In this installment of our 9-part series, we feature our portfolio company, Meta Networks, a cybersecurity startup that leverages the cloud to build a global, zero-trust network that is agile and scalable for the way business is done today. Meta Networks was recently acquired by Proofpoint for USD 120M.

1. Vertex Perspectives
Software defined perimeter platform
Meta Networks believes it’s time to update the
way we approach network access and security –
to leverage cloud and internet to build a global,
zero-trust private network that is agile and
scalable for the way business is done today.
Counter-Drone Solutions
for Urban Environments
Goodbye VPN,
Hello SDP

2. Company Snapshot
TEAM INVESTORS HIGHLIGHTS
Founders • Founded in 2016
• HQ: Tel Aviv, Israel
• Acquired by Proofpoint
• Partnerships with Cisco, AWS, Talari
Networks (Oracle) and Cyren
• Multiple recognitions including
• Finalist in the Red Herring 100
Europe and US
• Wins Gold in Cybersecurity
Excellence Awards
• Shortlisted for Business Continuity
Award
• Recognition in reports by Gartner
and 451
Etay Bogner, CEO
A serial entrepreneur, his previous
ventures include Stratoscale,
Neocleus (acquired by Intel) and
SofaWare (acquired by CheckPoint).
Shmulik Ladkani, CTO
A veteran network and security
architect, previously held
leadership positions at Jungo
(acquired by NDS/Cisco) Ravello
Systems (acquired by Oracle) .
Alon Horowitz, VP R&D
An expert in cloud and virtualization
technologies, previously lead
product development teams at
Stratoscale and IBM.
Acquired Meta Networks in 2019

3. Industry Challenges
VPNs are site centric but the way we work has changed dramatically
in the last decade
We used to sit in offices, using on-premise apps on private networks.
Now we’re working from everywhere and our applications are
migrating to the cloud.
Traditional VPNs typically –
• Trust-based network design
• Authentication at connection
• Gateways to internet
• Backhauling internet traffic
• Star/ mesh site-to-site connectivity
• Mediocre user experience
The perimeter is dissolving and security paradigms designed around
the idea that users on the LAN can be trusted is not designed to
meet the operational or security challenges that we face today.
Trust-based
●
Broad Access
●
Complex to manage
●
Poor UX

4. Solution Overview
Meta Network’s Software Defined Parameter (SDP) is user centric
and addresses fragmentation and complexity of the security
perimeter. It is re-architecting the perimeter for the cloud age with
features of –
• Zero trust: all access to applications in the data center and cloud
must be granted with whitelist
• Global network backbone: support millions of concurrent users
• Identity based access: each device and network entity is unique
• Always-on security: for any user, location or device
• Rapid, simple deployment: agent and client-less
• Superior user experience
Meta Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is the future of enterprise
networking, abstracting the physical topology into a logical network
that enables policy-based management of users and applications.

5. Solution Overview
Video link: https://youtu.be/zLNQuBqNhT8

6. Case Studies
“With Meta NaaS, we are centrally managing a zero-trust network that
covers all of our applications and data, and our employees, contractors and
customers. We’re growing quickly and the solution is robust and flexible
enough to grow with us - it’s easy to onboard new customers and assure the
granular security that we need”
- Amir Mehler, Cross-Tec TL, Via Transportation Inc.
“Meta Networks essentially closed any security gaps we saw with our previous
setup. With the new system, each user is only exposed to the specific
applications he or she needs, regardless of which data center it’s located in.
Our Sales and Support teams have seen an increase in productivity because
they now connect once, and access everything they need. Compared to
managing VPNs in each of our data centers, the Meta NaaS solution is much
simpler and more convenient both for both our IT team and our users.”
- Moshe Magal, IT Team leaderCustomer Spotlight #1: Via
Use Case: Manage access to cloud infrastructure
Background: Via is building a ride sharing platform and licensing its technology
to companies building transit systems in other locations around the world. The
company is completely cloud native and has a widely distributed workforce with
more than 400 employees and contractors. In addition, their transportation
operator partners based in different locations required access to specific
portion of Via’s platform. This was challenging in terms of segmenting and
securing access as well as complex onboarding. Via’s vision was a zero-trust,
user centric network security architecture enforced consistently across all
groups of users regardless of their location.
Results:
• Enhanced security: network is protected by SDP per user that is
dynamically enforced, verified and logged
• Rapid customer onboarding: within minutes
• Efficient cloud network management: tasks such as spending time on
firewall configurations to microsegment networks are fully automated using
the Meta API and are an integrated part of DevOps
Customer Spotlight #1: My Heritage
Use Case: Convenient and secure access
Background: My Heritage is the leading global destination for discovering, preserving
and sharing family history with 93M users across 196 countries, 40M family trees
and 8.4B records. Employees often face delays due to slow and unreliable access to
multiple data centers through multiple VPN solutions while IT team face challenges
including security vulnerabilities and help desk overload
Results:
• One flat, logical network: Meta NaaS acts as central fabric through which all
network elements are consumed and managed
• Better user experience: one way to connect thus improving performance
compared to VPN over internet
• Enhanced security: Meta networks unified policies for easier management,
enabling defined access for each user group

7. Competitive Advantage
The most flexible and robust SDP solution available
• Zero-trust, granular “segment of 1” remote access: policy-
defined user/ device/ application access limits attack surface
• Cloud delivered network security: by leading vendors
• Flexible connectivity: only SDP solution with OTT SD-WAN
capabilities to connect clouds, data centers and users
• Continuous risk and trust assessment: based on patent-
pending identity based network
• No hardware: simple to deploy and manage
Meta Network is user-centric rather than site-centric, making it the
ideal solution for network security challenges that businesses face
today – from providing user-friendly remote access to connecting
cloud infrastructure and reducing management costs

8. Thanks for reading!
About Vertex Ventures
Vertex Ventures is a global network of operator-investors who manage portfolios
in the US, China, Israel, India and Southeast Asia. Vertex teams combine first-hand
experience in transformational technologies, on-the-ground knowledge in the
world’s major innovation centers and global context, connections and customers.
Contributors
Disclaimer
This presentation has been compiled for informational purposes only. It does not constitute a recommendation to any party. The presentation relies on data and insights from a wide range of sources including public and private companies, market research firms, government agencies and
industry professionals. We cite specific sources where information is public. The presentation is also informed by non-public information and insights. Information provided by third parties may not have been independently verified. Vertex Holdings believes such information to be reliable
and adequately comprehensive but does not represent that such information is in all respects accurate or complete. Vertex Holdings shall not be held liable for any information provided. Any information or opinions provided in this report are as of the date of the report and Vertex Holdings
is under no obligation to update the information or communicate that any updates have been made.
Please stay tuned and do let us know if you’d like to subscribe to future issues of Vertex Perspectives.
Vertex Perspectives: Cybersecurity Series
• Cybersecurity | Risk. Impact. Innovations.
• Cybersecurity | Axonius: Asset Management Platform
• Cybersecurity | Cylus: Railway Cybersecurity
• Cybersecurity | Cymulate: Breach & Attack Simulation
• Cybersecurity | D-fend: Counter-Drone Solutions for Urban Environments
• Cybersecurity | Indegy: Industrial Cybersecurity
• Cybersecurity | Meta Networks: NaaS Software Defined Perimeter
• Cybersecurity | PerimeterX: Next Generation Bot Defense
• Cybersecurity | Very Good Security: SaaS Platform for Data Security