Isovalent

What Isovalent does

Isovalent builds open-source cloud-native networking, security, and observability software for Kubernetes environments, anchored on eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter) and Cilium technologies. Its core products are Cilium, which provides kernel-level networking, load balancing, and network policy for Kubernetes; Tetragon, an eBPF-based runtime security enforcement tool; and Isovalent Enterprise, the commercially supported distribution that adds enterprise features, support, and integration with infrastructure platforms including Cisco Nexus One. Hypershield, a kernel-level runtime security technology developed through the Cisco-Isovalent integration, extends the platform to defend against sophisticated cloud-native malware such as VoidLink, ShadowRay 2.0, and NVIDIAScape.

The company serves enterprise organizations running containerized workloads on Kubernetes, with a secondary focus on telecommunications service providers deploying 5G and network function virtualization infrastructure. Named customers include Adobe, Capital One, IKEA, Sky, Bell Canada, Telenor, and Telefónica's acens, spanning technology, financial services, retail, media, and telecom verticals. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales, historically targeting Kubernetes adopters directly and now distributed through Cisco's global enterprise channel following the 2024 acquisition. Revenue is generated through subscription-based enterprise licensing, with pricing conducted on a quote basis rather than published list rates.

Isovalent was founded in 2017 in Cupertino by Dan Wendlandt (CEO) and Thomas Graf (CTO), both recognized eBPF thought leaders. The company raised approximately $69 million in venture funding, including a $29 million round in November 2020 and a $40 million Series B in September 2022 with strategic investors Microsoft (M12), Grafana Labs, Andreessen Horowitz, Cisco, and Google. Cilium has been publicly endorsed as a standard for Kubernetes networking and security by Google, AWS, and Microsoft, and the project operates within the CNCF open-source ecosystem. Isovalent was acquired by Cisco in 2024 to integrate its technologies into the Cisco enterprise and cloud infrastructure portfolio.

Name

Isovalent

Legal name

Isovalent

Website

https://isovalent.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Isovalent builds open-source eBPF and Cilium-based cloud-native networking and security software for Kubernetes environments, serving enterprise customers across technology, financial services, telecom, media, and retail verticals. Now a Cisco subsidiary following its 2024 acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cloud-Native Networking and Security Software

NAICS

Security Systems Services (except Locksmiths) (561621)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Serverless & PaaS Security (Function/App Service Runtime) (HDADADAL)

Keywords

• Cloud-native networking
• Kubernetes security
• EBPF technology
• Service mesh
• Runtime observability

Headquarters

HQ city

Cupertino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Isovalent Enterprise: Enterprise software licensing and subscription model for Isovalent's cloud-native networking and security solutions. Following Cisco acquisition in 2024, products are distributed through Cisco's enterprise sales channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Isovalent builds open-source and commercial cloud-native networking, security, and observability software based on eBPF and Cilium technologies for Kubernetes environments. Its flagship open-source product Cilium provides kernel-level networking, load balancing, and security for containers, while Tetragon delivers runtime security enforcement. The commercial Isovalent Enterprise offering packages these with enterprise support and integration into Cisco Nexus infrastructure.

Product overview

Isovalent offers a cloud-native networking and security platform built around two core open-source products: Cilium and Tetragon. Cilium provides eBPF-powered Kubernetes networking and security, while Tetragon adds runtime security enforcement. The commercial Isovalent Enterprise offering packages these technologies with enterprise support and infrastructure integrations, including integration with Cisco Nexus One. The Hypershield technology, based on Isovalent's eBPF expertise, provides kernel-level runtime security capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Isovalent Enterprise: Cloud-native networking and security solution for Kubernetes environments, based on eBPF and Cilium technologies.

Products and services

• Cilium Open-source cloud-native networking, load balancing, and security platform for Kubernetes that uses eBPF to deliver kernel-level networking, observability, and policy enforcement for containerized workloads. Targeted at platform engineering and infrastructure teams running Kubernetes.
• Tetragon
• Isovalent Enterprise Commercially supported enterprise distribution of Cilium that provides additional features, multi-cloud networking capabilities, support, and integration with enterprise infrastructure including Cisco Nexus One. Targeted at large enterprises running production Kubernetes platforms.
• Hypershield eBPF-based kernel-level runtime security technology integrated through Isovalent into Cisco's portfolio, providing automated threat detection and protection against sophisticated cloud-native malware such as VoidLink, ShadowRay 2.0, and NVIDIAScape. Targeted at security teams protecting cloud-native and AI infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• Major cloud providers (Google, AWS, Microsoft) have highlighted Cilium as a standard for Kubernetes networking and security
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle has highlighted Cilium as a standard for Kubernetes networking and security, indicating technical alignment and endorsement of Isovalent's technology.
• AWScoreTechnology or IntegrationAmazon Web Services has highlighted Cilium as a standard for Kubernetes networking and security, indicating technical alignment and endorsement of Isovalent's technology.
• CiscoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCisco acquired Isovalent in 2024 to integrate its cloud-native networking technology (Cilium, eBPF, Tetragon) into the Cisco portfolio including Nexus One infrastructure. This enables unified networking and security across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• NVIDIAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNVIDIA collaborated with Cisco, VAST Data, and Isovalent to demonstrate the Cisco Secure AI Factory joint platform at VAST Forward 2026, addressing AI security challenges including east-west traffic control in Kubernetes clusters.
• VAST DatacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAST Data collaborated with Cisco, NVIDIA, and Isovalent to demonstrate the Cisco Secure AI Factory joint platform at VAST Forward 2026, integrating VAST data services with Isovalent's Cilium and Tetragon security tools.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Solo.io: Direct competitor offering service mesh, API gateway, and Kubernetes networking solutions (Gloo Mesh, Istio-based offerings) to the same enterprise cloud-native buyer as Isovalent, often evaluated head-to-head against Cilium-based stacks.
• Tigera: Makers of Calico, a competing Kubernetes networking and network policy platform. Tigera and Isovalent compete directly for CNI selection and enterprise Kubernetes security spend.
• Buoyant: Creator of the Linkerd service mesh, a direct open-source competitor to Cilium's service mesh functionality for Kubernetes microservices connectivity and security.
• Kong: API gateway and service mesh vendor (Kong Mesh, built on Kuma) competing with Isovalent for cloud-native connectivity, ingress, and east-west traffic security budgets at large enterprises.

Emerging players

• Tetrate: Enterprise service mesh built on Envoy/Istio, targeting the same regulated enterprise buyers as Isovalent for cloud-native networking and zero-trust application connectivity.
• Styra: Policy-as-code and cloud-native authorization (OPA, Rego) vendor with partial overlap to Isovalent's Tetragon runtime security and policy enforcement capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• HashiCorp: Broader cloud infrastructure portfolio (Consul service mesh, Nomad, Vault, Terraform) with overlapping service mesh and networking capabilities that compete indirectly with Isovalent's Cilium-based stack.
• F5: Application delivery and security incumbent (NGINX, NGINX Service Mesh) that competes in Kubernetes ingress, traffic management, and API security — overlapping with Isovalent's networking layer.
• VMware (Broadcom): VMware NSX and Tanzu provide enterprise Kubernetes networking and microsegmentation, positioning as a broad incumbent alternative to Isovalent's eBPF-based approach in large enterprise accounts.
• Red Hat: OpenShift container platform increasingly adopts Cilium as the default CNI, making Red Hat both a partner and a competitive platform incumbent for enterprise Kubernetes networking decisions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/isovalent

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Isovalent