Securing AI Adoption: A Conversation with Matan Derman, Co-founder & CEO of Apex

Securing AI Adoption: A Conversation with Matan Derman, Co-founder & CEO of Apex

By Michael Matias, CEO of Clarity and Forbes 30 Under 30 alum


Cybersecurity is at a turning point, driven by AI’s rapid rise. In a recent conversation with Matan Derman, CEO of Apex, we explored why integrating AI into organizations is inevitable—and why traditional security strategies must evolve to meet AI-specific threats.


Derman, with a background in elite Israeli cyber units and Stanford Business School, alongside co-founder Tomer Even, quickly recognized how accessible AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot were revolutionizing productivity while exposing new vulnerabilities. “Organizations were banning AI tools out of fear—legal, compliance, privacy, and data leakage concerns were overwhelming,” Derman shared.


At Clarity, I’ve seen firsthand how AI-generated cyberattacks are escalating. Team8 reports AI-driven phishing attacks have surged over 2,000% recently. Static, reactive security models are no match for these dynamic threats.


Apex’s solution? Use AI to secure AI. "We evolved from being a security company focused on AI to becoming a security company for AI, leveraging AI extensively," Derman explained. Traditional defenses can’t handle novel attack methods like prompt injection and jailbreak attacks, which trick AI models into revealing sensitive data—even through creative methods like Morse code.


Organizations now face a clear choice: adopt proactive, AI-powered security or risk falling behind. As AI lowers the barrier for attackers, real-time, AI-driven defenses have become essential.


Derman stressed that for AI’s true potential to be realized, it must be widely adopted across entire workforces—not just by tech experts. Yet, broader use also expands the risk landscape. Companies must urgently adopt AI-native security platforms to harness AI’s benefits safely.


The cybersecurity industry is at a crossroads. AI-driven solutions are no longer optional—they’re today’s standard. As Derman put it: “Our goal was identifying critical problems unique to AI use and creating foundational security layers for future AI adoption.”


The time to act is now. The future won’t wait.

Avsnitt(1163)

Ep480: Yair Kuznitsov | Co-Founder & CEO, anecdotes

Ep480: Yair Kuznitsov | Co-Founder & CEO, anecdotes

After building and managing teams in different places in the IDF Intelligence Corps, I was head of the hardcore R&D section at 8200. I then took a giant risk and built a new SaaS product for Intsights, hoping I’d quickly adapt to the modern tech stack and it turned out to be very successful. I started anecdotes with two friends, Roi and Eitan, and we currently have 30 employees in Tel Aviv. Transforming from R&D Manager to CEO means managing Marketing and Sales, which is another big move. But it seems like it’s working so far because modern R&D and modern M&S departments actually are very similar.

9 Juli 202121min

Ep479: Jeff Kupietzky | CEO, Jeeng

Ep479: Jeff Kupietzky | CEO, Jeeng

Jeff serves as CEO of Jeeng, an innovative technology company helping publishers bring their audiences back.  Before joining Jeeng, Jeff was President & CEO at Oversee.net and served in leadership positions with X1 Technologies, Digital Insight (Intuit), Siebel Systems (Oracle), Loudcloud/ Opsware (Hewlett-Packard), and McKinsey & Co. A frequent speaker at Digital Media conferences, he has also been featured on CNN & CNBC. Jeff earned an MBA at Harvard Business School and his B.A. in Economics from Columbia University.

8 Juli 202124s

Ep478: Urit Lanzet | Cyber Security Pre-sales Engineer & BizDev, CYMOTIVE Technologies

Ep478: Urit Lanzet | Cyber Security Pre-sales Engineer & BizDev, CYMOTIVE Technologies

Urit is originally a low-level security researcher from 49 center in 8200. She has been working in CYMOTIVE since its earlier days as Diskin Advanced Technologies, and among her roles in the company, she served as a Penetration Testing team leader. She is currently leading new opportunities with automotive industry clients from Europe and the USA and supporting the incubation of innovative product ideas inside the company. Her passions include understanding how things work and making them work better. She like understanding motives and seeing through the "outer shell" of either people, animals, and businesses.

8 Juli 202122min

Ep477: Ofer Schreiber | Partner and Head of Israel Office, YL Ventures

Ep477: Ofer Schreiber | Partner and Head of Israel Office, YL Ventures

Ofer Schreiber, Partner, and Head of Israel Office at YL Ventures have broad responsibilities across the firm’s portfolio company management, value-add activities, and investment due diligence. Prior to joining YL Ventures, Ofer spent three years at IVC Research Center researching and analyzing the technology and venture capital industry. He also served in the elite technological unit of IDF, Unit 8200. Ofer regularly speaks, writes, and features in interviews about the state of the cybersecurity industry, investment strategies, start-up development, and Israeli cybersecurity innovation.

7 Juli 202125min

Ep476: Inbal Shalev | Head of Solution Engineering, Placer.ai

Ep476: Inbal Shalev | Head of Solution Engineering, Placer.ai

Inbal Shalev, Head of Solutions Engineering at Placer.ai. I am a creative solution-oriented analytic expert. Experienced in Technology and Intelligence environment. Have performed across the lifecycle from requirements analysis to solution design and implementation. Hands-on experience in Data Analytics and Big Data applications. I have a passion to bridge between end-users and development teams. Technology-oriented Intelligence officer (KABAR), with vast team leader experience.

7 Juli 202122min

Ep474: Ron Brightman | Founder and CEO, Gigantic

Ep474: Ron Brightman | Founder and CEO, Gigantic

Ron is the founder and CEO of Gigantic, creators of the Clawee app. Ron (MBA) has been managing online marketing teams for about 19 years, at various companies such as 888, PartyGaming & eToro. For 7 years Ron was the CEO of Performance Revenues – an international mobile marketing firm.

6 Juli 202123min

Ep475: Yinnon Dolev | CEO, Sompo Digital Lab Israel, Sompo Holdings

Ep475: Yinnon Dolev | CEO, Sompo Digital Lab Israel, Sompo Holdings

Yinnon is the CEO of Sompo’s Digital Lab in Tel Aviv. Sompo is Japan’s largest insurance company which also operates a chain of nursing homes for the elderly. His group is responsible for partnering and investing in startups in areas such as Insurtech, Digital Health, Smart Mobility, and Agritech. Prior to that, Yinnon spent 13 years at General Electric (GE) in various management positions. He established GE's company’s startups partnership program, which included 26 startups. Yinnon holds a BA in Computer Science from the Interdisciplinary Center in Israel an MBA from Cornell University.

6 Juli 202121min

Ep472: Michael Shoham | CEO, Radix

Ep472: Michael Shoham | CEO, Radix

Michael brings with him more than 20 years of experience in business development and a deep understanding of technology. He is passionate about technology, sport, music, and art, especially woodcraft and clay sculpture. Michael holds a BSc from Bar-Ilan University and an MBA from Derby University. He is a loving husband (married to Michal, a Physiotherapist) and a proud father of 4 daughters.

5 Juli 202123min

Populärt inom Business & ekonomi

framgangspodden
varvet
badfluence
uppgang-och-fall
svd-ledarredaktionen
rss-borsens-finest
avanzapodden
rss-kort-lang-analyspodden-fran-di
rikatillsammans-om-privatekonomi-rikedom-i-livet
affarsvarlden
rss-dagen-med-di
lastbilspodden
fill-or-kill
tabberaset
kapitalet-en-podd-om-ekonomi
borsmorgon
dynastin
montrosepodden
market-makers
rss-inga-dumma-fragor-om-pengar