Mimecast
Email security, cyber-risk reduction, and cloud services provider
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Mimecast is a British information security company focused on protecting business email, collaboration systems, organizational data, and users from cyber risk. Founded in 2003 by Peter Bauer and Neil Murray, the company began with cloud-based email management services for platforms including Google Workspace, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft Office 365. Its early proposition centered on moving important email-management functions into hosted infrastructure, giving organizations a way to manage, protect, and retain business communications without relying entirely on locally operated systems. The company later broadened its scope beyond email continuity and management. Through internally developed capabilities and acquisitions, Mimecast expanded into email and collaboration security, domain-based message authentication, security awareness and training, insider-risk management, data compliance, and related risk-reduction services. This expansion reflects a wider interpretation of enterprise security: protecting not only the message itself, but also the people, identities, data, and workflows connected to business communications. Mimecast strengthened its technical profile in 2010 when Dr. Nathaniel Borenstein joined as chief scientist. Borenstein was a co-creator of the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, or MIME, email standard, and his appointment connected the company with foundational internet-mail technology. Mimecast later prepared for public-market expansion and began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol MIME in November 2015. The company’s corporate history also includes a sequence of cybersecurity and compliance acquisitions. In 2018, it acquired the security-training startup Ataata and cybersecurity company Solebit. It acquired DMARC Analyzer in 2019 and Segasec in 2020. These transactions supported a broader product strategy around user behavior, email authentication, threat detection, and protection against online impersonation. In 2024, Mimecast acquired Elevate Security, Code42, and Aware, adding capabilities associated with human risk management, insider risk, data protection, and artificial-intelligence compliance. Mimecast faced a significant security incident in January 2021, when one of its security certificates was compromised. The incident potentially enabled attackers to intercept communications with Microsoft-based email servers and became an important event in the company’s security history. In May 2022, Mimecast ceased to be a publicly traded company after being acquired by Magnesium Bidco Limited, an affiliate of Permira Holdings, and became a wholly owned subsidiary within the Permira ownership structure. In January 2024, Marc van Zadelhoff replaced Peter Bauer as chief executive officer. Mimecast continues to operate from global headquarters in London and maintains a substantial international footprint, including United States headquarters in Lexington, Massachusetts, and offices or operations across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and North America. Its present positioning is that of a broad cyber-resilience and human-risk platform built around email security, collaboration protection, data governance, and organizational behavior.
History
Mimecast was established in 2003 by Peter Bauer and Neil Murray. Bauer became chief executive officer and Murray became chief technology officer. The company entered the market with cloud-based email management services designed for business users of Google Workspace, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft Office 365. Its initial model placed email-management and protection functions in hosted infrastructure, supporting organizations that wanted dependable access to business communications and reduced dependence on locally operated systems. Mimecast’s technical identity was reinforced in June 2010 when Dr. Nathaniel Borenstein joined as chief scientist. Borenstein was a co-creator of the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions standard, commonly known as MIME, which became a fundamental part of internet email. His appointment gave the company a direct connection to the standards and systems underlying electronic business communications. During the following years, Mimecast developed from an email-management specialist into a broader information-security provider. Its portfolio expanded to include email and collaboration security, security awareness and training, data compliance, email authentication, and services aimed at reducing human and insider risk. Acquisitions were an important part of this evolution. In July 2018, the company acquired Ataata, a cybersecurity training startup, and Solebit. In November 2019, it acquired DMARC Analyzer, supporting capabilities associated with email authentication and protection against domain abuse. In January 2020, Mimecast acquired Segasec. Mimecast moved into the public markets in 2015. It announced a registration statement for a proposed initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in November of that year under the symbol MIME. Public ownership lasted until 2022, when Magnesium Bidco Limited, an affiliate of Permira Holdings, acquired the company. The transaction made Mimecast a privately owned, wholly owned subsidiary within the Permira structure. The company’s history also includes a serious security event. In January 2021, a Mimecast security certificate was compromised. The compromise potentially allowed attackers to intercept communications with Microsoft-based email servers. The incident was notable because it affected a security mechanism associated with the company’s own service environment and illustrated the high trust placed in cloud security providers. Mimecast continued broadening its offering after the change in ownership. In January 2024, it acquired Elevate Security, a specialist in human-risk management. In July 2024, it acquired Code42, and in August 2024 it acquired Aware, an artificial-intelligence compliance software provider. Together, these transactions extended Mimecast’s reach beyond traditional email security toward user behavior, insider risk, data protection, and compliance. In January 2024, Marc van Zadelhoff replaced Peter Bauer as chief executive officer. Mimecast’s global headquarters remains in London, while its United States headquarters is in Lexington, Massachusetts. The company also operates internationally across locations including Bengaluru, Cape Town, Dubai, Hilversum, Israel, Johannesburg, Melbourne, Mississauga, Munich, Paris, Singapore, and Sydney. Its development from hosted email management to a broader cyber-resilience platform reflects the increasing connection between communications security, human behavior, data governance, and organizational risk.
- 2024
Leadership transition and expansion through acquisitions
[1]Marc van Zadelhoff replaced Peter Bauer as CEO, while Mimecast acquired Elevate Security, Code42, and Aware.
- 2022
Mimecast becomes privately owned by Permira
[1]Magnesium Bidco Limited, an affiliate of Permira Holdings, acquired Mimecast and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.
