AI is important to the future of cybersecurity, although some experts don't believe the tech will be a silver bullet. Nonetheless, recent acquisitions show the rising significance of this technology in the fight against cyber criminals. This year through 2/28/2017, there have been three acquisitions of cybersecurity startups that offer AI. All three cybersecurity startups featured in this brief offer machine learning technology, a set of algorithms that are used to train machines to learn from data and predict trends and outcomes. AI is an umbrella term that includes companies using machine learning algorithms for natural language processing, predictive analytics, and pattern recognition, among other things.

UK-based security technology company Sophos (OTC:SPHHF) (LSE: SOPH) has announced an agreement to acquire Invincea's software business for up to $120 million in total consideration. Invincea has developed security software that utilizes machine learning and behavioral modeling to quickly detect and react to endpoint, perimeter threats and malware attacks. The technology is a necessary upgrade to the Sophos Central product line and also provides middle market focused Sophos with a foothold in the small business market through the addition of Invincea's customer base. Fairfax, Virginia-based Invincea was founded in 2009 by CEO Anup Ghosh to focus on endpoint threat detection, prevention, and analysis. The company provides security software to more than 25,000 small and medium enterprise customers through its antivirus'X' system that'combines machine learning and behavioral monitoring to eliminate endpoint security blind spots without sacrificing usability.'

Sophos has announced a deal to acquire the core technologies of anti-malware protection outfit Invincea for $100m plus up to $20m, dependent on first-year revenues. Invincea makes a line of signature-less endpoint procession technologies that rely on machine learning and behavioural monitoring to block malware. Sophos plans to integrate Invincea's tech into the Sophos Central endpoint product line, before releasing revamped products later his year. The plan parallels the integration of SurfRight's technology into Sophos's product line following a smaller December 2015 acquisition. In the 12 months to 31 March 2016, Invincea recorded billings of $13.4m, revenue of $9.8m and a loss before tax of $11.8m.

Sophos (LSE: SOPH), a global leader in network and endpoint security, today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Invincea, a visionary provider of next-generation malware protection. Invincea's endpoint security portfolio is designed to detect and prevent unknown malware and sophisticated attacks via its patented deep learning neural-network algorithms. It has been consistently ranked as among the best performing machine learning, signature-less next-generation endpoint technologies in third-party testing and rated highly both for high detection and low false-positive rates. Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., Invincea was founded by chief executive officer Anup Ghosh to address the rapidly growing zero-day security threat from nation states, cyber criminals and rogue actors. Invincea's flagship product X by Invincea uses deep learning neural networks and behavioral monitoring to detect previously unseen malware and stops attacks before damage occurs.

Google announced last week it was adding two new engines, CrowdStrike and Invincea, to its malware scanning platform VirusTotal. Google limited access to the full VirusTotal API only for companies that had a product listed in its scanning service. The company said that any vendor can integrate its product in VirusTotal, and be granted access to the full API if they provided data back to the community, and join the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO). A day later, Invincea announced it was joining AMTSO and VirusTotal as well.

Fairfax, VA, August 25 2016 – Invincea, the leader in machine learning for endpoint protection, announced today that its deep learning model for analyzing unknown malware is now fully integrated in the VirusTotal site. VirusTotal is a "service that analyzes suspicious files and URLs and facilitates the quick detection of viruses, worms, Trojans, and all kinds of malware"[1]. By integrating with VirusTotal, Invincea is pushing machine learning into mainstream cyber security solutions. By participating in the VirusTotal community, Invincea is continuing to fulfill their three key principles to security market transparency and accountability: participate in independent 3rd party testing, work towards commonly accepted standards, and avoid being a black box. As part of these principles, Invincea became one of the first next gen endpoint security companies to join the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO) in June.

FAIRFAX, VA--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) - Invincea, the leader in advanced endpoint threat protection, announced today that it is the first machine learning based endpoint security company to join the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization (AMTSO). Participation in AMTSO furthers Invincea's mission of addressing the global need for improvement in third party testing based on scientific objectivity, quality, and relevance of anti-malware testing methodologies. Hundreds of millions of new pieces of malware are created a year, wreaking havoc on enterprises across industries against the backdrop of obsolete anti-malware approaches. To combat the scourge of malware that evades traditional anti-malware systems, the next-gen endpoint security market has exploded with new companies bringing products to market with fantastic claims. To date, these companies have not been held accountable to their marketing claims by independent scientifically valid testing on the merits of their product technology and approaches.