AI cybersecurity firm Darktrace is addressing a major industry blind spot through its acquisition of network traffic specialist Mira Security. Encrypted traffic, while essential for protecting data in transit, poses significant monitoring challenges by obscuring network activity from security teams. By combining Mira Security’s in-line decryption technology with Darktrace’s AI-driven threat detection platform, the company aims to deliver greater visibility and threat detection across enterprise networks.

This acquisition builds on Darktrace’s existing partnership with Mira Security and marks its second deal this year, following the purchase of cloud security firm Cado Security in January. Mira’s engineering team, based in South Africa and the U.S., will join Darktrace’s R&D division, bringing expertise in high-performance networking and hardware acceleration. Phil Pearson, Chief Strategy Officer at Darktrace, stated that acquiring Mira is a key step in the company’s ongoing strategy to deliver top-tier cybersecurity solutions and drive continuous innovation to protect its customers.

Figure 1. Darktrace Acquires Network Decryption Firm Mira Security

Phil Pearson describes Mira Security as “a valuable source of insight for our AI,” enhancing Darktrace’s ability to deliver unparalleled detection and response capabilities at scale. Figure 1 shows Darktrace Acquires Network Decryption Firm Mira Security.

Encryption Demand Rises in Regulated Industries

Financial services, government agencies, and critical infrastructure operators are under intense pressure to maintain network visibility while complying with strict encryption standards. These sectors require solutions that ensure both robust data protection and effective security monitoring.

Deal Snapshot:

• Darktrace acquires Mira Security’s South African engineering team and in-line decryption technology.
• The deal builds on their existing partnership to address encrypted traffic blind spots.
• This marks Darktrace’s second acquisition in 2025, following the purchase of Cado Security.

By integrating Mira’s decryption technology with its AI-driven platform, Darktrace offers a solution tailored to these demands—providing encryption and visibility simultaneously, without degrading network performance or requiring infrastructure changes.

Darktrace’s /NETWORK platform leads the network detection and response space, recognized as a Leader by Gartner’s Magic Quadrant, IDC MarketScape, and KuppingerCole, and holds a 4.7-star rating on Gartner Peer Insights.

Integrated Technologies Unlock New Market Opportunities

Mira Security’s technology strengthens Darktrace’s ActiveAI Security Platform, which already unifies network, cloud, and email security under one system. The platform leverages machine learning to understand normal behavior in each environment, allowing it to detect anomalies that may signal threats. Niel Viljoen, Founder and CEO of Mira Security, highlighted the potential of combining both companies’ technologies and R&D talent to better protect complex networks. Phil Pearson added that integrating Mira’s team will accelerate innovation, enhance Darktrace’s leading Network product, and deliver even stronger security performance for customers.

About Darktrace's ActiveAI Security Platform:

• A unified platform securing network, cloud, and email environments under one management system.
• Utilizes machine learning to establish behavioral baselines tailored to each customer’s environment.
• Detects anomalies in real-time and delivers autonomous threat response.

Darktrace’s acquisition of Mira Security strengthens its ability to address emerging challenges in network security, particularly as encrypted traffic becomes more widespread. Traditional tools that depend on packet inspection struggle with encryption, leaving exploitable gaps.

Since its founding in 2013, Darktrace has scaled significantly, with over 2,400 employees and nearly 10,000 customers worldwide [1]. The company has filed more than 200 patents through research hubs in Cambridge and The Hague, and was acquired by U.S. private equity firm Thoma Bravo in 2024.

Niel Viljoen concludes, “Together, Mira Security and Darktrace will create new value for customers and partners.”

References:

1. https://cybermagazine.com/news/mira-security-darktraces-plan-to-tackle-the-encryption-gap

Cite this article:

Janani R (2025), Mira Security: Darktrace’s Strategy to Bridge the Encryption Gap, AnaTechMaz, pp. 199