Company Spotlight: Zilla Security

CyberArk, the global leader in identity security, announced on February 13, 2025, that it has acquired Zilla Security. Zilla’s innovative, AI-powered IGA capabilities will expand CyberArk’s industry-leading Identity Security Platform with scalable automation. It will accelerate identity compliance and provisioning across digital environments while maximizing security and operational efficiency. This acquisition further advances CyberArk’s strategy to deliver the industry’s most powerful, comprehensive identity security platform. It will secure every identity with the right level of privilege controls.

Zilla Company Background

Zilla Security, Inc., is a Boston-based company specializing in identity security and governance solutions. Founded by Deepak Taneja and Nitin Sonawane, it addresses the growing need for robust identity and access management in an increasingly digital world. Zilla Security operates within the Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) sector, a sector projected to reach $18.8 billion by 2030.

Overview of Zilla Security

Industry: Computer and Network Security
Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts
Founded: 2019
Employees: Approximately 35–50
Funding: $19 million raised, including a Series A round
Revenue: Estimated at $7.4 million as of 2025

Core Offerings

Zilla Security provides a SaaS platform designed to automate identity governance processes, ensuring compliance to SOX, HIPAA, GLBA, FFIEC, and SOC 2. Its platform integrates seamlessly with various applications, platforms, and systems to streamline:

Access Reviews: Automating manual processes to reduce effort significantly.
Provisioning & De-provisioning: Managing user access through IT service management systems.
Identity Threat Detection: Leveraging AI/ML for real-time anomaly detection and policy enforcement.
Compliance & Reporting: Offering a comprehensive system of record for user and machine identities.

Industry Context

The IGA market is experiencing rapid growth due to increasing regulatory requirements and the shift toward cloud-based infrastructure. Identity security has become critical as organizations face rising threats of data breaches, which cost an average of $4.45 million globally in 2023. Zilla Security’s focus on automation and security-first governance positions it as a leader in this evolving landscape.

By combining advanced technology with a customer-centric approach, Zilla Security is helping enterprises modernize their identity governance strategies while improving operational efficiency and reducing risks.

Zilla Business Description

Zilla Security, Inc. is a leading provider of modern identity governance and administration solutions.

Company History and Founding

Deepak Taneja, Zilla Security's co-founder and CEO, has over 25 years of experience in identity management and cybersecurity. Before founding Zilla Security, he played key roles at Netegrity, Aveksa (a pioneer in IGA), and RSA Security. Taneja recognized the increasing importance of identity as the "new security perimeter" in a cloud-driven world. The company’s vision is to automate identity compliance processes to help organizations secure their systems efficiently while meeting regulatory requirements.

Mission and Values

Zilla Security’s mission is to make identity security and governance simple for modern enterprises.

The company focuses on three core pillars:

Simplicity: Delivering an intuitive user experience for all organizational users.
Integration: Seamlessly connecting with different applications, platforms, and systems.
Automation: Reducing manual work to save time and costs while improving accuracy.

Top Products and Services

Zilla Security offers a cloud-native SaaS platform designed to automate identity governance processes. Key features include:

Access Reviews: Automates access certification processes, cutting manual effort by up to 80%.
Zilla AI Profiles™: Uses AI to streamline role-based access control (RBAC) and implement least-privilege security.
Provisioning Capabilities: Simplifies joiner, mover, and leaver processes through automated permissions management.
Compliance Management: Provides real-time audit trails and reporting to meet regulatory standards like SOC 2 and HIPAA.
Integration Capabilities: Supports over 1,000 integrations with SaaS applications, cloud platforms, and legacy systems via APIs or robotic automation.

Key Achievements

Zilla Security has achieved the following milestones:

Surpassed 1,000 application integrations in 2024, offering unmatched visibility into system permissions.
Launched AI-powered tools like Zilla AI Profiles™, enhancing automation in identity governance.
180% Year-over-Year Revenue Growth (2023): Driven by new product launches and global expansion.
Global Reach: Expanded operations to the UK, Australia, and Europe.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborated with major identity channel partners like GuidePoint Security and Optiv.

Zilla combines cutting-edge technology with a focus on usability and efficiency. It is an innovator in the IGA space, helping organizations secure their digital identities while staying compliant with evolving regulations.

How does Zilla help cybersecurity teams?

Zilla Security empowers cybersecurity teams by simplifying identity governance and access management through its cloud-native, AI-powered platform. The platform automates critical processes such as access reviews, provisioning, and compliance audits, reducing up to 80% of manual effort. By integrating seamlessly with over 1,000 SaaS applications, cloud platforms, and on-premises systems, Zilla provides real-time visibility into user permissions and access patterns.

It enables organizations to enforce least-privilege security policies, minimize the risk of privilege creep, and detect identity-related anomalies. Additionally, Zilla’s compliance tools streamline regulatory reporting for standards like SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR, enabling teams to address gaps and avoid penalties.

