IRI DarkShield
IRI DarkShield finds, classifies, extracts, reports on, and masks sensitive information across structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.
What IRI DarkShield is
IRI DarkShield finds, classifies, extracts, reports on, and masks sensitive information across structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. Search can use regular expressions, lookup values, path filters, or named-entity recognition powered by NLP and machine learning. Masking options include deletion, encryption, hashing, pseudonymization, and randomization. It can work with local or SMB files, SharePoint Online, cloud storage, relational databases, and NoSQL collections or clusters. Jobs can run through IRI Workbench, command-line tools, batch scripts, or API-calling programs, and Version 6 added REST API support. An exportable HTML5 dashboard summarizes discoveries and masking status; logs can also be sent to SIEM tools such as Splunk Enterprise Security and Datadog. DarkShield runs within customer infrastructure, on premises or in a customer-controlled cloud. It supports Windows, Linux, and macOS, with a recommendation of at least 4 GB RAM and two cores. Pricing starts at $5,490, with a 30-day trial and no free plan. Standalone perpetual licenses are per hostname; first-year support is included, and later support is available at 20% of the license fee basis per year.
Good
- Searches structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data
- Offers five listed masking methods
- Supports REST API and command-line job execution
- Exports an HTML5 discovery and masking dashboard
Watch out
- No free plan; pricing starts at $5,490
- Standalone licenses are priced per hostname
- Later support costs 20% of license fee basis yearly
Who it suits
DarkShield suits developers, DBAs, and IT-background compliance staff who need to find and mask sensitive data across multiple source types. Its self-hosted deployment may fit teams that want to run it within their own infrastructure.
Verdict
DarkShield combines broad data discovery with several masking choices and multiple ways to run jobs. Consider its per-hostname licensing and ongoing support terms when assessing a deployment.
Plans and prices
From IRI DarkShield's own pricing page, checked 30 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| IRI Voracity subscription | Priced on request | Support included · five executing hostnames in the first pricing tier · DarkShield is included free within a Voracity platform subscription. |
| Standalone DarkShield (file or image sources) | — | Per-hostname licensing · database collections priced like FieldShield · first-year support included; later support available at 20% of license fee basis · Perpetual-use license; first-hostname license fee ranges from USD $5K-50K, depending on estimated annual file/document volume. |
The facts
Each one read from IRI DarkShield's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API and automation
- Jobs can run from IRI Workbench, command line, batch scripts, or API-calling programs, and DarkShield Version 6 added REST API support.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Audit reporting
- DarkShield provides an exportable HTML5 dashboard showing sensitive data found and whether it was masked.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Data sources
- DarkShield supports files on local or SMB systems, SharePoint Online, Amazon S3, Azure Blob, Google Cloud Platform, JDBC relational databases, and NoSQL collections or clusters.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Deployment and data control
- DarkShield is self-hosted and runs within the customer's infrastructure, with on-premises and customer-controlled cloud installation options.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- DarkShield can send search and remediation logs to SIEM tools including Splunk Enterprise Security and Datadog.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Intended users
- IRI describes developers, DBAs, and people with an IT background on compliance teams as users who can create and manage DarkShield projects.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Licensing limit
- GUI and API instances are licensed per hostname where masking jobs run, with discounts for multiple nodes.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Masking
- Available masking functions include deletion, encryption, hashing, pseudonymization, and randomization.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- DarkShield discovers, classifies, extracts, reports on, and masks sensitive information across structured, semi-structured, and unstructured sources.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Search methods
- Search options include regular expressions, lookup values, path filters, and named-entity recognition using NLP and machine learning.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- Standalone perpetual licenses include technical support, bug fixes, and new versions for the first year; later support is available at 20% of the license fee basis per year.checked 30 Sep 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1978checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Melbourne, Florida, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2026
- Maker and headquarters
- Innovative Routines International (IRI), Inc. is headquartered in Melbourne, Florida.checked 30 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platform requirements
- IRI lists Windows, Linux, and macOS as compatible operating systems and recommends at least 4 GB RAM and two physical or virtual cores.checked 30 Sep 2026
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