Kiteworks Buys Bonfy.AI to Block Data Leaks in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
San Mateo, Thursday, 10 September 2026.
By acquiring Bonfy.AI, Kiteworks addresses the growing risk of data leaks during real-time movement, marking the cybersecurity firm’s eighth strategic acquisition in under five years.
Strategic Acquisition Announcement and Timeline
On September 10, 2026, San Mateo-based cybersecurity firm Kiteworks announced the acquisition of Bonfy.AI, an AI-native runtime data classification platform [1]. Some reports indicate the announcement occurred on September 9, 2026, highlighting a minor discrepancy in public reporting timelines [alert! ‘conflicting announcement dates’][2]. The strategic deal integrates Bonfy.AI’s automated data classification and repository connectors directly into the Kiteworks Data Control Plane [1]. This move addresses growing regulatory compliance and data governance challenges by enhancing automated visibility across fragmented enterprise systems [1]. For enterprise leaders, the acquisition shifts the security focus from data at rest to data in motion, covering email, file sharing, SaaS, and AI agents [2].
Consolidation Through Disciplined M&A Strategy
This transaction marks the eighth acquisition completed by Kiteworks in under five years, demonstrating a disciplined merger and acquisition strategy [1]. The company has built its platform through a combination of in-house innovation and operational excellence, with each acquisition expanding its data security and compliance capabilities [1]. Prior to this deal, Kiteworks already protected over 100 million end users and more than 1,500 large enterprises and government agencies globally [2]. The consolidation aims to deliver the most comprehensive data security and compliance platform available in the market [1]. By executing eight acquisitions in this timeframe, the firm signals aggressive growth to meet evolving AI-era security demands [2].
Runtime Classification and AI Security Integration
Bonfy.AI’s platform utilizes adaptive knowledge graphs to learn organizational structures, business relationships, and policies from CRM, IAM, and HRIS integrations [1]. This technology provides contextual enforcement for tools including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Claude, and ChatGPT [1]. The acquisition aims to solve the AI security gap by ensuring generative AI tools only access authorized, classified data [2]. Kiteworks will continue to offer Bonfy.AI as a standalone solution while concurrently integrating the technology into the broader Kiteworks platform [1]. This dual approach ensures continuity for existing Bonfy.AI clients while enhancing the unified Data Control Plane for the wider customer base [2].
Executive Perspectives on Data Control
Amit Toren, Chief Business Officer at Kiteworks, stated that Bonfy.AI’s technology expands coverage to deliver the control customers need in the AI era [1]. Gidi Cohen, CEO and Founder of Bonfy.AI, noted that risk is created when data moves, not when it sits, emphasizing the need for runtime context [1]. Jonathan Yaron, CEO of Kiteworks, described the acquisition as a game-changer for enabling customers to embrace AI while maintaining security standards [2]. Tim Freestone, Chief Strategy Officer at Kiteworks, highlighted that inline classification closes the gap of proving data decisions to regulators months later [1]. These leadership insights underscore the strategic priority of controlling data exchanges before they are completed [2].