Splunk search engine raises $25 million

A start-up that uses search technology to mine log files and IT system data to discover security breaches and service interruptions has today announced an additional $25 million (£12.3 million) of funding.

Splunk, which touts itself as the 'IT search engine,' has seen its adoption in data centres grow since its launch 18 months ago with a free download. Since then it already launched its third version of the tool earlier this year.

And now, as IT management vendor Network Chemistry announces it is set to launch a similar offering as an on-demand IT search engine, the company has garnered interest and backing from some well respected tech investors.

The funding is led by Washingtion-based Ignition Partners, while the company's existing investors August Capital, JK&B Capital and Sevin Rosen Funds also participated in this third round of funding.

Ignition partner, former Microsoft chief financial officer and chief information officer, John Connors will join Splunk's board. Meanwhile, founding Ignition partner and former Microsoft Developer Network creator, Cameron Myhrvold will become a board advisor.

Connors said he could immediately see the disruptive nature of Splunk to current data centre processes. He said: "IT search turns the top-down model on its head and puts the person who has to solve the problem right in the middle of a very broad value proposition. Splunk is addictive [and] viral - allowing experts in different technology and operational domains [to] quickly share context and knowledge."

Splunk's creators said the funding will be used to accelerate product development, expand sales and marketing, grow international operations and fuel the company's partner scheme.

The company said it currently has 35 original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and channel partners, 450 enterprise, service provider and government agency customers and more than 100,000 user downloads worldwide.

Customers like Visa International, Verizon Business and the US Department of Justice already use Splunk's IT Search to take advantage of all the different types of machine data generated by applications, servers and network devices for forensic security and IT management work.

"The fast growth of our user community and customer base indicates the market for IT search is huge and the technology has many applications across systems management, security, compliance and business intelligence. We have a deep pipeline of ideas and innovations to bring our users and expand the footprint of search in the data centre," said Michael Baum, Splunk's chief executive and co-founder.

Splunk has already raised $5 million of investment in December 2004 and $10 million in January 2006.

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