iDefense was a start-up that almost failed, and came to define a market. 

The company was years ahead of the market.  We helped shape how the industry thought about cyber intelligence and cyber-crime – back when most people thought ‘security’ meant anti-virus software.

Strategy and Results
Our job: To create demand among early adopters. And build the brand, momentum, and value to make iDefense a high-value acquisition. We did both – with more than 1,000 pieces of coverage in the first year, and an acquisition by VeriSign at 7X return after just three years.

It began with a strategic approach to the media. We were aggressive – getting out ahead of stories – mailing ready-to-use quotes to 250 reporters worldwide. We also got personal – targeting a dozen reporters we cared about, and inviting them inside to see how security threats are uncovered. The result: Worldwide visibility with dozens of stories in Forbes, The New York Times, the Washington Post, trade press and all the right blogs. 

Post-Acquisition
Five plus years post acquisition, the iDefense brand is still the anchor for VeriSign’s security intelligence business. And we still work with the team.