Introduction to Sola

In today’s digital landscape, enterprises are faced with a multitude of apps and services designed to secure their networks, data, and assets. However, managing the plethora of alerts and additional work generated by these security apps can be overwhelming. What if it were possible to create customized apps tailored to specific workloads, simplifying the entire security process?

The Concept of Sola

This is the core idea behind Sola, an Israeli startup that has developed a low/no-code platform enabling users to design their own cybersecurity apps tailored to their unique needs. This includes tools to manage existing apps and services. Emerging from stealth mode, Sola has secured $30 million in seed funding with the goal of “democratizing” the approach to security.

A New Approach to Security

Co-founder Guy Flechter emphasized that Sola is not attempting to replicate existing posture management tools or other security solutions. Instead, the aim is to revolutionize the way individuals think about security, much like Stripe did with payments or Canva with design.

Funding and Investors

S Capital, founded by the team that started Sequoia Israel, and former long-time Sequoia VC Mike Moritz are co-leading the funding round. Additional participants include S32, Glilot Capital Partners, and unnamed angel investors. Although some details of the round were leaked prior to the official announcement, Sola has been operational for approximately a year.

The Founders’ Vision

Sola is the brainchild of two seasoned cybersecurity experts, Guy Flechter and Ron Peled. Flechter previously co-founded and led Cider Security, which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks for $300 million in 2022. Peled, on the other hand, served as the chief infosec officer for AI commerce company LivePerson and advised several other companies.

Current Security Challenges

According to Flechter, there are currently two primary options for addressing security challenges. The first involves purchasing a robust commercial solution, often at a significant cost, which may not be fully utilized. The second option entails building solutions using open-source components, requiring a high level of technical expertise.

Sola’s Solution

Sola offers a third option, leveraging AI and big data management to create a platform where organizations can design customized cybersecurity apps without extensive technical skills. The platform allows users to set goals or ask questions in natural language, pulling in data from various sources to create new “apps” tailored to their specific assets.

Key Features and Functionality

Sola’s interface enables users to query data within existing security apps and includes built-in security tooling to replace certain functionalities. The platform also offers “ready-made” apps for those who prefer not to create their own. The ultimate goal is to provide streamlined security services that meet organizations’ specific needs at a fraction of the cost.

Example Apps and Functionality

The Sola app gallery showcases various apps that demonstrate the platform’s capabilities. For instance, an AWS Network Security app provides a high-level summary of key AWS network security metrics, including potential vulnerabilities. The platform can help answer questions such as “Which security groups have overly permissive rules?” or “What’s the status of my VPC flow logs?”

Investor Insights

Notably, Mike Moritz is making his first investment in a security startup as a solo investor. He emphasized that Sola’s approach to simplifying complex security challenges resonated with him, particularly the use of AI and big data management to create a more streamlined front end. This approach has been successful in other areas, such as payments with Stripe and design with Canva.

Conclusion

Moritz acknowledged that Sola’s growth and development will be influenced by advancements in AI, which are evolving at a rapid pace. The improvements in Sola’s interface over the past 18 months are a testament to the company’s ability to adapt and innovate in response to these advancements.