Fortra
{{Short description|American cybersecurity technology company}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Fortra
|logo =
|logo_alt =
|logo_caption =
|type = Private
|foundation = 1982 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
|key_people = Kate Bolseth, CEO; Matt Reck, President
|num_employees = 3,000
|industry = Information security
|products = Cybersecurity software and services
|parent = TA Associates, Harvest Partners, Charlesbank Capital Partners, HGGC
|website = {{URL|https://www.fortra.com/}}
}}
Fortra is an American cybersecurity company based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems, one of Minnesota's largest software developers, changes name to Fortra|url=https://www.startribune.com/helpsystems-one-of-minnesotas-largest-software-developers-changes-name-to-fortra/600221294/|website=StarTribune|access-date=2023-05-17}}{{Cite web|title=Microsoft and cybersecurity firm Fortra go after top hacking tool|url=https://www.axios.com/2023/04/06/microsoft-fortra-malware-hacking-cobalt-strike-cybersecurity|website=Axios|access-date=2023-01-10}} The company was founded as Help/38 in 1982, rebranded as HelpSystems in 1988, and became Fortra in 2022. Fortra is owned by private equity firms TA Associates, Harvest Partners, Charlesbank Capital Partners, and HGGC.
History
Help/38 was founded in 1982 by Dick Jacobson.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems, LLC|url=https://system.privco.com/company/help-systems-llc|website=PrivCo|access-date=2023-05-17}}{{Cite web|title=How HelpSystems Became Fortra|url=https://www.itjungle.com/2022/11/09/how-helpsystems-became-fortra/|website=IT Jungle|date=9 November 2022 |access-date=2023-05-17}} Help/38's first product, Robot/38, provided IT automation for the IBM System/38.{{Cite web|title=New Products Software & Services|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=33QfOHT69aMC&dq=%22help%2F38%22+%22Robot%2F38%22&pg=PA79|website=Google Books|publisher=Computerworld|date=1986-01-27|access-date=2023-05-17}} In 1988, when IBM replaced the System/38 with the AS/400, the company became known as HelpSystems (sometimes stylized as Help/Systems).
In 1992, HelpSystems became the first software company in the United States to be certified under the ISO 9001 standard.{{Cite web|title=Help/Systems Receives Investment from Summit Partners|url=https://www.summitpartners.com/news/help-systems-receives-investment-from-summit-partners|website=Summit Partners|access-date=2023-05-17}}
Between 2005 and 2018, HelpSystems experienced growth and multiple changes in ownership. Acquired by Summit Partners in 2005{{Cite web|title=Summit Partners Acquires Control Of Help/Systems–Again|url=https://www.itjungle.com/2012/04/23/tfh042312-story03/|website=IT Jungle|date=23 April 2012 |access-date=2023-05-17}} and Audax Group in 2007,{{Cite web|title=Audax to Buy Help/Systems|url=https://www.venturecapitaljournal.com/audax-to-buy-help-systems/|website=Venture Capital Journal|date=19 September 2007 |access-date=2023-05-17}} the company expanded its offerings through the acquisition of several software firms.{{Cite web|title=Corum Leads Sale of PowerTech to Help/Systems on Behalf of Audax|url=https://www.corumgroup.com/insights/corum-leads-sale-powertech-helpsystems-behalf-audax|website=Corum Group|date=11 August 2008 |access-date=2023-05-17}} Summit Partners repurchased a majority stake in 2012, followed by a series of acquisitions including Safestone,{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems adds SkyView to security line-up|url=https://powerwire.eu/helpsystems-adds-skyview-to-security-line-up/|website=PowerWire|date=8 June 2015 |access-date=2023-05-17}} CCSS,{{Cite web|title=Systems Monitoring Made Easier, Better, GUI-er|url=https://www.itjungle.com/2016/07/25/tfh072516-story05/|website=IT Jungle|date=25 July 2016 |access-date=2023-05-17}} and IBM's ShowCase business intelligence products.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Acquires International Business Machines - ShowCase Business Intelligence Software Portfolio|url=https://mergr.com/helpsystems-acquires-international-business-machines---showcase-business-intelligence-software-portfolio|website=Mergr|access-date=2023-05-17}}
