BK

Barak Klinghofer

Member at Cyberstarts VC

Israel

Overview 

Barak Klinghofer is an accomplished entrepreneur and investor with a background at Microsoft as a Principal Program Manager and as a Co-Founder & CPO at Hexadite Ltd, acquired by Microsoft. Currently, he is involved in a stealth startup and serves as a member of Cyberstarts VC, focusing on investing in cybersecurity companies in Israel. Klinghofer's career highlights include his leadership roles at Microsoft and Hexadite Ltd, where he played a key role in the company's acquisition. Additionally, his expertise in information security management and application security has positioned him as a sought-after figure in the cybersecurity industry.

Work Experience 

  • Co-Founder & CEO

    2024 - Current

  • Seed Investor

    2023

  • Seed Investor

    2023

  • Working on something new

    2023 - 2025

  • Director Program Management

    2017 - 2023

    Executive member of Microsoft's security leadership team, architecting the strategic vision and execution of Microsoft's enterprise security portfolio. Led transformative initiatives spanning innovation incubation, market positioning, and strategic acquisitions integration. - Spearheaded disruptive security product development within Microsoft's innovation lab, identifying emerging market opportunities through deep engagement with enterprise CISOs and industry luminaries - Orchestrated Microsoft Defender's rise to market leadership position, directing analyst relations strategy, competitive positioning, and enterprise sales enablement globally - Pioneered the integration and evolution of acquired security technologies into Microsoft's ecosystem, establishing the foundation for Microsoft's automated security capabilities - Drove strategic initiatives that significantly expanded Microsoft's security market presence and shaped the direction of enterprise security

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  • Co-Founder & CPO

    2014 - 2017

    Co-founded and led product strategy for Hexadite's groundbreaking security automation platform, pioneering the Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) category before it was defined by analysts. Translated innovative technology into enterprise-ready solutions that transformed security operations, culminating in acquisition by Microsoft for ~$100M. - Shaped product vision and roadmap that revolutionized incident response, reducing resolution time from hours to seconds for enterprise security operations - Bridged technical innovation and market needs, aligning development efforts with evolving customer requirements and competitive landscape - Led product management, UX design, and customer success teams to deliver enterprise-grade solutions for Fortune 500 clients - Defined strategic positioning and product narrative that disrupted traditional security approaches, driving rapid market adoption and ultimately leading to successful acquisition by Microsoft

  • Cyber Solutions Architect

    2012 - 2014

    • Designed and implemented proposals for National Cyber Security centers. • Created tailor-made cyber solutions (both defensive and offensive) for both local and international customers. • Responsible for the pre-sale process, which included both marketing and sales aspects. • Managed the development process for various cutting-edge cyber solutions. • Led the development process of the Cyber Training program for both international customers and national organizations. • Participated in and presented the different cyber solutions at multiple national conferences. • Managed and implemented the Cyber Training system for customers worldwide.

  • Cyber Systems Security Architect

    2011 - 2012

    • Managed all cyber research activities related to the Chief Scientist of Israel on behalf of the company. • Implemented various cyber solutions with an emphasis on automated systems intended to identify risks and to create imaging of the network's state in real-time (cyber command and control). • Led and established an automated cyber attack solution for training purposes, which included managing the development team and the sub-contractors. • Managed and implemented the Cyber Training system for national customers within the defense industry. • Conducted technology research on various cyber attacks. • Communicated directly with customers at the pre-sale stage. • Planned and designed multiple product information security architectures.

  • Senior Infrastructure Security Consultant

    2010 - 2011

    • Penetration Testing of diverse systems. • Execution of information security risk assessments for global organizations (telecom, finance, government and industry). • Identification and mapping of security needs, and the integration of solutions based on business needs. • Formulation of hardening procedures for systems and products. • Secure architecture design and review. • Threat modeling and in-depth assessments. • Information security policy and procedure formulation. • Network and Wireless Security.

  • Information Security Architecture Team Leader

    2006 - 2008

    SDLC Project Management: • Execution of threat assessments for core applications (Design Reviews) • Policy compliance benchmarking for diverse systems, and implementation of controls accordingly • Leading and management of Code Reviews and Penetration Testing projects • Definition of pan-organizational security solutions Infrastructure product reviews in accordance with the information security policy. Planning and design of applications and network architecture. Technological research and definition of SIM/SOC systems. Hardening definitions of infrastructure products (OS, Databases etc.) Disaster Recovery Planning and Design

Education 

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