VMware Carbon Black

VMware Carbon Black
Name	VMware Carbon Black
Developer	VMware
Released	22 October 2019
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS
Genre	Cybersecurity, Endpoint security

VMware Carbon Black. It is a cloud-native endpoint security platform that is part of the broader VMware security portfolio. The platform is designed to provide advanced threat detection, prevention, and response across enterprise environments. It leverages behavioral analytics and continuous monitoring to protect workloads and devices from sophisticated cyberattacks.

Overview

VMware Carbon Black represents a consolidation of several leading endpoint security technologies under the VMware brand following strategic acquisitions. The platform operates on the principle of streaming prevention, which analyzes all activity on an endpoint in real time to stop attacks. It is widely utilized by Fortune 500 companies and integrates with major SIEM systems like Splunk and IBM QRadar. The solution is recognized for its role in enabling security teams to adopt an Assume breach mentality and improve their overall security posture.

Features and capabilities

Core features include endpoint detection and response, which provides deep visibility into endpoint activity for threat hunting and investigation. The platform offers next-generation antivirus capabilities that go beyond traditional signature-based methods by using behavioral analysis. Its cloud-based console allows for centralized policy management and real-time querying across all protected endpoints. Additional capabilities include workload protection for virtualized environments and containers, as well as robust audit and remediation tools that assist with compliance frameworks like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.

Architecture and components

The architecture is built on a lightweight agent that collects and streams a continuous telemetry feed of all process and file activity to the cloud. Primary components include the Carbon Black Cloud, a multi-tenant SaaS management console, and the unified sensor that consolidates multiple security functions. Data is processed using a distributed analytics engine that applies machine learning models to identify malicious behavior. The platform's design supports seamless scaling across large, distributed enterprises and integrates with orchestration tools such as Ansible and Puppet for automated response actions.

Integration with VMware products

The platform is deeply integrated with the VMware vSphere suite, providing visibility and security for virtual machines directly from the vCenter Server interface. It works in concert with VMware NSX to enable micro-segmentation and enforce security policies based on endpoint insights. Integration with VMware Workspace ONE allows for unified endpoint management and security for user devices. These integrations are a key part of the VMware Security strategy, creating a cohesive Software-defined data center security architecture.

History and acquisitions

The Carbon Black name originated from Carbon Black, Inc., a company founded in 2002 that was later acquired by VMware in October 2019. Prior to this, VMware had acquired endpoint security firm Bitdefender's business assets in 2018 to bolster its technology. The Carbon Black platform itself is an amalgamation of products from previous acquisitions by the original company, including Bit9 and Confer Technologies. This consolidation history mirrors broader trends in the Cybersecurity industry, similar to consolidation moves by competitors like Broadcom and Palo Alto Networks.

Market position and competitors

VMware Carbon Black is considered a major player in the endpoint security market, often featured in reports by analyst firms like Gartner and Forrester Research. Its primary competitors include CrowdStrike with its Falcon platform, Microsoft with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and SentinelOne. The platform competes by emphasizing its native integration with the pervasive VMware virtualization ecosystem, appealing to existing enterprise customers. The competitive landscape is also shaped by other established vendors such as McAfee, Trend Micro, and Sophos.

Category:VMware software Category:Computer security software Category:Cloud computing