Aorato is a technology company.
Aorato has raised $12.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Aorato has raised $12.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Aorato has raised $12.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Aorato's investors include Accel, Cyberstarts VC, Glilot Capital Partners, Index Ventures, IVP, London Venture Partners, Moonfire Ventures, Team8, Kristian Segerstrale, Paul Heydon, Shlomo Kramer, Yuval Shahar.
Aorato was an Israeli cybersecurity startup founded in 2012 that developed a context-aware behavioral application firewall (CBAF) using machine learning to protect enterprise resources from advanced cyber attacks, particularly by monitoring identity infrastructure like Windows Server Active Directory.[1][2] It served large enterprises facing threats from compromised passwords, stolen identities, and network intrusions, solving the problem of detecting anomalous behavior *inside* networks rather than just at the perimeter through its Organizational Security Graph—a dynamic view of users, machines, and access patterns.[2] Aorato raised $11M before being acquired by Microsoft in November 2014, integrating its technology into Microsoft's hybrid cloud security offerings for on-premises and Azure Active Directory environments.[1][2]
Aorato emerged from stealth mode in 2014 as a Herzliya, Israel-based company, announcing strong funding amid rising cybersecurity demands.[1][4] While specific founders are not detailed in available records, the company quickly gained traction in the cybersecurity scene, attracting early investments from notable angels like Mickey Boodaei, a serial entrepreneur who co-founded Trusteer (sold to IBM for $1B) and Imperva.[1] Its idea stemmed from the need for advanced threat detection beyond traditional firewalls, leveraging behavioral analysis and machine learning to spot suspicious activities in enterprise directories.[2][3] Pivotal momentum came with the 2014 Microsoft acquisition, which validated its tech and accelerated deployment to global enterprises.[1][2]
Aorato stood out in cybersecurity through these key strengths:
Aorato rode the early 2010s wave of rising enterprise cyber threats, including high-profile breaches that exposed weaknesses in identity management and Active Directory—the backbone for most corporate access control.[2] Its timing was ideal amid the shift to hybrid cloud, where traditional perimeter defenses failed against internal intruders, influencing Microsoft's push for intelligent, identity-centric security in a "mobile first, cloud first" world.[2] By joining Microsoft, Aorato's tech bolstered ecosystem-wide defenses, contributing to modern tools like advanced threat protection and paving the way for behavioral analytics in cybersecurity startups.[1][2]
Post-acquisition, Aorato's innovations live on within Microsoft's security stack, enhancing Azure AD and enterprise defenses against evolving AI-driven attacks. Looking ahead, trends like zero-trust architectures and identity orchestration will amplify its legacy, as enterprises prioritize behavioral AI over static rules. Microsoft's integration ensures sustained influence, potentially shaping next-gen hybrid security as quantum threats and ransomware intensify—reinforcing Aorato's foundational role in proactive cyber resilience.[1][2]
Aorato has raised $12.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series A in January 2014.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2014 | $10.0M Series A | Accel, Cyberstarts VC, Glilot Capital Partners, Index Ventures, IVP, London Venture Partners, Moonfire Ventures, Team8, Kristian Segerstrale, Paul Heydon, Shlomo Kramer, Yuval Shahar | |
| Dec 1, 2012 | $2.0M Seed | Glilot Capital Partners |