For hybrid enterprises, Zilla extends its capabilities to on-premises systems with solutions like Zilla PO Box. This feature allows cybersecurity teams to unify governance across cloud and legacy environments, ensuring comprehensive security coverage. Its AI-driven tools, such as Zilla AI Profiles™, further enhance efficiency by automating role-based access control and reducing the complexity of managing large-scale identity systems.

Zilla provides advanced data synchronization and actionable insights into user behavior. It enables cybersecurity teams to improve security posture while enhancing operational efficiency and compliance readiness.

Targeted Customers

Zilla Security primarily targets mid-sized to large enterprises across various industries, including financial services, healthcare, technology, and retail. Its customer base typically includes organizations with 250 to over 10,000 employees that face complex identity governance and compliance challenges. These companies often operate in hybrid environments, combining cloud-based applications with legacy on-premises systems.

Geographically, Zilla’s customers are predominantly based in the United States, with growing adoption in Europe and Australia due to its global expansion efforts. The healthcare sector is a significant focus area, given the high cost of data breaches in the industry.

The primary users of Zilla’s platform are IT and cybersecurity teams tasked with managing access security, automating compliance processes, and reducing identity-related risks. These teams benefit from Zilla’s ability to integrate seamlessly with diverse systems and automate manual workflows. Additionally, Zilla targets channel partners such as resellers and managed service providers (MSPs), enabling them to offer identity security solutions to their clients.

Marketing and Advertising Strategies

Zilla Security employs a multi-channel marketing strategy focused on partnerships, direct outreach, and digital campaigns. Its ‘channel partner program’, launched in 2023, is a cornerstone of its go-to-market approach. This program leverages partnerships with industry leaders like GuidePoint Security and Optiv to extend its market reach and offer advisory services to clients. Zilla also utilizes strategic alliances with ecosystem players such as SHI and Evotek to enhance visibility in the identity security space.

In addition to partnerships, Zilla relies on targeted digital advertising campaigns that emphasize its automation-centric solutions for identity governance. The company uses enriched customer data tools like Cargo to improve the precision of its sales pitches and accelerate its sales cycle. Furthermore, Zilla engages prospects through webinars, demos, and educational content on its website to showcase the benefits of its platform. By combining these strategies with a focus on rapid time-to-value solutions, Zilla effectively positions itself as a leader in modern identity governance.

Current Zilla Competitors

Zilla Security operates in the IGA market, competing against established players and emerging solutions. Its primary competitors include:

CyberArk: A major player in identity security, which recently acquired Zilla Security to expand its footprint in IGA.
SailPoint Technologies: A leader in IGA, offering extensive integration capabilities and advanced governance features through its Identity Security Cloud.
Okta (Auth0): Known for its robust authentication and authorization services, Okta provides scalable identity solutions for web, mobile, and legacy applications.
Microsoft Azure Active Directory: A widely adopted solution for enterprise identity management, focusing on seamless integration with Microsoft’s cloud ecosystem.
Saviynt: Offers modern IGA solutions with a focus on compliance and automation.
OneTrust: Dominates the Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) category with a significant market share.

Competitive Advantages

Zilla Security stands out due to its emphasis on simplicity, automation, and rapid deployment. Its platform allows enterprises to automate access reviews, provisioning, and compliance processes up to five times faster than traditional solutions. Features like Zilla AI Profiles™ enhance RBAC and reduce manual effort by automating pre-approvals for entitlements. Additionally, Zilla’s cost-effective SaaS model provides quicker ROI compared to competitors like SailPoint, which often require more complex deployments.

Its ability to integrate with over 1,000 applications across hybrid environments gives it a competitive edge in helping modern enterprises transition to cloud-based systems. Zilla also excels in customer service and ease of use, making it an attractive choice for organizations seeking efficient identity governance solutions.

Current Challenges

Despite its advantages, Zilla faces challenges such as competing against larger players with deeper market penetration like SailPoint and Okta. The recent acquisition by CyberArk may create integration hurdles as Zilla transitions into a broader product portfolio under CyberArk’s umbrella. Additionally, the IGA market is becoming increasingly crowded with solutions that leverage AI and machine learning, requiring Zilla to continuously innovate to maintain differentiation.

Market Position

Before its acquisition by CyberArk in 2025 for $165 million, Zilla Security was a rising leader in modern IGA solutions. It achieved record-breaking growth with a 373% increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) over two years. Although smaller compared to giants like SailPoint or Okta, Zilla’s focus on automation and rapid deployment makes it a strong competitor in the mid-market segment.

Under CyberArk’s ownership, Zilla can gain access to larger enterprise customers and benefit from CyberArk’s extensive resources and global reach. This acquisition solidifies CyberArk’s position as a dominant force in identity security. It also enhances Zilla’s ability to compete against top-tier rivals like SailPoint and Microsoft Azure Active Directory.