H.I.G. Capital acquired the company in 2015.{{Cite news|title=Summit Selling HelpSystems Again, This Time to H.I.G. Capital|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/DJFLBO0120150818eb8ih2h1j|newspaper=WSJ|access-date=2023-05-17}} Subsequent additions of Tango/04 Computing Group,{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Acquires Tango/04 Computing Group|url=https://www.apmdigest.com/helpsystems-acquires-tango04-computing-group|website=APM Digest|date=25 February 2016 |access-date=2023-05-17}} Linoma Software,{{Cite web|title=Another day, another acquisition for tech company HelpSystems|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2016/06/03/helpsystems-buys-linoma-software.html|website=Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal|access-date=2023-05-17}} and TeamQuest{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems buys IT company with Minneapolis operations|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2016/12/19/helpsystems-buys-it-company-with-minneapolis.html|website=Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal|access-date=2023-05-17}} added real-time monitoring, secure file transfer, and IT service optimization solutions to HelpSystems' offerings. In 2018, private equity firm HGGC became the lead investor,{{Cite news|title=HGGC Backs HelpSystems|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/hggc-backs-helpsystems-1519668055|newspaper=WSJ|access-date=2023-05-17}} and HelpSystems acquired Midrange Performance Group.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Acquires Midrange Performance Group|url=https://www.apmdigest.com/helpsystems-acquires-midrange-performance-group|website=APM Digest|date=22 August 2018 |access-date=2023-05-17}}
HelpSystems further expanded its cybersecurity capabilities in 2019 through the acquisition of Core Security{{Cite web|title=CORE SECURITY HISTORY|url=https://www.zippia.com/core-security-technologies-careers-513043/history/|website=Zippia|date=27 August 2020 |access-date=2023-05-17}} and UK-based Clearswift.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Acquires UK-based Content Protection Firm Clearswift|url=https://www.securityweek.com/helpsystems-acquires-uk-based-content-protection-firm-clearswift/|website=Security Week|access-date=2023-05-17}} TA Associates and Charlesbank Capital Partners also became investors.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Receives Investment from TA Associates and Charlesbank Capital Partners|url=https://www.finsmes.com/2019/10/helpsystems-receives-investment-from-ta-associates-and-charlesbank-capital-partners.html|website=FinSMEs|date=10 October 2019 |access-date=2023-05-17}} In 2020, the company expanded further by acquiring data classification firms Titus and Boldon James.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Acquires Two Security Software Companies|url=https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/helpsystems-acquires-titus-boldon/|website=Info Security|date=25 June 2020 |access-date=2023-05-17}} HelpSystems released a report on COVID-19's impact on financial services firms' cybersecurity,{{Cite web|title=65% of Financial Services Firms Suffered a Cyberattack Last Year|url=https://cisomag.com/65-of-financial-services-firms-suffered-a-cyberattack-last-year/|website=CISO Mag|date=8 November 2020 |access-date=2023-05-17}} and acquired cloud-based data protection provider Vera.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems acquires data security platform provider Vera Security|url=https://siliconangle.com/2020/12/24/helpsystems-acquires-data-security-platform-provider-vera-security/|website=SiliconANGLE|date=24 December 2020 |access-date=2023-05-17}}
In 2021, HelpSystems acquired several companies to expand its cybersecurity and data protection services, including FileCatalyst,{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems to bolster cybersecurity offering with FileCatalyst acquisition|url=https://fintech.global/2021/01/05/helpsystems-to-bolster-cybersecurity-offering-with-filecatalyst-acquisition/|website=Fintech Global|date=5 January 2021 |access-date=2023-05-17}} Digital Defense,{{Cite web|title=Minnesota company acquires another San Antonio cyber player|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2021/02/08/help-systems-acquires-digital-defense.html|website=San Antonio Business Journal|access-date=2023-05-17}} Beyond Security,{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Acquires Beyond Security, Expands Cybersecurity Portfolio|url=https://www.channelfutures.com/mergers-and-acquisitions/helpsystems-acquires-beyond-security-expands-cybersecurity-portfolio|website=Channel Futures|access-date=2023-05-17}} Agari,{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems acquires Agari, Beyond Security for cybersecurity enhancement|url=https://www.scmagazine.com/brief/cloud/helpsystems-acquires-agari-beyond-security-for-cybersecurity-enhancement|website=SC Magazine|date=13 May 2021 |access-date=2023-05-17}} PhishLabs,{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Goes Phishing For Cyber Threat Hunter|url=https://www.itjungle.com/2021/10/25/helpsystems-goes-phishing-for-cyber-threat-hunter/|website=IT Jungle|date=25 October 2021 |access-date=2023-05-17}} and Digital Guardian.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems aims to strengthen security portfolio with Digital Guardian acquisition|url=https://www.scmagazine.com/news/data-loss-prevention/helpsystems-aims-to-strengthen-security-portfolio-with-digital-guardian-acquisition|website=SC Magazine|date=27 October 2021 |access-date=2023-05-17}} During this time, private equity firm Harvest Partners SCF LP also acquired partial ownership in HelpSystems.