When Erez Tadmor starts talking about network security, you can’t help but lean in. With 20 years of experience at Tufin, he’s seen the cybersecurity landscape transform from a simple “castle and moat” approach to today’s incredibly complex, distributed infrastructure.
“In the 2000s, network security was straightforward,” Tadmor explains. “Everything inside the corporate perimeter was secure, everything outside was not. But today? Everything is distributed.”
That distribution isn’t just a minor shift—it’s a complete revolution.
From traditional data centers to cloud infrastructure, from remote workers to IoT devices, modern networks look nothing like they did two decades ago. And Tufin has been adapting every step of the way.
Tadmor walks me through the dramatic transformation. In the early 2000s, network security was about building impenetrable walls. By 2010, cloud infrastructure started challenging that model. Developers began working outside traditional boundaries, and DevOps emerged, fundamentally changing how security was conceived.
“Developers were deploying security on their own,” Tadmor recalls. “Network security teams were suddenly left trying to understand new concepts like cloud security groups.”
Fast forward to 2020, and the landscape has become even more complex. Hybrid workforces, distributed infrastructure, and a dizzying array of access points have made traditional security models obsolete.
A groundbreaking technology called the Open Policy Framework (OPF) is also an innovative approach which allows the company to integrate with virtually any network security device in weeks – a process that previously took months.
“We can now enable support for a new device in a matter of weeks,” Tadmor says proudly. “We’ve even reached a point where partners can develop their own integrations.”
But integration is just the beginning. Tufin has developed an AI-powered approach to network security that goes far beyond traditional monitoring. Meet TufinMate: Your AI Network Security Assistant.
What is TufinMate?
One of the most exciting developments is TufinMate, an AI agent that can troubleshoot network issues through natural language conversations. Imagine being able to ask an AI assistant why your application isn’t connecting, and getting a precise, actionable response.
“A developer might not understand network complexities,” Tadmor explains. “TufinMate bridges that gap, helping non-technical users understand and resolve network issues.”
The AI doesn’t just identify problems – it can suggest solutions, open tickets, and even initiate workflow processes to resolve connectivity challenges. Perhaps most impressive is how Tufin is transforming vulnerability management. Traditional approaches treat all critical vulnerabilities as urgent. Tufin’s approach? Understanding the network topology to determine actual risk. “A critical vulnerability might be tagged as high-risk,” Tadmor explains, “but what if it’s in a fully segmented part of the network where it can’t cause lateral movement?”
By integrating with tools like Microsoft Co-Pilot, Tufin can help security teams understand the real-world implications of a vulnerability, not just its theoretical risk.
Despite being in the market for 20 years, Tufin continues to grow impressively. The company recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming a “Rule of 45” company, growing over 30% in new logos – a remarkable achievement for a two-decade-old technology firm.
Tufin Management Dashboard
As our conversation winds down, it’s clear that Tufin isn’t just adapting to the changing cybersecurity landscape – they’re actively reshaping it. From AI-powered troubleshooting to nuanced vulnerability assessment, the company is proving that network security can be both comprehensive and intelligent. “We’re not just protecting networks,” Tadmor says with a smile. “We’re helping organizations understand their infrastructure in ways they never could before.” For businesses navigating the complex world of modern network security, Tufin isn’t just a tool—it’s a strategic partner.
About the Author
Pete Green is the CISO / CTO of Anvil Works, a ProCloud SaaS company. With over 25 years of experience in information technology and cybersecurity, Pete is a seasoned and accomplished security practitioner.
Throughout his career, he has held a wide range of technical and leadership roles, including LAN/WLAN Engineer, Threat Analyst, Security Project Manager, Security Architect, Cloud Security Architect, Principal Security Consultant, Director of IT, CTO, CEO, Virtual CISO, and CISO.
Pete has supported clients across numerous industries, including federal, state, and local government, as well as financial services, healthcare, food services, manufacturing, technology, transportation, and hospitality.
He holds a Master of Computer Information Systems in Information Security from Boston University, which is recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance / Cyber Defense (CAE IA/CD) by the NSA and DHS. He also holds a Master of Business Administration in Informatics.
