All About Guardz

In recent years, the cybersecurity landscape has undergone significant changes. The proliferation of advanced cyberattack tools and the increasing focus on exploiting the vulnerabilities of small businesses have underscored the limited resources and lack of cybersecurity expertise that many of these businesses face. Traditional cybersecurity solutions are often geared towards large enterprises, leaving small and medium-sized businesses inadequately protected.

In response to this gap, Guardz was created as a next-generation cybersecurity solution specifically designed for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT professionals. It offers comprehensive protection that is tailored to address the unique needs and challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses. This article explores the founding and growth journey of Guardz, its evolution over the years, and an overview of the Guardz cybersecurity platform and how it meets the ever-changing needs of network security.

The Founding of Guardz

Guardz was founded in 2022 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. The company emerged in a period of rapid evolution in the cybersecurity landscape, with a vision to address a pressing gap in the market—providing effective cybersecurity solutions for SMBs.

The inception of Guardz stemmed from the growing awareness of emerging cyber threats and the increasing sophistication of attack methods available on the Dark Web. The founders recognized a critical issue: these attacks disproportionately affected small businesses. As experienced cybersecurity professionals, the founders observed that many of the tools and solutions available were tailored for large enterprises, leaving SMBs inadequately protected.

Small businesses, often lacking the resources and expertise required to manage complex cybersecurity solutions, were left vulnerable to ‘spray and pray' attacks—broad, indiscriminate assaults that exploit weaknesses across a wide range of targets. The limited capacity of these businesses to afford or effectively utilize advanced cybersecurity measures compounded their risk. Additionally, this vulnerability typically led to difficulties in securing cyber insurance, creating a dangerous catch-22.

Founders and Vision

Guardz was co-founded by Dor Eisner and Alon Lavi. Dor Eisner, serving as the CEO, brought significant experience in cybersecurity, having previously worked in roles that highlighted the urgent need for a more accessible and comprehensive solution for SMBs. Alon Lavi, the co-founder, complemented this with his expertise in technology and strategic development.

The vision behind Guardz was clear: to develop a cybersecurity solution that would not only protect small businesses but also make them eligible for cyber insurance. This dual focus on security and insurance aimed to address a significant market gap. By providing external and internal monitoring, detection, prevention, and remediation, Guardz sought to offer a holistic approach to cybersecurity that was previously unavailable to SMBs. This approach was designed to strengthen the security posture of small businesses and ensure they met the criteria for insurance coverage.

Growth Journey and Evolution

Since its founding in 2022, Guardz has made notable strides in its growth journey. The company successfully raised a seed round of $10 million, led by Hanaco Ventures with participation from iAngels, GKFF Ventures, and Cyverse Capital. This funding has been instrumental in the development and enhancement of Guardz's product offerings.

One of the significant milestones for Guardz was the launch of a dedicated, all-in-one MSP platform. This platform addresses the specific challenges faced by MSPs in protecting their small business clients, offering a unified solution that streamlines cybersecurity management while reducing costs and boosting revenue potential for MSPs.

Looking towards the future, Guardz plans to continue expanding its product suite and scaling its distribution channels. The company aims to protect an even broader range of small businesses globally and intends to build out its cyber insurance line of business to directly offer insurance coverage to its customers. This forward-looking strategy reflects Guardz's commitment to not only enhancing cybersecurity but also providing a comprehensive suite of services that address the needs of SMBs and their service providers.

Guardz’s growth trajectory and the strategic steps taken since its inception underscore its dedication to improving cybersecurity for small businesses and supporting the broader economy by reinforcing the digital defenses of its vital components.

Timeline of Key Events and Milestones

Here’s the timeline of key events and milestones of Guardz. These milestones highlight Guardz’s rapid growth and its commitment to transforming cybersecurity for SMBs. From its founding in 2022 to its strategic partnerships and integrations, Guardz continues to evolve and innovate, strengthening its offerings and expanding its impact in the cybersecurity landscape.