{{Cite web|title=Harvest Partners Takes a Stake in HelpSystems|url=https://www.themiddlemarket.com/latest-news/harvest-partners-takes-a-stake-in-helpsystems|website=The Middle Market|access-date=2023-05-17}} A 2021 report from PhishLabs by HelpSystems showed that social media attacks had doubled that year, with financial institutions being the most targeted sector.{{Cite web|title=PhishLabs: Social media attacks doubled in 2021|url=https://cybermagazine.com/cyber-security/social-media-attacks-doubled-in-2021|website=Cyber Magazine|date=15 February 2022 |access-date=2023-05-17}}
In 2022, HelpSystems expanded its portfolio with the acquisitions of Tripwire,{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Acquires File Integrity Monitoring Company Tripwire|url=https://tech.mn/news/2022/02/10/helpsystems-acquires-file-integrity-monitoring-company-tripwire|website=Tech.mn|date=10 February 2022 |access-date=2023-05-17}} Alert Logic,{{Cite web|title=Eden Prairie's HelpSystems announces 10th acquisition in 15 months|url=https://www.startribune.com/eden-prairies-helpsystems-announces-10th-acquisition-in-15-months/600155095/|website=StarTribune|access-date=2023-05-17}} Terranova Security,{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems acquires cybersecurity awareness trainer|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2022/04/08/helpsytems-terranova-acquisition.html|website=Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal|access-date=2023-05-17}} and Outflank.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Acquires Outflank|url=https://www.finsmes.com/2022/09/helpsystems-acquires-outflank.html|website=FinSMEs|date=2 September 2022 |access-date=2023-05-17}} These acquisitions extended Fortra's cybersecurity capabilities, adding solutions for IT security compliance, cloud-based security, security awareness training, and advanced threat detection respectively. In October of that year, PhishLabs by HelpSystems identified a weakness in Google Ads being used by attackers to target financial institutions.{{Cite web|title=How phishing campaigns abuse Google Ad click tracking redirects|url=https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/10/21/how-phishing-campaigns-abuse-google-ad-click-tracking-redirects-video/|website=Help Net Security|date=21 October 2022 |access-date=2023-05-17}} HelpSystems rebranded as Fortra in November 2022.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Rebrands As Fortra|url=https://mytechdecisions.com/network-security/helpsystems-rebrands-as-fortra/|website=My Tech Decisions|date=7 November 2022 |access-date=2023-05-17}}{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Rebrands as Fortra, Reflects Evolving Threat Landscape|url=https://www.channelfutures.com/business-models/helpsystems-rebrands-as-fortra-reflects-evolving-threat-landscape|website=Channel Futures|access-date=2023-05-17}}
In 2023, Fortra collaborated with Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit and Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center to combat the abuse of cracked, legacy copies of their Cobalt Strike software by cybercriminals for distributing malware, including ransomware. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York authorized the disruption of malicious infrastructure, enabling relevant ISPs and CERTs to take it offline.{{Cite web|title=Microsoft, hospital group use court order to disrupt ransomware attacks aimed at health sector|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/06/politics/microsoft-hospitals-ransomware-court-order/index.html|website=CNN|date=6 April 2023 |access-date=2024-01-10}}
In July 2024, Fortra collaborated with Europol in "Operation Morpheus" to dismantle nearly 600 IP addresses associated with the criminal use of Cobalt Strike. This effort, involving 27 countries and private sector partners, significantly enhanced global cybersecurity by mitigating the misuse of Fortra's software for malicious activities.{{Cite web|title=Europol nukes nearly 600 IP addresses in Cobalt Strike crackdown|url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/04/europol_cobalt_strike_crackdown/|website=The Register|access-date=2024-07-30}}{{Cite web|title=Operation Morpheus Took Down 593 Cobalt Strike Servers Used By Threat Actors|url=https://securityaffairs.com/165172/cyber-crime/operation-morpheus-aganst-cobalt-strike-abuse.html|website=Security Affairs|access-date=2024-07-30}}
Products and services
Fortra categorizes its cybersecurity and automation products into the following areas:
= Data protection =
Fortra's data protection solutions focus on protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access and data breaches. Digital Guardian offers data loss prevention (DLP) and secure collaboration.{{Cite web|title=
