Cybersecurity has never been more crucial. As organizations across the globe grapple with increasingly sophisticated threats, the industry is at a pivotal moment—one where artificial intelligence and the rapid shift to cloud security are transforming how businesses protect their digital assets. Stepping into the role of CEO at Check Point Software Technologies, Nadav Zafrir succeeds founder Gil Schwed, who is stepping down after more than 30 years at the helm. With a distinguished background leading Israel’s elite Unit 8200, co-founding the cybersecurity think tank Team8, and collaborating with numerous startups, Zafrir brings deep expertise and a fresh perspective to Check Point.
How have your experiences at Team8 and Unit 8200 shaped your leadership style?
Zafrir: I have been in cybersecurity for almost 30 years — long before it was even called "cyber" — and I’ve seen the industry from multiple perspectives: as an attacker, a defender, and from a strategic point of view, understanding the needs of large-scale infrastructure at the national level. My time at Team8 allowed me to work closely with over 20 companies, providing valuable insights into how threats emerge and how companies are anticipating them and address them.
This experience reinforced my belief that innovation must be created at scale, and that’s precisely what we aim to do at Check Point—develop large-scale, responsible cybersecurity solutions. In today’s hyper-connected world, complexity has skyrocketed. Enterprises, individuals, and governments must find a balanced solution that ensures both security and functionality.
One of your first actions as CEO was to enhance customer engagement and refine Check Point’s go-to-market strategy. What insights have you gained so far? What are clients most focused on?
Zafrir: Regardless of size, all organizations rely on the same software, making collaboration between the private sector and governments essential. Regulatory frameworks should be outcome-oriented, setting common goals while allowing the private sector to determine the best methods to achieve them. At Check Point, cybersecurity is not just a passion but a mission. Our Infinity Platform is designed to be the leading solution for protecting hybrid mesh architectures—a security framework that integrates both on-premises and cloud environments seamlessly.
Our customers and partners recognize that AI is bringing forth one of the most pivotal shifts since the advent of the internet. One of their main concerns is the asymmetry between attackers and defenders. Attackers are agile and quick to adopt new technologies, leading to new attack vectors and increasingly sophisticated threats. Enterprises are grappling with complex network infrastructures and face a crucial decision: adopt a single, all-encompassing cybersecurity solution or integrate multiple best-in-breed solutions from different vendors.
Check Point’s Infinity Platform addresses this dilemma by offering a unified, optimized solution. Many customers feel constrained by fragmented security systems, and we believe a platform-based approach is the best path forward.
Additionally, we are embracing an “open garden” approach, partnering with other leading vendors to provide best-in-class security. For example, our recent collaboration with Wiz for cloud security.
The introduction of generative AI adds another layer of complexity, as we can’t fully predict its trajectory. However, one thing remains constant: organizations must understand user intent and roles to make informed security decisions. By leveraging AI-driven operations and large language models (LLMs), we can help businesses identify threats and simplify cybersecurity, despite the inherent asymmetry between offense and defense.
Check Point saw its highest growth (19%) in APAC—a contrast to many cybersecurity firms that prioritize North America. How do you view the APAC market compared to other regions? What are the biggest opportunities there?
Zafrir: APAC presents a tremendous growth opportunity—it’s a large and rapidly expanding market. While we are accelerating our efforts in APAC, we are also maintaining strong momentum in EMEA and the Americas.
Our global strategy focuses on hybrid mesh security through our core product lines—cloud security, firewalls, and email protection. The Infinity Platform remains at the center, offering security solutions that adapt to user needs, whether on-premises, at the edge, or in the cloud. As the region continues its digital transformation, demand for robust cybersecurity solutions will only intensify …
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