• The Big Bang: In 2022, Guardz was established by a group of cybersecurity experts with a mission to disrupt the digital security landscape and provide robust protection specifically for SMBs. This marked the beginning of Guardz’s journey to address a significant gap in the market and deliver comprehensive cybersecurity solutions.
• $10M Seed Funding: Shortly after its founding, Guardz secured $10 million in seed funding. This initial investment was crucial for developing its innovative platform and enabling MSPs to protect their clients from evolving cyber threats. The funding supported the early stages of product development and laid the groundwork for future growth.
• MSP Platform Launch: Guardz introduced its advanced, all-in-one platform designed to empower MSPs in securing and insuring their clients. The platform was built to provide unified cybersecurity protection, incorporating advanced technologies to meet the unique needs of SMBs and streamline the management of their digital security.
• Partnership with SentinelOne: In April 2024, Guardz formed a strategic partnership with SentinelOne. This collaboration aimed to integrate cutting-edge technology to provide MSPs and their SMB clients with superior protection against sophisticated cyber threats. The focus was on advancing Guardz’s AI-driven cybersecurity technology, optimizing its go-to-market strategy, and ensuring that SMBs received top-tier security similar to that of larger enterprises.
• Cyber Insurance Launch: In May 2024, Guardz introduced a groundbreaking cyber insurance policy specifically for small businesses. This allows SMBs to qualify for cyber insurance and obtain it through Guardz's network of MSPs. Setting a new industry standard, Guardz combines AI-powered detection and response with insurance coverage. The policy is accessible directly via the Guardz website or through its MSP partners. Available in most US states, it features competitive pricing and coverage limits up to $3 million, including media content liability, hardware replacement, and ransom payment coverage.
• Integration with ConnectWise PSA: In July 2024, Guardz reached a major milestone by achieving certified integration with ConnectWise PSA through the Invent Program. This integration enabled Guardz’s AI-powered cybersecurity platform to be utilized more effectively by MSPs, offering enhanced benefits and streamlined management for their SMB clients.

Key Challenges and How They Were Addressed

Guardz’s journey from inception to the present has been marked by several significant challenges, each of which the company has addressed with strategic solutions, positioning itself as a leading provider of comprehensive cybersecurity solutions tailored for small and medium-sized businesses.

• Initial Market Penetration: When Guardz was founded in 2022, one of the primary challenges was gaining traction in a highly competitive cybersecurity market. The cybersecurity space is populated with numerous established players and new entrants, making it difficult for a new company to distinguish itself and gain trust, especially in the niche of small and medium-sized businesses. To overcome this challenge, Guardz focused on addressing a specific market gap: providing comprehensive, affordable, and effective cybersecurity solutions tailored to SMBs, a segment often underserved by traditional enterprise-focused tools. The company emphasized its unique value proposition of offering both security and cyber insurance eligibility. By highlighting these distinctive features and demonstrating the platform's effectiveness through early adopters and successful case studies, Guardz gradually built credibility and attracted attention in the market.
• Technological Evolution and Integration: As Guardz expanded, it faced challenges related to scaling its solutions and integrating them with other platforms used by MSPs. It also needed to ensure that its solutions remained current and effective against new and emerging threats, while also integrating the latest advancements in technology. Ensuring seamless security and integration with existing tools and systems was critical for maintaining operational efficiency and delivering value to clients. To address these security and integration issues, Guardz developed a robust integration strategy and partnered with established platforms like SentinelOne for its  advanced AI-powered security, and ConnectWise for its PSA solution. This integration exemplifies Guardz's commitment to providing MSPs with efficient PSA and cybersecurity solutions, enhancing the overall functionality and appeal of Guardz’s platform.
• Scaling Operations and Funding: Securing sufficient funding and effectively allocating resources for product development, market expansion, and operational needs was a significant challenge for a new company like Guardz. Initial funding was crucial for scaling operations and supporting growth initiatives. Guardz successfully navigated this challenge by securing a $10 million seed funding round, which was instrumental in developing and enhancing its product offerings. The company strategically allocated these resources to areas critical for growth, including R&D, market-entry, and building strategic partnerships. The continued investment in these areas ensured that Guardz could scale effectively and maintain its competitive edge.
• Building Customer Trust: Gaining the trust of SMBs, who might be wary of adopting new cybersecurity solutions, was another significant challenge. Many SMBs were accustomed to traditional security measures or hesitant to invest in new technologies. Guardz addressed this challenge by demonstrating its commitment to SMBs through tailored solutions and exceptional customer support. The company provided clear value propositions, such as comprehensive protection and cyber insurance eligibility, which resonated with SMBs. Additionally, Guardz focused on building strong relationships with early customers and leveraging their success stories to build credibility and foster trust within the SMB community. This approach helped establish Guardz as a reliable and valuable partner in cybersecurity.

