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LiveAction Acquires Network Detection, Response Provider CounterFlow AI

LiveAction, a network performance management company, is acquiring network detection and response (NDR) provider CounterFlow AI. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This is technology M&A deal number 258 that MSSP Alert and sister site ChannelE2E have covered so far in 2021. See all technology M&A deals for 2021 and 2020 listed here.

Fielder Hiss, SVP of marketing, LiveAction
Fielder Hiss, SVP of marketing, LiveAction

LiveAction, backed by private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners, has some MSP-centric software within its portfolio. The offering, called  LiveSP, is a multi-tenant platform that's purpose-build for global service providers (GSPs) and managed services providers. LiveSP provides network visibility, monitoring, and reporting for partners, the company says.

Moreover, LiveAction has MSP-centric partnering expertise in its executive suite. For instance. SVP of Marketing Fielder Hiss previously drove similar activities at Continuum, an MSP software and network operations center (NOC) services provider that ConnectWise acquired in 2019.

Meanwhile, CounterFlow AI develops the ThreatEye Platform, which combines data collection, machine learning analysis and forensic capabilities. The platform uses Deep Packet Dynamics (DPD) to analyze network traffic flows.

CounterFlow AI in 2018 raised $2.7 million in seed funding from Osage University Partners, the Charlottesville Angel Network, and investors who also supported the founders' previous venture, nPulse Technologies (acquired by FireEye in 2014).

LiveAction Acquires CounterFlow: Potential Synergies

Acquiring CounterFlow allows LiveAction to deliver a network performance monitoring and diagnostics (NPMD) platform that incorporates encrypted traffic analysis for security incident detection and response, the buyer says.

LiveAction partners and customers can use CounterFlow AI's security portfolio to gain end-to-end network visibility into encrypted traffic, the companies noted. The result: Partners and customers can detect and resolve network and security incidents faster and more efficiently than ever before, LiveAction asserts.

Furthermore, LiveAction partners and customers can leverage CounterFlow AI's Streaming Machine Learning Engine to process packet data in real time, the companies stated. They also can use this engine to examine potentially malicious packet behaviors and automate alert triage processes.

Additional insights from Joe Panettieri.

Dan Kobialka

Dan Kobialka is senior contributing editor, MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E. He covers IT security, IT service provider business strategies and partner programs. Dan holds a M.A. in Print and Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College and a B.A. in English from Bridgewater State University. In his free time, Dan enjoys jogging, traveling, playing sports, touring breweries and watching football.