Digital Guardian Secure Collaboration|url=https://www.g2.com/products/digital-guardian-secure-collaboration/reviews|website=G2.com|access-date=2024-01-09}} Fortra's Data Classification Suite, previously known as Titus and Boldon James, specializes in data classification and security, ensuring that data is appropriately marked and handled.{{Cite web|title=Fortra's Data Classification Suite|url=https://dataclassification.fortra.com/products/data-classification-suite|website=Fortra.com|access-date=2024-01-10}}
= Infrastructure protection =
Fortra's infrastructure protection segment includes Cobalt Strike, Outflank, Core Security, Digital Defense, and Beyond Security, which offer tools and services for penetration testing, vulnerability management, fuzz testing, and red teaming.{{Cite web|title=IT Infrastructure Protection|url=https://www.fortra.com/solutions/data-security/infrastructure-protection|website=Fortra.com|access-date=2024-01-10}}{{Cite web|title=Microsoft, Fortra get court order to disrupt Cobalt Strike|url=https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/news/365534903/Microsoft-Fortra-get-court-order-to-disrupt-Cobalt-Strike|website=TechTarget|access-date=2024-01-10}}
= Digital risk and email security =
Agari's email security solutions protect organizations from phishing and email-based attacks.{{Cite web|title=HelpSystems Buys Email Security Firm Agari To Thwart Phishing|url=https://www.crn.com/news/security/helpsystems-buys-email-security-firm-agari-to-thwart-phishing|website=CRN.com|access-date=2024-01-10}} PhishLabs provides digital risk protection services, including threat intelligence and anti-phishing capabilities.{{Cite web|title=Phishing sites trick users with fake HTTPS padlock|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/phishing-sites-trick-users-with-padlock-and-https|website=TechRadar|date=28 November 2018 |access-date=2024-01-10}} Clearswift specializes in content inspection and data loss prevention.{{Cite web|title=The top UK cyber security companies|url=https://www.information-age.com/top-uk-cyber-security-companies-15447/|website=Information-Age.com|date=6 October 2023 |access-date=2024-01-10}}
= Security awareness training =
Terranova Security offers security awareness training, equipping employees with the knowledge to recognize and prevent cybersecurity threats. This training is intended to build a human firewall against cyber attacks.{{Cite web|title=How to detect and mitigate phishing risks with Microsoft and Terranova Security|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2020/08/25/detect-mitigate-phishing-risks-microsoft-security/|website=Microsoft.com|date=25 August 2020 |access-date=2024-01-09}}
= Managed security services =
Fortra's managed security services provide security monitoring and management.{{Cite web|title=Managed Security Services|url=https://www.fortra.com/services/managed-services/security|website=Fortra.com|access-date=2024-01-10}} Alert Logic delivers cloud-based managed detection and response (MDR), extended detection and response (XDR), and managed web application firewall (WAF).{{Cite web|title=13 Best Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS) for 2023|url=https://www.esecurityplanet.com/products/intrusion-detection-and-prevention-systems/|website=eSecurity Planet|access-date=2024-01-10}}{{Cite web|title=Fortra Brings Managed XDR to Market|url=https://www.fortra.com/resources/press-releases/fortra-brings-managed-xdr-market|website=Fortra.com|access-date=2024-02-01}} Tripwire's managed services focus on maintaining IT system file integrity and compliance.{{Cite web|title=Tripwire explained|url=https://infosec-jobs.com/insights/tripwire-explained/|website=infosec-jobs.com|access-date=2024-01-10}} Digital Guardian provides managed data loss prevention (DLP) and PhishLabs offers managed digital risk protection.{{Cite web|title=Top 6 Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Solutions (Full Comparison)|url=https://www.esecurityplanet.com/products/data-loss-prevention-dlp-solutions/|website=eSecurity Planet|date=25 October 2023|access-date=2024-02-01}}{{Cite web|title=New research finds alarming jump in phishing attacks|url=https://securitybrief.co.nz/story/new-research-finds-alarming-jump-in-phishing-attacks|website=SecurityBrief.co.nz|access-date=2024-02-01}}
= Secure file transfer =
GoAnywhere MFT provides encrypted file transfer capabilities, aligning with various regulatory standards like PCI DSS and HIPAA.{{Cite web|title=GoAnywhere MFT Reviews|url=https://www.capterra.com/p/158210/GoAnywhere-MFT/reviews/|website=Capterra|access-date=2024-01-10}} The system features audit trails and automated workflows, accessible through a browser-based interface.
References
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