Guardz, a cybersecurity startup targeting the underserved small and medium business (SMB) market through Managed Service Providers (MSPs), has secured a $56 million Series B round to fuel its U.S. expansion and push forward development of its AI-native defense platform. The Israel founded, Miami anchored company has now raised $84 million in just over two years.
ClearSky led the round, joined by new investor Phoenix Financial and existing backers Glilot Capital Partners, SentinelOne, Hanaco Ventures, iAngels, GKFF Ventures, and Lumir.
When Guardz launched out of stealth in early 2023, it didn’t go after the Fortune 500. Instead, it zeroed in on the segment most exposed to rising cyber threats-and least prepared to deal with them. While large enterprises have in-house security teams, SMBs often rely entirely on MSPs, who are increasingly overwhelmed by a patchwork of disconnected tools. Guardz aims to change that.
The company’s unified platform folds email, endpoint, cloud, identity, and data protection into a single system. Its 24/7 Managed Detection and Response (MDR) platform blends AI-powered automation with real-time expert threat hunting. Integrated with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, the platform flags risky behavior and can suspend compromised accounts before damage occurs.
MSPs are the first line of defense for these organizations-the engine of the global economy. This funding propels us forward in our mission to bring enterprise-level cybersecurity to SMBs.
said Dor Eisner, the CEO and co-founder of Guardz.
Since its launch, Guardz has onboarded hundreds of MSPs and now secures thousands of businesses worldwide. Its value proposition is clear: reduce manual effort for MSPs, speed up detection and response, and offer a scalable path to cyber resilience and compliance.
The company says over 77% of MSPs report being burdened by fragmented security tools, leading to slower response times and higher operating costs. Guardz’s automation-first infrastructure is designed to address that complexity head-on.
Guardz has built an exceptional solution that directly addresses a critical and underserved need in the market. Their AI-native approach and relentless focus on the MSP ecosystem has led to rapid growth and uniquely positions them to lead this space.
said Alex Weiss, Managing Partner at ClearSky.
The round underscores the rising investor interest in verticalized cybersecurity platforms and in tools that make enterprise grade security accessible to SMBs, a market increasingly in the crosshairs of sophisticated attackers.