CrowdStrike to Acquire Adaptive Shield to Deliver the Only Platform that Unifies Cloud and Identity Security with Integrated SaaS Protection

Rhea-AI Summary

CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) announced the acquisition of Adaptive Shield, a leader in SaaS Security. This strategic move will make CrowdStrike the only cybersecurity vendor providing unified protection against identity-based attacks across the entire modern cloud ecosystem. The integration will deliver comprehensive SaaS Security Posture Management across 150+ applications, GenAI application security control, and unified hybrid identity and cloud security. The acquisition comes as cloud exploitation cases grew by 110% last year, with 75% of attacks being malware-free. The purchase will be paid predominantly in cash with a portion in stock, expected to close during CrowdStrike's fiscal fourth quarter.

Positive

• Positions CrowdStrike as the only vendor offering end-to-end protection against identity-based attacks
• Expands protection coverage to 150+ SaaS applications
• Strengthens GenAI security capabilities and shadow AI detection
• Enhances existing Falcon platform with comprehensive SaaS security features
• Strategic response to growing cloud exploitation (110% increase) and identity-based attacks

Negative

• Significant cash outlay for acquisition may impact short-term liquidity
• Stock-based portion of purchase may lead to dilution
• Integration risks with existing systems and services

Insights

Tech Security Analyst

This strategic acquisition significantly strengthens CrowdStrike's position in the cloud security market. The integration of Adaptive Shield addresses a critical gap in SaaS security, particularly important as cloud exploitation cases grew by 110% last year. The deal enables comprehensive protection across hybrid environments, from on-premises Active Directory to cloud-based identity providers and SaaS applications.

The timing is strategic, as SaaS is projected to capture over 40% of all public cloud spending in 2024. With Adaptive Shield's coverage of 150+ SaaS applications and specialized GenAI application security controls, CrowdStrike gains valuable capabilities in high-growth segments. The unified platform approach should drive operational efficiencies and enhance threat detection capabilities.

M&A Financial Analyst

The acquisition structure, primarily cash with a stock component subject to vesting conditions, indicates a strategic focus on retaining key talent while maintaining financial flexibility. While specific financial terms aren't disclosed, the deal's structure suggests careful consideration of shareholder value. The timing aligns with CrowdStrike's fiscal fourth quarter, potentially allowing for immediate integration into 2024 growth strategies.

The acquisition targets a high-growth market segment, with identity-based attacks now accounting for 75% of initial access breaches. This positions CrowdStrike to capture additional market share in the expanding SaaS security sector, potentially driving revenue growth and margin expansion through platform synergies.

Falcon platform will deliver complete protection against identity-based attacks across hybrid cloud environments, from on-prem AD to cloud-based identity providers and SaaS apps

AUSTIN, Texas & AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fal.Con Europe -- CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) today announced it has agreed to acquire Adaptive Shield, a leader in SaaS Security. With this acquisition, CrowdStrike will be the only cybersecurity vendor to provide unified, end-to-end protection against identity-based attacks across the entire modern cloud ecosystem – from on-premises Active Directory to cloud-based identity providers and SaaS applications – delivered from a single, unified platform. Announced at Fal.Con Europe, CrowdStrike’s inaugural premier user conference in the region, this acquisition will position CrowdStrike as the leading provider of comprehensive protection across complex hybrid environments.

“CrowdStrike was built to tackle the toughest cybersecurity challenges, and we drive relentless innovation based on what our customers need to stay ahead of modern threats,” said George Kurtz, CEO and founder, CrowdStrike. “As SaaS and AI adoption grows, every new application brings additional complexity and the risk of misconfigurations across human and non-human accounts that create openings for sophisticated attacks. With the acquisition of Adaptive Shield, CrowdStrike will continue to set the standard for identity-based protection in the cloud, delivering best-in-class SaaS protection from the Falcon platform.”

Identity-Based Attacks in the Cloud Target SaaS Applications

Cloud exploitation cases grew by 110% last year, while identity-based attacks continue to rise – 75% of attacks to gain initial access are now malware-free. ‘Cross-domain’ adversaries, targeting identity and cloud, have numerous attack paths, from on-premises Active Directory to cloud-based identity providers and the growing landscape of SaaS applications. The complexity of modern hybrid cloud environments and disconnected security tools create protection gaps, making it difficult to prevent identity-based threats. SaaS is projected to be the largest category of cloud computing in 2024, capturing more than 40% of all public cloud spending¹. Under the SaaS shared responsibility model, SaaS vendors provide security controls, while organizations manage configurations. In today’s complex environments, where hundreds of SaaS applications each come with unique access controls and identity configurations, security teams face significant challenges in maintaining visibility into who has access, what sensitive data is exposed, and active threats – even with purpose-built SaaS protection.

