CyberArk inaugurates new R&D center in Beer Sheba

The identity security company joins the thriving ecosystem of government agencies, academia, and industry in the capital of the Negev

CyberArk inaugurates new R&D center in Beer Sheba

VIPs including CyberArk CEO Udi Mokady (C) and Beer Sheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich (2nd from R) at the opening of the center. Photo: Diego Mitelberg  

Israeli cyber company CyberArk on Tuesday inaugurated a new R&D center in Beer Sheba, Israel. The center is located at the Gav-Yam Negev Tech Park, near the IDF's new C4I Corps Park and Ben Gurion University. Other high-tech park tenants include Israel's cyber campus, the National Cyber Directorate's CERT center, and over 70 development centers and startups.

Among the participants in the inauguration ceremony were Beer Sheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich; Beersheba Municipality CEO Avishag Avtuvi; the President of Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Prof. Daniel Chamovitz; the Director-General of Israel's National Cyber Directorate, Yigal Unna; the Deputy Director-General of Israel's investment Authority, Igal Gurevich; the CEO of Gav-Yam Avi Jacobovitz; the CEO of Gav-Yam Negev Hitech Park, Roy Zwebner; and employees of the new development center.

"The opening of an R&D center in Beer Sheba is another step in CyberArk's long journey from a groundbreaking startup to a major global corporation that continues to grow with a place at the forefront of technology, protecting the sensitive assets of the world's leading corporations," said Udi Mokady, CyberArk’s CEO and founder. "The employees of the new center join the company’s general R&D organization. We are proud to make CyberArk's Israeli innovation available to our global customers from Israel's capital of the Negev."

"The location of the new center at the capital of Israel's south is advantageous and valuable for us," said Chen Bitan, GM of CyberArk Israel and the company's Chief Product Officer. “The proximity to IDF's C4I corps, the Ben Gurion University, global brands, and startups at Beer Sheba’s cyber compound is a considerable edge for CyberArk and employees alike. We welcome the opportunity to join the construction of this unique ecosystem of government agencies, academia, and industry at the capital of the Negev, reinforcing the Israeli high-tech industry and branding Beer Sheba as a global cyber center."

Beer Sheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich, said, "CyberArk’s joining the high tech park of Beer Sheba is a global breakthrough for the city. It will cement the status of the innovation campus. It is excellent news for other multinational corporations. We look forward to making the park a central employment hub in cyber, technology, and innovation."

CyberArk’s new center will be run by Shai Saffer, formerly director of PayPal's center in Beer Shaba and VP R&D of CyActive before PayPal acquired it. CyberArk plans to recruit over 200 employees in Israel in 2021, including 100 programmers for its development centers in Petach Tikva and Beer Sheba.

CyberArk, the second largest Israeli cyber company trading on the Nasdaq, is a global leader in identity security. The CyberArk approach relies on managing privileged access, a critical security layer, and a market that CyberArk pioneered globally. CyberArk's customers include over 6,700 leading corporations. Over 50% are Fortune 500 companies that trust CyberArk to protect their most sensitive assets against external attackers and malicious insiders, according to the company. 

The opening of CyberArk’s new center was made possible with a concerted effort of the company jointly with the management team of Gav-Yam Negev Tech Park, a partnership of Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheba municipality, and Gav-Yam. 

Avi Jacobovitz CEO of Gav-Yam, said, "This is an important landmark for the Gav-Yam Negev Tech Park. The inauguration of a development center by CyberArk, a global company and a leader in information and cybersecurity. The Gav-Yam Negev Tech Park currently boasts 65 thousand square meters, offering a unique ecosystem for 70 Israeli companies and some 3,000 high-tech employees. It is one of the largest cyber know-how hubs. Upon its completion, it will occupy 200 thousand square meters, employing over 10,000 people at a total investment estimate at ILS 1.5 billion."

Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, said, "The arrival of CyberArk to our ecosystem not only adds another major magnet for employment talent, but also increases the possibilities of interaction with researchers from BGU, and internship opportunities for our students. I'm confident that CyberArk will benefit much from its proximity to the university."

Yigal Unna, Director-General of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, said, "CyberArk, one of the global cybersecurity leaders, is joining the Park's thriving ecosystem alongside the National Cyber Directorate, IDF's Cyber and IT organizations, dozens of high-tech and cyber companies, and the Ben-Gurion University. We will engage in cybersecurity as a cohesive community. The entry of a company such as CyberArk’s is essential for reinforcing and establishing Beer Sheba as Israel's cyber capital."