Cellebrite Alumni Launch Cyata with $8.5M Seed to Secure AI Agent Identities
Cyata, a cybersecurity startup founded by alumni of Unit 8200, Cellebrite, and Check Point, has emerged from stealth mode with $8.5 million in Seed funding led by TLV Partners. The company is focused on addressing a rising but under-addressed threat: rogue AI agents operating autonomously within enterprise environments.
As organizations increasingly adopt AI to streamline operations, a new class of digital workers—including task-driven agents, copilots, and chatbots—has begun executing code, querying sensitive databases, initiating transactions, and triggering automated workflows. However, these AI agents often function outside traditional identity and access management frameworks, lacking the controls, traceability, and accountability applied to human employees or service accounts.
“AI agents represent the biggest leap in enterprise technology since the cloud,” said Cyata CEO and co-founder Shahar Tal, formerly a senior executive at Cellebrite and Check Point. “They act autonomously and at scale, yet no one is watching what they do. Cyata changes that.”
Cyata’s platform introduces what it calls a
"control plane for agentic identities." This solution provides automated discovery of AI agents and their permissions, maps them to their human owners, and continuously assesses associated risks. It also incorporates a forensic layer that tracks agent activity, including a novel feature requiring agents to justify their reasoning in real time. Additionally, Cyata applies just-in-time access control with optional human-in-the-loop approval for sensitive actions.
The founding team includes CTO Baruch Weizman and VP R&D Dror Roth, both former leaders in Israeli cyber units and commercial security labs. Cyata’s team of 12 is based in Tel Aviv, with 60% of its leadership drawn from digital forensics pioneer Cellebrite. The funding round also attracted investments from former Cellebrite CEOs Ron Serber and Yossi Carmil.
Cyata’s launch highlights the growing need for specialized cybersecurity solutions to manage and secure AI-driven automation, ensuring enterprises can safely leverage digital coworkers without exposing themselves to unchecked risks.
Source: Cellebrite alums raise $8.5M in Seed funding to guard against rogue AI agents | CTech
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About Cyata and its Mission
Q: What is Cyata and what problem does it solve?
A: Cyata is a cybersecurity startup founded by former executives from Cellebrite and Check Point. It aims to solve the growing problem of "rogue AI agents" operating autonomously within enterprise environments, which often lack proper identity and access management controls.
Q: Who are the founders of Cyata?
A: Cyata was founded by alumni of Unit 8200, Cellebrite, and Check Point, including CEO and co-founder Shahar Tal, CTO Baruch Weizman, and VP R&D Dror Roth.
Q: How much funding did Cyata raise in its Seed round?
A: Cyata raised $8.5 million in Seed funding, led by TLV Partners.
Cyata's Platform and Technology
Q: What is Cyata's core offering?
A: Cyata offers a platform that acts as a "control plane for agentic identities," providing automated discovery of AI agents, mapping them to human owners, risk assessment, activity tracking, and just-in-time access control.
Q: What does "agentic identities" refer to in Cyata's context?
A: "Agentic identities" refers to the digital identities and permissions of AI agents (like task-driven agents, copilots, and chatbots) that operate autonomously within an enterprise.
Q: What key features does Cyata's platform provide?
A: Key features include automated discovery and permission assessment of AI agents, mapping agents to human owners, continuous risk assessment, real-time activity tracking with reasoning justification, and just-in-time access control with optional human approval.
Q: How does Cyata ensure accountability for AI agents?
A: Cyata ensures accountability through continuous risk assessment, tracking agent activity, and requiring agents to justify their reasoning in real time for sensitive actions.
Crypto Market AI's Take
The emergence of companies like Cyata underscores a critical and rapidly evolving area of cybersecurity: the governance and security of artificial intelligence agents. As AI becomes more integrated into business operations, ensuring these autonomous entities are properly managed, audited, and secured is paramount. This trend aligns with the broader discussion around AI's impact on various sectors, including the financial industry. For businesses looking to leverage AI for operational efficiency or market analysis, understanding the security implications is crucial. Our platform provides insights into how AI is transforming
cryptocurrency trading and offers tools to navigate this complex landscape securely and effectively. Ensuring that AI agents within an organization adhere to strict security protocols is as vital as securing traditional digital assets.
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