Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Benny Zigdon is an Israeli entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert best known as the co-founder and CEO of Claroty, a leading industrial cybersecurity company focused on protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats. Established in 2015, Claroty has grown into a global firm with significant investments and partnerships, reflecting Zigdon's expertise in bridging military intelligence with commercial technology. His leadership has positioned Claroty as a key player in the OT (operational technology) security space, addressing vulnerabilities in industrial control systems used in sectors like energy, manufacturing, utilities, and healthcare.
Zigdon's professional background is rooted in Israel's tech ecosystem, particularly his service in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) where he worked in elite intelligence units, specifically Unit 8200, an elite cyber intelligence unit, gaining extensive experience in signals intelligence, cyber operations, and threat analysis. This military tenure provided him with deep insights into threat detection and defense strategies, which he later applied to the private sector. Prior to founding Claroty, Zigdon served as an officer in the IDF's Unit 8200 and held roles in early-stage tech startups, honing his skills in product development and innovation within the cybersecurity domain. After his service, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, co-founding Claroty alongside other Unit 8200 alumni.
Under Zigdon's stewardship, Claroty has expanded internationally, raising substantial venture capital, including from investors like Yoav Leitersdorf and other prominent venture firms, achieving unicorn status, and establishing offices in the US and Europe. His vision emphasizes proactive defense against nation-state cyber threats, drawing from his intelligence background to advocate for robust industrial security frameworks worldwide. Zigdon is recognized in the tech community for his contributions to OT security standards and has spoken at industry conferences on topics like zero-trust architectures for industrial IoT. As an IDF veteran and Jewish Israeli, Zigdon embodies the archetype of Israel's 'startup nation' ecosystem, where military experience fuels high-tech innovation.