Security firm Sophos Group plc has acquired Invincea Inc., an endpoint security solutions startup that uses virtual application containers to protect against advanced malware and other threats.

The price of the acquisition came in at $100 million in cash with an additional $20 million earn-out dependent on performance targets being met.

Founded in 2009, Invincea offers an endpoint security platform that detects and prevents unknown malware and sophisticated attacks using deep learning neural network algorithms.

The company claims to provide the most comprehensive solution on the market that can contain, identify, and control the advanced attacks that evade legacy security controls by protecting enterprises against targeted threats including spear-phishing, or sending emails that look like they’re from someone you know, and Web drive-by attacks that exploit Java, Flash and other applications to deliver malware simply with a website visit.

Invincea’s claims its X Platform has 25,000 customers in government, healthcare and financial services. According to The Register, in the 12 months through last March, Invincea recorded billings of $13.4 million, net revenues of $9.8 million and a pretax loss of $11.8 million.

Sophos Chief Executive Officer Kris Hagerman cited a significant new growth opportunity: “Invincea will strengthen Sophos’ leading next-gen endpoint protection with complementary predictive defenses that we believe will become increasingly important to the future of endpoint protection,” he said in a statement.

Prior to the acquisition, Invincea had raised $55 million in four funding rounds from investors including Aeris Capital, CIT GAP Funds, Comerica Bank, Dell Ventures, Grotech Ventures, Harbert Growth Partners, NAV.VC and ORIX Ventures.

Image courtesy of Invincea