Ep1142: Shalev Ifrah: Revenue-First Growth

What happens when cutting-edge AI research meets real-world urgency? Yossi Matias reflects on decades at the forefront of innovation—from early machine learning to deploying life-saving healthcare tools and advancing AI agents that accelerate scientific discovery. Through stories of rapid transformation, he reveals how research, curiosity, and responsibility converge to shape technology with global impact.#AIInnovation #TechForGood #MachineLearning

10 Juni 22min

Cybersecurity is no longer just about preventing breaches—it’s now about enabling innovation securely in a fast-moving, AI-powered world. As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in everything from microservices to digital platforms, cybersecurity needs a major mindset shift. Daniel Shechter, CEO of Miggo Security, cybersecurity leader at 8200, and Havazalot program alumni, offers exactly that.Daniel’s journey—from jazz saxophonist to military intelligence, McKinsey consultant, and now startup founder—reflects a rare ability to simplify complex challenges. It’s a skill that’s more vital than ever as AI and cybersecurity rapidly converge.In our conversation, Daniel spotlighted a critical but often overlooked domain: application-layer security. Traditionally, app security focused on static code scans or endpoint defenses. But today’s systems run on microservices, rendering those approaches outdated. As Daniel explained, “Endpoints are losing many functionalities over time, shifting largely to SaaS in the backend. That’s what we protect.”This shift demands a new approach—one built on observability and real-time application detection and response. He compared today’s digital platforms to intricate water networks where threats can flow undetected. To keep up, security can’t just be reactive—it must be deeply integrated and proactive.The need for speed has never been clearer. Daniel cited eye-opening stats: AWS’s CISO reported that attacks tripled or quadrupled with the rise of generative AI. Even more alarming, attackers can now exploit known vulnerabilities in as little as 22 minutes—down from 100 days just a few years ago.For Daniel and Miggo Security, the mission is clear: secure innovation. “We’re here to facilitate innovation securely, responding dynamically as threats evolve,” he shared. In other words, cybersecurity can no longer be a barrier to progress—it must be the enabler.AI’s role in cybersecurity, especially at the app layer, calls for adaptive strategies that evolve as fast as threats do. Daniel’s approach—deep tracing, observability, and real-time response—embodies this necessary evolution.This conversation left me convinced: cybersecurity is entering a transformative era. Legacy tools and static defenses simply won’t cut it. Organizations must adopt agile, AI-driven solutions to protect and empower their growth.To stay ahead, companies need to prioritize flexibility and speed. In this new landscape, success belongs to those who can adapt faster than threats evolve.The message is clear: embrace AI-driven, adaptive cybersecurity—or risk falling behind.

