Pentera
Israeli automated penetration-testing company, formerly Pcysys, co-founded by a former head of an IDF cyber-warfare group; valued at $1bn in 2022
| Pentera
| |
|---|---|
| Trade name | Pentera (formerly Pcysys) |
| Type | Private |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder(s) | Arik Liberzon, Arik Faingold |
| Headquarters | Boston, United States, and Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Industry | Cyber security (automated penetration testing and security validation) |
Pentera, formerly known as Pcysys, is an Israeli cyber-security company whose software carries out automated, agentless penetration tests, using ethical-hacking techniques to find exploitable weaknesses in corporate networks. It was founded in 2015 by Arik Faingold and Arik Liberzon and is run by chief executive Amitai Ratzon. In January 2022 it raised $150 million at a $1 billion valuation in a round led by K1 Investment Management, with Evolution Equity Partners and Insight Partners.[1]
Founders and the IDF
Pentera's own profile of Arik Liberzon says he led "an Elite Cyber Warfare group at the Israeli Defence Force’s computer service directorate", and that "His group was responsible for penetration testing into strategic asset networks and national mission-critical systems."[2] SecurityWeek described him as "formerly head of the cyber warfare group with the Israeli Defense Force Computer Service Directorate".[3]
Funding
SecurityWeek put Pentera's total funding at $189.5 million after the 2022 round, and said the money would be used to double its workforce from 150 to 300.[3] Ctech reported that half of the $150 million went on buying shares from long-serving employees, managers and investors.[1]
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Meir Orbach, Pentera becomes Israel’s latest cybersecurity unicorn with $150 million Series C, Ctech, 11 January 2022, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Arik Liberzon, Improve Cyber Resilience by Thinking Like a Hacker, Pentera (company blog), 6 October 2018, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kevin Townsend, Security Validation Firm Pentera Raises $150 Million at $1 Billion Valuation, SecurityWeek, 12 January 2022, accessed 21 October 2026.