Adaptive Shield and the Falcon Platform – Comprehensive Identity and SaaS Security

Adaptive Shield delivers the industry’s most complete security posture management and threat protection across SaaS identities, misconfigurations and data, stopping SaaS breaches. As an integrated component of the CrowdStrike Falcon® cybersecurity platform, Adaptive Shield will equip CrowdStrike with the most advanced capabilities to stop identity-based attacks across all aspects of modern hybrid cloud environments. Customer benefits will include:

• Comprehensive SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM): Organizations gain full visibility and governance over misconfigurations, the entitlements and activity levels of both human and non-human identities, and exposed data across 150+ SaaS applications. This new end-to-end visibility of identities across hybrid cloud environments gives operators unique context for rapid cloud detection and response (CDR).
• GenAI Application Security Control: By continuously monitoring GenAI SaaS applications, Adaptive Shield empowers organizations to enforce consistent security standards by detecting configuration shifts, controlling AI settings to prevent data leakage, and identifying shadow AI applications to revoke access based on their risk profile. This approach ensures that AI-integrated applications remain aligned with security policies to protect sensitive data.
• Unified Hybrid Identity and Cloud Security: The powerful combination of Adaptive Shield and CrowdStrike Falcon® Identity Protection will provide customers with comprehensive identity protection across SaaS, on-premises Active Directory and cloud-based environments (Okta and Microsoft Entra ID). CrowdStrike Falcon® Cloud Security customers will also gain unified visibility and protection across the entire modern cloud estate – infrastructure, custom applications, data, AI models and SaaS applications – all from the same unified console and workflow.
• Existing Integration Accelerates Detection and Response: Adaptive Shield’s existing integration with CrowdStrike Falcon® Next-Gen SIEM provides rapid first-party detection and response across multiple security domains – endpoints, identities, workloads and applications – automatically correlating detections inline with the latest threat intelligence and Falcon Fusion SOAR delivering near real-time response.

“Widespread adoption of SaaS applications has rapidly expanded the enterprise attack surface, as shared responsibility models and fragmented security controls make SaaS environments a prime target," said Maor Bin, CEO and co-founder, Adaptive Shield. “Our mission perfectly complements CrowdStrike, stopping SaaS breaches while further accelerating consolidation on cybersecurity's most comprehensive platform. I'm incredibly proud of our team for building the most advanced SaaS security solution, defining the market.”

To learn more about Adaptive Shield and CrowdStrike, please visit here.

Transaction Details

The purchase price is contemplated to be paid predominantly in cash and includes a portion to be delivered in the form of stock subject to vesting conditions. The proposed acquisition is expected to close during CrowdStrike’s fiscal fourth quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the benefits of the acquisition to CrowdStrike and its customers, CrowdStrike’s plans to integrate Adaptive Shield’s technology and operations, and the closing of the acquisition. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those contemplated as a result of risks and uncertainties. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including the satisfaction of conditions to closing the acquisition, CrowdStrike’s ability to integrate Adaptive Shield’s technology and operations, and other risks described in the filings CrowdStrike makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including CrowdStrike’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and subsequent filings. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to CrowdStrike as of the date hereof, and CrowdStrike does not assume any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

About CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD), a global cybersecurity leader, has redefined modern security with the world’s most advanced cloud-native platform for protecting critical areas of enterprise risk – endpoints and cloud workloads, identity and data.

Powered by the CrowdStrike Security Cloud and world-class AI, the CrowdStrike Falcon® platform leverages real-time indicators of attack, threat intelligence, evolving adversary tradecraft and enriched telemetry from across the enterprise to deliver hyper-accurate detections, automated protection and remediation, elite threat hunting and prioritized observability of vulnerabilities.

Purpose-built in the cloud with a single lightweight-agent architecture, the Falcon platform delivers rapid and scalable deployment, superior protection and performance, reduced complexity and immediate time-to-value.

CrowdStrike: We stop breaches.

Learn more: https://www.crowdstrike.com/

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© 2024 CrowdStrike, Inc. All rights reserved. CrowdStrike and CrowdStrike Falcon are marks owned by CrowdStrike, Inc. and are registered in the United States and other countries. CrowdStrike owns other trademarks and service marks and may use the brands of third parties to identify their products and services.

¹IDC Press Release: Worldwide Software and Public Cloud Services Spending Guide, July 29, 2024

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106324741/en/

Jake Schuster

CrowdStrike Corporate Communications

press@crowdstrike.com

Source: CrowdStrike

FAQ

What is the strategic importance of CrowdStrike's Adaptive Shield acquisition?

The acquisition makes CrowdStrike the only cybersecurity vendor providing unified protection against identity-based attacks across cloud ecosystems, from on-premises Active Directory to cloud-based identity providers and SaaS applications.

How will CRWD stock be affected by the Adaptive Shield acquisition payment structure?

The acquisition will be paid predominantly in cash with a portion in stock subject to vesting conditions, which could impact liquidity and potentially cause some dilution.

What new capabilities will CRWD gain from the Adaptive Shield acquisition?

CrowdStrike will gain comprehensive SaaS Security Posture Management across 150+ applications, GenAI application security control, and unified hybrid identity and cloud security capabilities.

When will CRWD complete the Adaptive Shield acquisition?

The acquisition is expected to close during CrowdStrike's fiscal fourth quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.