.com, and Chatter within about eighteen months.
Strong early venture backing, including a 30 million dollar round in December 2012 led by Andreessen Horowitz and Index Ventures, funded international expansion, with new regional headquarters opened in London in 2012 and Australia in 2013.
What the CipherCloud CASB Platform Did
CipherCloud's core platform, marketed as CipherCloud CASB Plus, combined encryption, tokenization, and data loss prevention into a single cloud access security broker offering, protecting data across more than 40 major cloud applications including Office 365, Google Drive, and Salesforce.
The platform also included adaptive, risk-based access controls, cross-cloud activity monitoring with anomaly detection, real-time malware scanning, and compliance reporting for frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, positioning it for regulated enterprise customers.
Acquisition by Lookout and Later Sale to Fortra
Lookout acquired CipherCloud in March 2021 to pair its endpoint security business with CipherCloud's cloud-native SASE technologies, aiming to offer protection across the full path from endpoint to cloud. CipherCloud's founder Pravin Kothari joined Lookout in an executive role overseeing the combined product and strategy.
In May 2025, Lookout sold the assets of its cloud security business, which had been built on CipherCloud's technology, to Fortra. As a result, the CipherCloud name no longer represents an independently operating company as of 2026, and its former product line now sits within Fortra's security portfolio.
Key Features
Cloud data encryption and tokenization — Applied encryption or tokenization to sensitive data before it left an organization's control, protecting information stored in cloud applications.
Multi-cloud application coverage — Supported data protection across more than 40 major cloud applications, including Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, and Google Drive.
Data loss prevention — Included in-motion DLP capabilities to detect and block sensitive data from leaving sanctioned channels.
Adaptive access controls — Performed continuous, risk-based assessment of user context to make contextual decisions about granting or restricting cloud access.
Cross-cloud activity monitoring — Tracked user behavior across multiple connected cloud services and flagged anomalies through security dashboards and reports.
Real-time malware detection — Scanned, cleaned, and quarantined threats attempting to enter networks through cloud application channels, with zero-day update support.
Compliance reporting and auditing — Provided reporting features designed to help organizations demonstrate compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
Shadow IT discovery — The CipherCloud Cloud Discovery product analyzed firewall and proxy logs to surface unsanctioned cloud application usage and assess its risk.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Was an early and influential pioneer in the CASB category, shaping how cloud data protection is approached industry-wide
Combined encryption, tokenization, and DLP into one platform rather than requiring multiple point tools
Broad application coverage spanning more than 40 major enterprise cloud services
Compliance-oriented reporting helped regulated industries meet frameworks like HIPAA and PCI DSS
Backed by significant venture funding that supported rapid international expansion in its early years
Cons
No longer exists as an independent, standalone product or brand as of 2026 following its sale to Fortra
Prospective buyers cannot purchase CipherCloud directly; its technology is now marketed under Fortra's branding
Historical pricing and packaging details are largely undisclosed and not directly relevant to current purchasing decisions
Its ownership changed twice in under five years, which can create uncertainty about long-term product roadmap continuity
As an enterprise CASB platform, it was never designed for small businesses or individual users, limiting its relevance outside large organizations
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CipherCloud still exist as a company
Not as an independent brand. CipherCloud was acquired by Lookout in March 2021, and Lookout subsequently sold the cloud security business built on CipherCloud's technology to Fortra in May 2025.
When was CipherCloud founded
CipherCloud was founded in 2010 by Pravin Kothari, who previously co-founded the security company ArcSight.
What did CipherCloud do
CipherCloud provided a cloud access security broker, or CASB, platform offering encryption, tokenization, data loss prevention, and adaptive access controls for enterprise cloud applications.
Where was CipherCloud headquartered
CipherCloud was headquartered in San Jose, California, with former regional offices in London, England and Australia added in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Who acquired CipherCloud
Lookout, a mobile and endpoint security company, acquired CipherCloud in March 2021 to combine endpoint and cloud security into a single platform.
What happened to CipherCloud after the Lookout acquisition
The CipherCloud brand was gradually folded into Lookout's product lineup, and in May 2025 Lookout sold the cloud security business built on CipherCloud's technology to Fortra.
What cloud applications did CipherCloud protect
CipherCloud's platform covered more than 40 major cloud applications, including Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, Google Drive, and Gmail.
Can I still buy CipherCloud today
No, CipherCloud is not sold as a standalone product today; its technology and customers are now part of Fortra's security portfolio.