RED HERRING | Security Startups Secure Funds

"Mazu Networks and Tizor separately announced new venture funding on Tuesday as the interest in security startups picked up in advance of the largest commercial security conference of the year.

Tizor said it bagged $15 million in its second round of funding, bringing the total amount it has raised since 2004 to $18 million. Mazu Networks said it collected $7 million in cash from its investors.

The funding came as digital security startups and large public companies gear up for RSA, the sector�s largest conference, which starts Monday in San Jose, California. Scheduled speakers include Bill Gates of Microsoft, John Chambers of Cisco, and John Thompson of Symantec.

Tizor�s Series B round was led by Hummer Winblad, and included Thor Technologies, Longworth Venture Partners, and Brabeion Software. Tizor closed the funding in January but company CEO, Prat Moghe, said he wanted to talk about the funding closer to the conference. "