26 Maj 45min

In a world where cybersecurity threats evolve faster than our defenses, AI-driven risks are becoming the frontline challenge for enterprises. To gain deeper insights into this rapidly shifting landscape, I spoke with Maor Saubron, Head of Corporate Security at Amdocs, whose decades-long journey through cybersecurity offers an unparalleled view into how organizations can effectively respond to emerging threats.Maor leads a team of over 200 security professionals at Amdocs, a global technology giant serving critical infrastructure for telecom companies like AT&T and T-Mobile. His role places him at the intersection of security innovation and practical implementation, uniquely qualifying him to discuss AI’s growing impact on cybersecurity strategies."We are in a technological race against our attackers," Maor emphasized during our conversation. "AI is significantly reshaping the landscape by not just creating advanced threats but also by providing revolutionary solutions."One key insight from Maor was the dual nature of AI—it is both an enabler of sophisticated cyber threats and a powerful tool for defense. At Amdocs, Maor described facing enormous cybersecurity challenges due to the vast scale of their operations: hundreds of thousands of servers globally, over tens of thousands of endpoints, and approximately 30,000 employees in 90 countries. With this scale, managing the risk is both complex and critical."We receive tens of millions of emails per month, and a significant portion of these are spam or phishing," Maor revealed. The sheer volume demonstrates why traditional cybersecurity methods are inadequate. To tackle such massive challenges, Maor’s team deploys multiple layers of protection and leverages AI-powered tools to analyze patterns and reduce response times dramatically.However, despite the advanced technological frameworks, Maor pointed out a pivotal vulnerability that technology alone can't solve—the human factor. "At the end of the day, cybersecurity incidents often start with a single employee," he noted. "Our mission is to foster a deep security culture among employees, making them part of our defense strategy."This cultural shift includes comprehensive awareness programs, highly sophisticated phishing simulations, and personalized training that empower employees to recognize and respond effectively to threats. Maor believes cybersecurity must transcend technical solutions, incorporating an organization's entire human element into a holistic security strategy.When we discussed emerging threats, Maor highlighted how generative AI tools like ChatGPT have introduced new risks, especially around data leakage. Employees frequently use these tools, unintentionally exposing sensitive corporate information. Amdocs responded proactively by establishing an AI governance committee, implementing sophisticated monitoring tools, and introducing educational initiatives about responsible AI use. Maor explained, "We give employees freedom but maintain control through intelligent, automated oversight."I found Maor's approach insightful and reflective of an essential evolution in cybersecurity thinking: the integration of technological innovation with strategic human-centric policies. As organizations continue to navigate this complex environment, understanding and proactively managing both AI-driven threats and human vulnerabilities will define future cybersecurity successes.Reflecting on my conversation with Maor, it's clear that successful cybersecurity strategies must prioritize adaptability and human engagement. Companies that empower their teams through awareness, training, and AI-driven support will build resilient defenses capable of handling tomorrow's threats.The path forward requires a thoughtful blend of AI technology and a deep investment in human-centric cybersecurity cultures. This balanced approach, championed by security leaders like Maor, is not just beneficial—it is imperative.

26 Maj 38min

Cybersecurity is once again at a critical crossroads—this time, driven by the explosive growth of AI technologies. During a recent visit to Descope’s Palo Alto office, I sat down with CEO Slavik Markovich, a veteran in the cybersecurity space whose past ventures, Demisto (acquired by Palo Alto Networks) and Sentrigo (acquired by McAfee), shaped much of the modern security landscape. Our conversation centered around how AI is radically reshaping digital identity.Slavik and his team—collaborators for nearly three decades—launched Descope with a bold mission: eliminate passwords altogether. “Passwords are the worst of both worlds,” he noted, “hard for humans to remember and easy for computers to crack.” As AI supercharges phishing and other attack vectors, traditional passwords only grow more inadequate.Instead, Slavik advocates for passkeys—phishing-resistant, cryptographic keys stored locally and authenticated via biometrics, without ever exposing the biometric data. It's a fundamentally more secure and seamless approach to authentication.Descope’s innovation doesn’t stop there. As AI evolves into “agentic” form—digital agents acting on behalf of users—the company is tackling a new security frontier. These agents don’t fit neatly into existing models of user authentication or machine-to-machine trust. “The industry is shifting toward agentic AI,” Slavik explained, “and that’s expanding the scale and complexity of identity management.”One surprisingly common challenge they’re solving is the "confused agent problem," where digital agents unintentionally act with higher privileges than intended. Descope positions itself as the intermediary—managing progressive authorization, mediating between users, agents, and applications, and ensuring secure, compliant interactions.For CISOs and enterprise leaders, this shift presents both urgency and opportunity. AI is no longer an emerging edge case—it’s embedded in tools and workflows across organizations. Security teams must act swiftly to secure agent-driven interactions and identity touchpoints or risk falling behind.At Clarity, where I focus on AI-powered threats like deepfakes and next-gen phishing, I see firsthand how vital identity management has become. It’s no longer just a login issue—it’s the first and most critical line of defense. Security solutions must be both robust and frictionless, balancing user experience with airtight protection.Slavik also shared a personal insight that stood out to me: “We prioritize having fun. We’ve built multiple companies together because we genuinely enjoy the journey.” That mindset resonates. The best cybersecurity innovations come from passionate teams that love solving hard problems, not just building defenses.The identity revolution is already underway. Organizations that embrace passwordless, agent-aware authentication now will dramatically improve both their security and user experience. Those that delay will face rising vulnerabilities and growing user frustration.Our industry isn’t just evolving—it’s undergoing a full-scale transformation. Proactively embracing agentic AI, passkeys, and adaptive identity strategies is not just smart—it’s essential. Those who lead will define the future of digital trust. Those who don’t may find themselves struggling to catch up in a threat landscape redefined by AI.

