M86 Security

About M86 Security

M86 Security was a specialized internet threat protection company with a history shaped by strategic mergers and acquisitions.

The company's origins trace back to 1995 with the founding of 8e6 Technologies by George Shih. Initially focused on providing pornography-free internet access for educational environments, Shih developed many of the core technologies for the company's internet filtering products. The business later expanded its scope to manage internet access for other markets. A significant milestone occurred in November 2008 when 8e6 Technologies merged with Marshal Software, an integrated email and web security provider, to form Marshal8e6. This move created a combined entity with a substantial customer base of over 20,000, managing 16 million users across 96 countries. Following the merger, the company continued its growth trajectory by acquiring Avinti in March 2009 to incorporate its behavior-based malware technology. In September 2009, as part of a major rebranding effort, Marshal8e6 became M86 Security. A few months later, in November 2009, M86 Security acquired Finjan Software, gaining its Secure Web Gateway product and valuable patents for real-time code analysis. John Vigouroux, formerly the CEO of Finjan, was appointed CEO of M86 Security.

M86 Security operated by providing web and email security products, including content filtering appliances. Its client base ranged from small and mid-sized businesses to large enterprises and educational institutions. The company's business model centered on the sale of software, hardware appliances, and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. The product portfolio included the M86 Secure Web Gateway, M86 WebMarshal for traffic control, and M86 MailMarshal for email security, which unified anti-spam, threat protection, and data leakage prevention. A key offering was the M86 SMB Suite, designed for organizations with up to 500 users, providing enterprise-level security features without being a 'lite' version of their main products. The company's threat intelligence was powered by M86 Security Labs, a research team formed by combining the labs of Marshal and Finjan.

The company's journey culminated on March 19, 2012, when it was acquired by Trustwave Holdings, a provider of cloud-based compliance and information security solutions. The acquisition integrated M86's web and email security products into Trustwave's portfolio, and M86 Security Labs was merged into Trustwave's SpiderLabs. This strategic move allowed Trustwave to enter the multi-billion dollar web security market and enhance its anti-malware technology offerings.