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Yaniv Vardi

Yaniv Vardi

CEO
Claroty
10 May 2024

To start, could you introduce yourself and share a bit about what Claroty does?

Our company specializes in protection of cyber-physical systems (CPS). The core of our business revolves around protecting critical infrastructure across various sectors, including energy, manufacturing, and water treatment. We focus on safeguarding these vital systems against cyber threats, which could significantly impact societal functions and safety. Our approach combines deep industry knowledge with cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies to offer robust protection for industrial environments.

What inspired the founding of Claroty, and what are the main challenges you aim to address in the cybersecurity landscape?

Claroty was founded to address the unique and complex challenges posed by the convergence of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT). As these once-separate entities have become increasingly interconnected, the potential for cyber threats that can cross from IT environments into OT systems has grown. This convergence creates vulnerabilities in sectors that are critical to national and global infrastructure. Our mission is to mitigate these risks by providing comprehensive cybersecurity solutions tailored to the specific needs of industrial environments, thus ensuring the continuity and safety of these essential services.

How does Claroty's technology differ from traditional IT cybersecurity solutions?

Traditional IT cybersecurity solutions are not always well-suited for the specialized demands of industrial control systems. Claroty's technology is specifically designed to cater to the operational requirements and the sensitive nature of CPS environments.

Our solutions are built to handle the high availability, redundancy, and safety requirements that are critical to industrial operations. Additionally, we provide visibility into network activity and potential vulnerabilities without disrupting operational continuity, which is a key distinction from general IT security products.

Given the evolving nature of cyber threats, how does Claroty stay ahead of potential security risks?

Staying ahead of cyber threats in such a dynamic landscape requires continuous innovation and adaptation. At Claroty, we invest heavily in research and development to refine our technologies and develop new strategies to counter emerging threats. We also collaborate closely with industry leaders and regulatory bodies to ensure our solutions not only meet current security standards but also anticipate future regulations and challenges. This proactive approach helps us protect our clients against both current and future cyber threats in the industrial sector.

Can you share a case where Claroty successfully prevented a major cybersecurity incident?

While I cannot disclose specific details due to confidentiality agreements, I can mention that Claroty has successfully identified and mitigated several potential breaches that could have led to significant disruptions in critical infrastructure. In one instance, our system detected unusual network activity that was traced back to a compromised device. Our team worked closely with the client to isolate the device and remediate the vulnerability, ultimately preventing a potential shutdown of operations. This case highlights our commitment to providing real-time threat detection and rapid response capabilities to our clients.

Looking forward, what are Claroty’s main goals for the future in cybersecurity?

Looking ahead, Claroty aims to expand our reach and depth in protecting critical infrastructure globally. We plan to enhance our machine learning capabilities to improve threat detection and response times further. Additionally, we are exploring strategic partnerships and collaborations to broaden our impact across more industries and regions. Our goal is not just to react to threats but to lead the way in defining the future of cybersecurity for industrial systems, ensuring that these critical sectors remain resilient against all forms of cyber threats.