23 Maj 26min

The cybersecurity landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the growing complexity of enterprise data environments. In a recent conversation with Dan Benjamin, VP at Palo Alto Networks and co-founder of Dig Security, it became clear that securing data and AI requires moving beyond traditional perimeter-based strategies toward more dynamic, proactive approaches.Dan brings deep entrepreneurial experience. After founding multiple cybersecurity startups, his latest—Dig Security—was acquired by Palo Alto Networks within just two years, signaling rapid adoption and market validation. His background at Microsoft and current leadership role give him a sharp lens on the intersection of AI and data security.One key takeaway from our conversation: speed is critical. “The ability to scale quickly and see immediately if something works or doesn't is critical,” Dan said. This mindset powered Dig’s growth to nearly 80 employees in two years, fueled by focus and strategic clarity.A major theme was the rise of Data Security Posture Management (DSPM). As Dan shared, when Dig launched, “more than 50% of enterprise data had already moved to the cloud,” rendering legacy security tools ineffective. DSPM answers urgent questions like: What data do we have? Who can access it? Is it protected? As companies adopt multi-cloud infrastructures, DSPM becomes essential.This transformation has also been accelerated by market awareness—fueled by VC investments and competing startups. “Data security wasn’t even a top-ten concern for CISOs initially. Within a year, it was top three,” Dan noted. It’s a reminder of how fast industry priorities can shift.And now, AI is redefining those priorities again. Dan emphasized how AI introduces both opportunity and risk. Boards are pushing for rapid AI integration, while CISOs scramble to secure it. “AI security must begin with visibility—knowing what models you’re running, what data was used, and ensuring proper compliance and access controls.”At Palo Alto Networks, around half of all data security discussions now center on AI, reflecting its growing urgency. AI isn’t just creating new threats—it’s forcing a rethink of cybersecurity strategies.But AI isn’t just a risk—it’s also part of the solution. Dan predicts that in the next five years, AI will autonomously handle many cybersecurity decisions. Already, AI tools are handling initial threat triage in SOCs, easing analyst workloads and improving response times.This aligns with what we’re seeing at Clarity, where AI-driven tools are helping counter advanced threats, from deepfakes to social engineering attacks. The shift from reactive alerts to proactive AI-powered defense is already underway.My biggest takeaway: enterprises must integrate DSPM and AI security now—not later. The threat landscape is evolving weekly. Those who delay will fall behind, while those who adapt quickly will build unmatched resilience.As Dan put it, “Entrepreneurs have limited patience—we must see rapid progress.” That sense of urgency is exactly what today’s cybersecurity leaders need to stay ahead in an AI-powered world.

23 Maj 34min

Haunted by the rise of online antisemitism, Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor left a high-powered legal career to launch CyberWell—a nonprofit using AI to hold social media platforms accountable to their own policies. In this conversation, she shares how antisemitic hate moved from fringe forums to mainstream feeds, the troubling aftermath of October 7, and why current systems are failing to respond. Her work exposes the gaps in content moderation and reveals how high-integrity data and generative AI can reshape digital accountability—offering a hopeful, scalable path forward in one of tech’s most urgent ethical battles.#20minuteleaders #OnlineAntisemitism #AIForGood #ContentModeration

21 Maj 24min

At nine, Roey Eliyahu was already coding. By 11, he was freelancing. His path from an IDF cybersecurity unit to founding Salt Security reflects a deep understanding of how microservices and GenAI transformed APIs from simple gateways to complex security risks. He shares why discovery, governance, and protection are now essential pillars for any enterprise navigating rapid innovation—and how early insights shaped a category-defining solution.#20MinuteLeaders #APISecurity #CybersecurityLeadership #EnterpriseTech

12 Maj 20min