Former NSA chief’s startup gets $32 million in funding

Nat'l Security Agency Director Attends AEI Discussion On Cybersecurity

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 09: National Security Agency Director Gen. Keith Alexander speaks about cybersecurity and the new threats posed to the U.S. economy and military at the American Enterprise Institute July 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. Alexander is also the commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and chief at the Central Security Service, with responsibility for national foreign intelligence, combat support and U.S. national security information system protection. Alexander said that in cyberspace "the probability for crisis is mounting," and that now is the time for putting into place strong policies and rules for operations and defense. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Chip Somodevilla Getty Images

Former National Security Agency chief Keith Alexander’s startup, IronNet Cybersecurity, has received $32 million in Series A funding. Among the investors is Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Alexander, who headed the NSA in 2013 during the time Edward Snowden rose to prominence, started IronNet to help businesses combat cybersecurity threats. The company started in 2014. Trident Capital Cybersecurity led the funding round.

The newspaper reported that other former NSA workers have switched over to working in private companies, or acting as consultants in Washington.

In an interview with the publication, Alexander said that his company has paying clients, but wouldn’t divulge other details. “We don’t want them to know how far we’ve gone,” he said about competitors.

“It’s been a good year,” Alexander told the Journal. “I’m not going to say it’s been an easy year.”

“Criminal syndicates and nation states are inflicting tremendous harm on the private sector, costing hundreds of billions of dollars annually,” Alexander said in a statement about the funding garnered. “IronNet is creating a new standard in cybersecurity by providing technology that gives our clients an unprecedented level of network visibility, data control, and security.”