- 2021
Security certificate compromise
[1]A Mimecast security certificate was compromised, potentially exposing communications with Microsoft-based email servers to interception.
- 2020
Segasec is acquired
[1]Mimecast acquired Segasec in January 2020.
- 2019
DMARC Analyzer is acquired
[1]Mimecast acquired DMARC Analyzer, expanding its email-authentication capabilities.
- 2018
Ataata and Solebit are acquired
[1]Mimecast acquired cybersecurity training startup Ataata and cybersecurity company Solebit.
- 2015
Mimecast goes public
[1]Mimecast began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker MIME.
- 2010
Nathaniel Borenstein joins as chief scientist
[1]Dr. Nathaniel Borenstein, a co-creator of the MIME email standard, joined Mimecast as chief scientist.
- 2003
Mimecast is founded
[1]Peter Bauer and Neil Murray founded Mimecast, with Bauer becoming chief executive officer and Murray chief technology officer.
Products and positioning
A cloud-based information-security and cyber-resilience provider that helps organizations secure communications, reduce human and insider risk, and manage sensitive business data.
Cybersecurity
Email and collaboration security
Mimecast’s core security offering protects business email and related collaboration environments from threats and abuse. The category reflects the company’s original focus on hosted email management while extending into broader protection for the communication systems used by organizations.
Cloud services · 2003
Cloud email management and continuity
Mimecast began by providing cloud-based email-management services for Google Workspace, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft Office 365. These services form the historical foundation of the brand and address the management, availability, and protection of business communications.
Security education
Security awareness and training
Mimecast provides security awareness and training capabilities intended to help organizations reduce risks associated with user behavior. The company expanded in this area through its acquisition of Ataata, a cybersecurity training startup, in 2018.
Email security · 2019
Email authentication and DMARC
Mimecast’s email-authentication capabilities include technology associated with DMARC and domain protection. The acquisition of DMARC Analyzer in 2019 supported the company’s effort to help organizations identify and reduce unauthorized use of their email domains.
Risk management · 2024
Human and insider-risk management
Mimecast has expanded into services that address risk created by users, insiders, and organizational behavior. Its acquisition of Elevate Security in 2024 strengthened this human-risk orientation, while the acquisition of Code42 added to the company’s broader data and insider-risk direction.
Data security · 2024
Data compliance and protection
Data compliance and protection capabilities complement Mimecast’s communication-security products by addressing the governance and handling of organizational information. The company’s acquisition of Aware in 2024 added artificial-intelligence compliance software to this wider portfolio.
Controversies
2021
Compromise of a Mimecast security certificate
In January 2021, a Mimecast security certificate was compromised. The compromise potentially enabled attackers to intercept communications with Microsoft-based email servers, making the event a significant security incident in the company’s history.
Brand decisions
2024
Expansion toward human and data riskStrategyBackground
Mimecast broadened its historical email-security focus toward organizational behavior, insider risk, data protection, and compliance.
Action taken
The company acquired Elevate Security, Code42, and Aware during 2024.
Aftermath
The acquisitions extended Mimecast’s portfolio into human-risk management, insider-risk and data protection, and artificial-intelligence compliance.
2022
Sale to a Permira affiliateM&ABackground
Mimecast transitioned from public ownership to private-equity ownership.
Action taken
Magnesium Bidco Limited, an affiliate of Permira Holdings, acquired Mimecast and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.
Aftermath
Mimecast ceased to operate as a publicly traded company and continued as a Permira-owned information-security business.
2015
Pursuit of a public listingStrategyBackground
Mimecast sought access to public capital markets as its cloud email and information-security business expanded.
Action taken
The company filed a registration statement for a proposed initial public offering and began trading on Nasdaq under MIME in November 2015.
Aftermath
Mimecast operated as a public company until its acquisition by a Permira affiliate in 2022.
Recent events
Reported
Mimecast announces first-quarter fiscal 2022 results[2]
Mimecast announced financial results for the first fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021, reporting revenue of $142.5 million and net income of $10.1 million.
Reported
Mimecast named presenting partner of CyberSecure[3]
MIT Technology Review announced its CyberSecure online conference, with Mimecast as the presenting partner.
- Unconfirmed
Mimecast acquires MessageControl[4]
Mimecast bought email security startup MessageControl. The article says the acquisition is intended to strengthen protection for customers using productivity apps and help prevent inadvertent loss of sensitive and confidential data.
Mimecast announces acquisition of Segasec[5]
Mimecast announced that it had acquired Segasec, a provider of digital threat protection.
Reported
Mimecast acquires Segasec[6]
Mimecast acquired cybersecurity company Segasec Labs; the companies announced the acquisition on Monday.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Sources8 sources
- 1Mimecasten.wikipedia.org
- 2Mimecast公布2022财年第一季度业绩finance.yahoo.com
- 3Mimecast成为CyberSecure大会首席合作伙伴prnewswire.com
- 4Mimecast收购MessageControlcrn.com
- 5Mimecast宣布收购Segasecengineeringnews.co.za
- 6Mimecast收购Segaseccalcalistech.com
- 7Mimecast acquires MessageControl - IT-Onlineit-online.co.za
- 8Mimecast acquires Segasec to bolster cyber security offerings | iTWireitwire.com
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