Vanta to Acquire Israeli AI Security Startup Pillar for $150 Million

Following the deal, Pillar will become Vanta’s research and development (R&D) centre in Israel. More than 20 Pillar employees are expected to join the new centre, while its co-founders, Ziv Karliner and Dor Sarig, will continue leading the development of its AI security business.

Pillar Security’s Technology and Funding

Founded in 2023, Pillar Security develops AI security technology that helps organisations identify their AI systems and agents, test them against potential attacks and protect them while they operate.

The platform allows businesses to monitor AI agents, detect security vulnerabilities and prevent unauthorised actions. Its customers include Fortune 500 companies and businesses in the technology and financial sectors.

Pillar has raised $9 million since its founding. Its seed funding round, announced in April 2025, was led by Shield Capital, with participation from Golden Ventures, Ground Up Ventures and strategic angel investors.

Vanta Expands Its AI Security Capabilities

The acquisition will strengthen Vanta’s efforts to help businesses manage and secure AI systems. In July 2026, the company introduced an AI governance product to help organisations manage the risks associated with AI adoption.

By integrating Pillar’s technology, Vanta aims to connect AI governance policies with technical security controls. This will allow businesses to test AI agents, monitor their activities and restrict actions that violate established security rules.

Vanta CEO and Co-founder Christina Cacioppo said that companies need evidence that their AI systems operate according to their stated policies. She added that Pillar’s technology will help businesses test AI agents and stop them when they operate outside approved limits.

New AI Security Features Planned for 2027

Vanta plans to integrate Pillar’s technology into its platform throughout 2027, with several new capabilities expected to be introduced.

An AI inventory tool is planned for January 2027. It will automatically identify an organisation’s AI applications, models, agents, skills and Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. The tool will also connect these systems with their owners, approved uses, data access, vendors and associated risks.

The company also plans to introduce runtime monitoring and threat detection in January 2027. These capabilities will help customers identify suspicious activities and detect violations of established security safeguards.

Pillar’s research team will also contribute to identifying vulnerabilities and emerging threats affecting AI systems. Its researchers have previously identified security weaknesses in AI-powered development tools, including Cursor, Codex and Gemini CLI. The findings were shared with the relevant vendors, which subsequently addressed the vulnerabilities.

Vanta's Business Growth

Vanta currently serves more than 20,000 customers, compared with 16,000 in the first quarter of 2026. The company also reports that it serves three-quarters of the companies on the Forbes AI 50 list.

In April 2026, Vanta announced that its annual recurring revenue (ARR) had exceeded $300 million, representing 63% year-over-year growth and a threefold increase compared with 2024.

The company also reported a 253% increase in daily users of Vanta Agent over the previous three quarters. The AI agent helps customers perform security and compliance tasks.

About Vanta

Vanta is a US-based security, risk and compliance management company that helps organisations manage security requirements, monitor risks and demonstrate compliance. Its platform supports businesses in managing security programmes and governance as they adopt new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

About Pillar Security

Pillar Security is an Israeli AI security startup founded in 2023 by Ziv Karliner and Dor Sarig. The company develops technology to identify, test and protect AI systems and agents against security threats. Its platform helps organisations monitor AI behaviour, identify vulnerabilities and prevent unauthorised actions.

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