Each month, BizWest invites a business leader to participate in a Q&A feature to shed light on a business topic, industry, or activity. This month, Tony Thompson, Director of Marketing at Swimlane LLC, answers our questions. The Louisville-based cybersecurity company is in global growth mode after completing a $70 million funding round this summer. This interview has been slightly edited for length, content and format.
BizWest: What does the name Swimlane mean?
Thompson: When creating a security or security team, a certain level of process definition is required before all technologies and adaptations can be implemented. As you create policies, procedures, and checklists, you will create a decision and action process diagram, including the responsibilities for each. This is usually done according to the "swim lane" scheme.
Our name is at the core of what we do, helping teams become faster, more efficient and more connected. This is not a made up word and is easily recognized by customers, partners and potential customers.
BizWest: Swimlane specializes in security, automation and response software often referred to as SOAR. How does this approach differ from traditional ways of managing cybersecurity?
Thompson: Security Alignment, Automation and Response (SOAR) technology is designed to help security teams respond to phishing alerts, analyze security and manage incidents, or automate repetitive tasks such as endpoint discovery and alert classification in response. It is commonly used in the context of the Trust Control Center (SOC). SOAR technology has many benefits for SOC teams, including better breach prevention, incident response, improved SecOps KPIs, and increased overall investment. The SOAR platform adapts to your people, security processes, and technology, allowing security teams to manage more alerts and better use their skills to combat today's threats at no additional cost.
Low-code security automation solutions that go beyond SOAR automate the expansion of SOC use cases as the scope of security operations expands to other areas of the organization. Low-code security automation allows security professionals to overcome red tape and process fatigue, and with the ability to develop automated security scripts faster and more efficiently, teams can outsource painful, repetitive manual tasks to script automation.
Swimlane goes beyond traditional SOAR and has grown to meet the growing need for a low-code approach to security automation. One that helps organizations measure business value, overcome data and process fatigue, and combat chronic understaffing.
BizWest: The company recently raised $70 million, and this isn't Swimlane's first multi-million dollar fundraiser. What are the plans for this new capital?
Thompson: Swimlane is on a strong growth path and currently has over 200 employees worldwide. We are proud of our global strength and our results. With our latest funding round, we aim to accelerate our continued growth and global operations while continuing to innovate our low-code security automation platform.
BizWest: Although Swimlane is based in Louisville, the company has customers and employees around the world. Do you expect additional overseas operations in the near future?
Thompson: Absolutely. Swimlane accelerates the development of the company's sales channels and marketing plans in various regions of the world. In September, we announced our expansion into the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, one of the fastest growing cybersecurity markets in the world. In April, we also announced the general availability of our platform in Japan's Asia Pacific (AJP). We expect to expand the distribution channel as Swimlane expands in Europe and APJ, and the new investment will help us accelerate time to market in all key regions and expand our global partner network.
BizWest: As the company continues to grow, are there any plans to open headquarters in Colorado? If so, how has the business environment of the state, and Boulder Valley in particular, contributed to the success of sailing?
Thompson: Swimlane is proud to be a Colorado-based cybersecurity company. For us, it's more than just running a business, it's a diverse lifestyle that promotes the best innovation our industry has to offer. The Zone allows us to strike the perfect balance between hard work and fun. That's what keeps us in Colorado, and being in the Boulder Valley between Boulder and Denver helps us recruit the best talent from across the state.