Security threat intelligence is still relatively a new domain in the cyber security. In a brave step you chose to go after a small market betting on its growth. What was it that made you go after this market?

After my time in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), I began working as a Security Operations Center (SOC) manager. I saw firsthand the need for a solution that identifies external threats. There was a big problem that needed to be solved – threats were emerging outside the wire with no detection. Organizations needed a solution to prevent threats from becoming attacks, elevating their defense protocols from reactive to proactive.

As we take less physical steps, our digital footprints keep increasing…providing endless opportunities for fraud and access to our personal life. What is the opportunity here for IntSights?

As the world becomes more digitized, every organization has more assets that serve as targets for attackers. More and more companies are embracing data-driven digital commerce, and they will become more and more vulnerable as their attack surfaces grow. IntSights can help protect these ever-expanding assets by detecting threats at the source and enabling users to act against them before it’s too late.

You entered 2019 with amazing 250% revenue growth and an addition of 120 customers. How do you plan to sustain this amazing growth?

We’re committing more resources to product innovation and to our headcount. We believe we have the best people collaborating to build the most comprehensive solution in the market, and we work tirelessly to improve it every day. We’re thrilled with our recent Series D funding, the continued growth of our executive team, and the company’s global growth and performance in this exciting market.

What was the Inflection Point in Insight’s history?

Our Inflection Point came during our A-Round funding, when we raised money from American investors. This enabled us to enter the North American market in 2016, greatly expanding our reach.

What do you miss most in an early stage company?

We used to all be able to share one pizza! It’s much harder to do that with 175 employees who are spread throughout Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific.

Toughest choice you had to make as a CEO

I had to let go of an executive team member in a relatively short amount of time. The person was very smart and capable, but there was a fundamental misalignment with the rest of the team. It wasn’t easy, but we made the decision to cut ties so both parties could move on and grow.

Gut instinct and cold data, which do you follow?

Today, it’s cold data. But in the early stages of IntSights, I followed my gut instinct mostly because I had no other option. I don’t regret it, because it’s all worked out and I’m thrilled with the company’s direction, but I shudder when I look back on the lack of data-driven decisions we made early on.

 Where do you invest most of your time? 

People, people, people! Our team is our future, and engaging with the cyber intelligence community to establish us as a leader is one of my top priorities.

What characterizes your executive team?

Each of us is very committed to the success of the company. The team works very openly as a group to drive success. We’re all rowing this boat in the same direction.

How do you see your personal growth alongside the company’s?

I think in some ways, they go hand-in-hand. IntSights has brought me to places I never thought I’d be. I moved to New York to get our North American headquarters up-and-running, and I’m loving it. As a relatively young CEO, I have plenty of things I need to learn on the fly. Much like the company, I’ve had to be adaptable and find ways to succeed even when I’m outside of my comfort zone.

 Best tip you got

Don’t think about your team as being identical to you – everyone brings different things to the table, and that helps you gain a more well-rounded perspective.

Tip you wish you had gotten

Invest in marketing and building your brand from the early stages of your company. You can’t rely solely on word-of-mouth around the industry. You need to find ways to stand out among your peers, and branding is a key component to establishing your presence and reputation.

One thing people don’t know about you

I’m not a very competitive person…but I’m (one of) the best amateur ping pong players outside mainland China.

About IntSights

IntSights is revolutionizing cybersecurity operations with the industry’s only all-in-one external threat protection platform designed to neutralize cyberattacks outside the wire. Our unique cyber reconnaissance capabilities enable continuous monitoring of an enterprise’s external digital profile across the clear, deep, and dark web to identify emerging threats and orchestrate proactive response. Tailored threat intelligence that seamlessly integrates with security infrastructure for dynamic defense has made IntSights one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies in the world. IntSights has offices in Amsterdam, Boston, Dallas, New York, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo.