Kaseya Acquires Inky to Enhance Email Threat Detection for MSPs

Kaseya’s recent acquisition of Inky, an email security firm based in Washington D.C. and co-founded by former ITA Software COO Dave Baggett, aims to bolster its capabilities against phishing threats by enhancing data integration across platforms. This strategic move is designed to provide managed service providers (MSPs) with a simplified yet effective security solution.

The email security acquisition is regarded as a beneficial alignment for Kaseya, which specializes in IT management. Baggett stated that the complexities facing MSPs today necessitate a comprehensive solution capable of addressing information overload. He emphasized that relying on in-message analysis alone is no longer sufficient for email security, advocating for a contextual approach that Kaseya can deliver through its broader platform.

Over its 10-year history, Inky focused on email content analysis—examining headers, body text, and attachments for malicious intent. However, to improve detection rates, Baggett asserts the need for signals beyond email, including user login locations and behavioral anomalies. These additional data points, accessible through Kaseya’s platform, will enable Inky to enhance its detection capabilities significantly.

A notable success for Inky is its established traction in the MSP market, achieving $1 million in annual recurring revenue with a small, dedicated team. This success has prompted a strategic pivot towards targeting MSPs over larger enterprises, as the latter often possess the resources to manage complex security operations.

Kaseya’s implementation of an API-first strategy represents a significant shift in its operational model. This new framework facilitates seamless data sharing across tools, allowing Inky to not only ingest data from Kaseya but also provide its insights to other components within the ecosystem. Baggett sees this as an essential evolution towards improved threat detection and a more holistic understanding of security.

Phishing attacks increasingly evade conventional email protection measures due to their subtlety, frequently coming from legitimate domains and employing sophisticated techniques. Baggett calls for corporate security leaders to adapt their strategies in light of evolving methodologies used by threat actors, acknowledging that modern phishing initiatives require more sophisticated detection mechanisms.

Despite its innovative solutions, Inky’s growth has been impacted by a lack of brand recognition among MSPs. The acquisition by Kaseya is anticipated to expand its reach exponentially, facilitating access to a large customer base that had previously been unaware of Inky’s capabilities. Baggett expects that this partnership will lead to rapid adoption, ultimately enhancing the threat detection landscape for email communications.

As organizations continue to grapple with the escalating threat of phishing, Kaseya’s strategic investment in Inky underscores a significant step towards advancing cybersecurity measures. The effectiveness of this acquisition, grounded in increased data integration and inter-tool synergy, may prove crucial for businesses seeking to fortify their defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.