Guardz Cybersecurity Platform Overview

Guardz is an AI-driven, integrated cybersecurity platform that enables MSPs to protect and insure SMBs against constantly evolving threats like account compromise, phishing, ransomware, data loss, and user risks. By employing a multilayered approach with AI, the solution simplifies cybersecurity through automated detection and response across users, emails, devices, data, and cloud applications, all accessible from a single dashboard.

Key Features:

• Email Security: Guardz offers a user-friendly, API-based email security solution designed to protect against potential email threats.
• Cloud Data Protection: Ensures the safety and security of data shared with external users through Guardz's cloud data protection.
• Cyber Awareness Training: Empowers your employees to act as the first line of defense against cyber threats with Guardz's cyber awareness training.
• External Footprint Monitoring: Obtain actionable insights into external threats by scanning your digital footprint and identifying exposed vulnerabilities.
• Endpoint Security: Guardz provides robust protection for laptops and desktops, defending against threats such as malware and ransomware.
• Secure Browsing: Enhances your online safety with the Guardz browser extension, which protects against viruses and malicious websites.
• Phishing Simulation: Regularly simulate phishing attacks to identify weak spots and improve your organization's resilience.
• Device Management: The platform offers a simplified device management and protection feature including ransomware protection, providing visibility into all devices across the organization.
• Cyber Insurance: Manage and transfer the cyber risks associated with evolving threats with tailored insurance coverage at competitive rates.

By evaluating both internal and external vulnerabilities—ranging from exposed assets to at-risk users—Guardz proactively protects against the most common attack vectors from within and without. Guardz stands out for its unified interface and streamlined onboarding process, enhanced by integrated and tailored security controls that effectively detect, prevent, and respond to sophisticated cyber threats. Guardz is positioned as the ideal solution for MSPs, multi-organization setups, and environments requiring an aggregated view, offering a comprehensive and adaptive experience for managed service providers.

Guardz provides cyber insurance services that help businesses get the best coverage at competitive prices. This offering allows small businesses to qualify for cyber insurance and access it through Guardz's wide network of MSP partners. Guardz cyber insurance covers data breaches, legal expenses, transfer losses, ransomware attacks, and fraudulent transactions. For SMBs that are currently uninsurable due to perceived lack of security measures, Guardz connects them with MSP partners for expert support.  A 14-day free trial is available on request.

Overall, Guardz provides a strong and integrated approach to cybersecurity, offering many advantages for comprehensive protection and management. However, it's important to note that choosing the ultimate package (which includes additional features) may come with higher costs, and organizations should consider the resource requirements to make the most of the platform.

Wrap-Up

Guardz’s mission to build a safer digital world by empowering MSPs with a unified cybersecurity platform has positioned it as a leader in the industry. By merging strong cybersecurity technology with extensive insurance expertise, Guardz guarantees that businesses' security is continuously monitored, managed, and optimized to prevent future attacks and reduce risk.

The Guardz platform and its cyber insurance offerings continue to deliver valuable solutions that meet the changing demands of modern cybersecurity. With ongoing partnerships with industry leaders and a commitment to expanding its product suite, Guardz is positioned to stay at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, Guardz remains dedicated to enhancing its platform and helping MSPs and their clients navigate the complexities of cybersecurity with confidence.