Israeli cybersecurity industry

The Israeli cybersecurity industry is a rapidly growing sector within Israel's technology and innovation ecosystem. Israel is internationally recognized as a powerhouse in the cybersecurity domain, with numerous cybersecurity startups, established companies, research institutions, and government initiatives. Tel Aviv itself is being ranked 7th in annual list of best global tech ecosystems, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

History
The roots of Israel's cybersecurity industry can be traced back to the country's strong focus on national security and intelligence. The establishment of elite military units such as Unit 8200, the Israeli Intelligence Corps unit responsible for signals intelligence and code decryption, played a significant role in the development of cybersecurity expertise in the country. Many former members of Unit 8200 have gone on to establish successful cybersecurity companies or join existing organizations, bringing their unique skill sets and experience to the private sector.

Market Overview
As of 2024, Israel housed more than 450 cybersecurity startups and companies. In 2023, the value of exits by Israeli tech companies reached $7.5 billion, with cyber-related exits making up 19 out of 45 transactions, totaling $3.8 billion and accounting for 51% of the industry's total transaction value.

Israel's cybersecurity industry is characterized by a high concentration of startups develop new technologies in areas such as network security, endpoint protection, data security, cloud security, and threat intelligence. In recent years, the sector has attracted significant investment from both local and international venture capital firms, as well as major technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, and IBM.

Several Israeli cybersecurity companies have gained global recognition and success, with some being acquired by major corporations or conducting successful initial public offerings (IPOs).

Key Israeli Cybersecurity Companies
Some key Israeli cybersecurity companies include:


 * Check Point Software Technologies offers firewall and threat prevention solutions.
 * CyberArk helps organizations safeguard critical assets by thwarting, detecting, and managing cyber threats targeting privileged accounts.
 * Cato Networks delivers a cloud-native, secure global SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) service, transforming how businesses securely connect their digital frameworks.
 * Radware specializes in cybersecurity and application delivery solutions, ensuring businesses are shielded from DDoS assaults.
 * Wiz analyzes computing infrastructure for risk factors that could enable malicious actors to control cloud resources or exfiltrate data.

Financial Activity
Israel’s cybersecurity sector has seen significant financial activity. As of 2023, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the cybersecurity sector totaled $2.8 billion.

In the first quarter of 2024, the sector secured $846 million in private funding, making up almost 50% of the total ecosystem funding and half of the top six exits. This was the strongest quarter since the second quarter of 2022.

Background
The military experience helped much. Israel's mandatory military service, combined with the expertise developed within elite units such as Unit 8200, has fostered a strong talent pool with practical experience in cybersecurity.

Israel's thriving startup ecosystem, often referred to as the "Startup Nation," has fostered an environment of innovation and collaboration that has contributed to the growth of the cybersecurity industry.

Israeli cybersecurity companies often collaborate with international partners, both in the private and public sectors, to share knowledge and develop joint solutions.

Government Initiatives and Support
The government also supported well through various initiatives, such as the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), which works to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and promote the development of the sector.

The Israeli government also invests heavily in cybersecurity increasing budget allocation as the threat landscape evolves. Investments support various facets of the cybersecurity ecosystem, including research and development grants, startup acceleration programs, and public-private partnerships.

Academic Institutions
Israeli universities and research centers are involved in cybersecurity research and education, contributing to the development of new technologies and training the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

Academic Tech transfer offices (TTOs) in Israel also facilitate the commercialization of cybersecurity technologies.

Some academic institutions with cybersecurity laboratories include:


 * Tel Aviv University offers a cybersecurity program through its Blavatnik Interdisciplinary Cyber Research Center. Ramot, Tel Aviv University’s TTO, also commercializes cybersecurity technologies.
 * Technion has established a reputation for technical expertise, hosting an annual Cyber and Information Security Research Conference that gathers academia, industry, and government experts. The university’s Hiroshi Fujiwara Cyber Security Research Center was created in 2016. Technion’s TTO, T3 also focuses on cybersecurity solutions.
 * Ben-Gurion University has a Cyber Security Research Center known for malware detection and cryptography research. The center collaborates with Deutsche Telekom to operate the Telekom Innovation Laboratories (T-Labs), focusing on cybersecurity and data protection. BGN Technologies, BGU's TTO, plays a role in translating the university’s cybersecurity research into success.