On May 23rd, 2016, I registered Vicarius LTD as an Israeli entity.
As engineers, we immediately started to build something out. The product was quite different from what it is today. The idea was to build a complex permission manager for low-level operating system APIs to block malware families categorically. Customers didn’t understand what the product was or what the intention was.
Back then, the next-gen EDR and EPP vendors started to ramp up, and this type of solution looked like an overlap. From there, more and more customer feedback began to take effect on the product. Rather than complex capabilities, the product went more to the basics – vulnerability assessment, software, and OS inventory, later on, vulnerability prioritization, and then remediation – patching, scripting, plus the original tech that still survived, the x_protect (Patchless Protection). Once all those capabilities were added, customers came back asking for Automation, which was also added.
Looking back, we didn’t realize how disruptive it is to bundle all of those things together. Even today, it’s quite rare to find products that do end-to-end vulnerability remediation. In those eight years, we saw many companies and trends go hot and cold. The vulnerability remediation issue remained unsolved, and I firmly believe in Vicarius’s way.
Focusing on the same issue for many years gave us the perspective of what works best: a combination of scalable and rapidly updating content and a powerful toolset. That was our vision for the Vicarius product, vRx, and we are implementing it through multiple products and channels: vsociety, the CVE-driven social network; vstore, where white hats are rewarded for their contribution; and many more things to come.
During this period, I experienced significant changes in my personal life—I moved 11 apartments to 4 countries and two continents, got married, settled in Florida, and had my first baby boy. The stress of running a fast-growing startup through 6 funding rounds has taken a toll on my family and me. I don’t think most entrepreneurs understand or know the level of stress a startup CEO might have. I know I was not aware of this when I started Vicarius.
Vicarius has a great talent. A group of hard-working people who think outside of the box, striving to do better, get shit done no matter what it requires. I look at the team and feel proud of each of you. Some of you have been with the business for years; you grew professionally and built life and families.
Whenever goodbyes were coming in my past life, I always stuck to one thing—institutions, companies, and organizations are made by the people who run them. I don’t have strong feelings toward the body itself but toward the people who make the group, and I will definitely miss you guys.
I have announced my departure to the Vicarius board. I want to stress that I’m still here for anything you need for at least one year ahead. I remain a shareholder of the company and wish for its success, which is already happening and will be much more significant.
The founders’ trio—Roi, Yossi, and I—has proven its ability to overcome challenges in unmet territories. I was not a CEO before Vicarius, but I learned it over time. Roi will lead the company to new heights with his solid vision, creative thinking, and elegant style. I’m here to support in any capacity possible.
Vicarius took on a big challenge regarding its mission statement; the product toolset and the tech efforts require dedication, persistence, and personal sacrifices. We have all those things in our CTO, Yossi, who leads by example an excellent R&D team that grows at an impressive pace. I know I’m leaving the company in good hands.
Waiting to see what’s next for Vicarius, I will always be part of the Wolfpack 🐺
(From Blogpost)
