Bridgecrew
Israeli cloud-infrastructure security start-up whose chief executive described himself as a former Unit 8200 "lead agent"; bought by Palo Alto Networks in 2021
| Bridgecrew
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Subsidiary (acquired) |
| Founder(s) | Idan Tendler, Barak Schoster, Guy Eisenkot |
| Industry | Cloud and infrastructure-as-code security |
| Parent | Palo Alto Networks (from 2021) |
Bridgecrew was an Israeli-founded cloud security company co-founded by Idan Tendler, Barak Schoster and Guy Eisenkot. Palo Alto Networks completed its purchase in March 2021, paying about $156 million in cash, and the co-founders joined Palo Alto Networks.[1]
Founders and Unit 8200
In a 2015 TechCrunch article, written when he led the security company Fortscale, Idan Tendler was described as having been "a lead agent of the 8200, the cyberwarfare division of the Israeli Defense Forces" (Unit 8200).[2]
Criticism
In 2025 Drop Site News listed Bridgecrew among the companies bought by Palo Alto Networks that "were founded and led by publicly identified Unit 8200 veterans". It quoted Paul Biggar of Tech for Palestine: "These acquisitions are a way to take people from Unit 8200 in Israel, and bring them into influential positions in the U.S. tech industry".[3]
See also
- Palo Alto Networks
- Unit 8200
- Cyber and tech firms founded by ex Unit 8200 or occupation forces veterans
Notes
- ↑ Palo Alto Networks, Palo Alto Networks Completes Acquisition of Bridgecrew Palo Alto Networks, 2 March 2021, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Idan Tendler, From The Israeli Army Unit 8200 To Silicon Valley TechCrunch, 20 March 2015, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Hundreds of Former Israeli Spies Are Working in Big Tech, Database Shows Drop Site News, 13 August 2025, accessed 21 October 2026.