Hysolate

High-Level Overview

Hysolate is a cybersecurity company that developed a software-based isolation solution for enterprises, creating secure, isolated virtual workspaces on endpoints like laptops and desktops to perform sensitive tasks without risking the main system.[1][2] It serves enterprises needing to protect against threats like malware and phishing by enabling users to run risky applications or access confidential data in isolated environments, such as splitting endpoints into separate operating systems—one unlocked for productivity and another secured.[1][2][4] The company raised $36M before being acquired by Perception Point in March 2022, pioneering "software-defined endpoints" and holding 11 patents in areas like computer network security.[1][3]

Origin Story

Founded in 2016 in Tel Aviv, Israel, Hysolate emerged to address endpoint security gaps by bringing virtual machine-like isolation to user devices, inspired by data center virtualization but optimized for seamless end-user experience.[1][2] The core idea was "virtual air gap" technology, allowing multiple isolated VMs to run on a single machine with shared display and input, preventing malware in one VM (e.g., from email) from affecting another (e.g., online banking).[2][4] Early innovation focused on software-defined endpoints to boost productivity while enhancing security, leading to patents and a free OS isolation offering for phishing/malware protection, building traction before its 2022 acquisition.[1][3][5]

Core Differentiators

• Patented Virtual Air Gap Technology: Splits endpoints into isolated operating systems or VMs, each with its own memory and OS, routed through a secure network VM for segmentation without hardware changes—unlike traditional VMs, it seamlessly displays windows from multiple VMs as if on one desktop.[1][2][4]
• User-Centric Experience: Maintains familiar workflows (e.g., clicking icons opens apps across VMs with automatic input switching), optimized for endpoints rather than servers, improving security for everyday tasks like banking or email without productivity loss.[2][3]
• Enterprise-Grade Security: Protects against malware, phishing, and risky apps in isolated workspaces; includes a free tier advancing Windows Sandbox-like isolation, with 11 patents in network security and related fields.[1][5]
• Lightweight and Scalable: Software-only solution for enterprises, enabling secure handling of confidential data or untrusted apps without compromising the host system or network.[1][2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Hysolate rides the endpoint detection and response (EDR) and zero-trust security trends, where rising remote work and sophisticated threats like ransomware demand isolating risky activities on user devices.[1][2] Its timing aligned with post-2016 cyberattack surges, filling gaps in traditional antivirus by mimicking air-gapped isolation via software—crucial as North America (45% market share) and BFSI sectors prioritize such defenses amid growing phishing/malware risks.[1] By influencing endpoint innovation, it pushed ecosystem shifts toward software-defined security, now amplified through its acquisition by Perception Point, enhancing broader cybersecurity platforms.[1][3]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Post-2022 acquisition, Hysolate's technology likely integrates into Perception Point's defenses, expanding isolated workspaces across enterprises amid escalating AI-driven threats and hybrid work.[1] Trends like zero-trust architecture and regulatory pressures (e.g., in BFSI/healthcare) will propel its adoption, potentially evolving into AI-enhanced isolation for real-time threat containment.[1] As endpoint attacks intensify, Hysolate's virtual air gap could redefine secure productivity, solidifying its legacy from a pioneering startup to a core cybersecurity staple—echoing its original mission to isolate risks without user friction.[2][4]