Cylance

Cylance was a leading innovator in AI-powered endpoint security before being acquired by BlackBerry

Cylance was a cybersecurity company founded in 2012 that pioneered the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for endpoint protection and threat prevention. The company developed predictive security solutions that used AI algorithms to identify and block malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats before they could execute, differentiating itself from traditional signature-based antivirus approaches. In February 2019, BlackBerry acquired Cylance for $1.4 billion to strengthen its enterprise software and security portfolio. Following the acquisition, Cylance's technology was integrated into BlackBerry's broader cybersecurity offerings under the BlackBerry Cyber Suite. The AI-driven endpoint protection capabilities became a core component of BlackBerry's security solutions, though the Cylance brand gradually became less prominent as BlackBerry consolidated its product lines. The acquisition marked BlackBerry's strategic pivot toward becoming a comprehensive enterprise security software provider. While Cylance no longer operates as an independent company, its AI-powered threat prevention technology continues to form the foundation of BlackBerry's endpoint security products. The company's legacy lies in popularizing machine learning-based approaches to cybersecurity and demonstrating the effectiveness of predictive, prevention-first security models in the enterprise market.