Oort

Defining a Category: My Journey with Oort and the Rise of ITDR

My journey with Oort began in 2020, at a thrilling pre-seed stage. The ambition was clear: to revolutionize how organizations tackle identity-based threats. Those early days were a the definition of rapid iteration and intense collaboration. We were building something entirely new, the very foundation for Oort’s future success, and the energy was palpable. We moved at very high speed, developing features, validating market fit, and pivoting rapidly when necessary. It was an environment of constant learning and adaptation.

Being part of a startup at such an early stage is already special, but there was also a combination of mainstream security breaches that made what we were building even more relevant. We had the opportunity to help define a new category within the cybersecurity industry: Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR). It’s a rare and exhilarating experience to contribute to a product that is shaping the future of identity security. The ultimate validation came in 2022 when Gartner officially coined the term “ITDR,” recognizing the very problem we were passionately addressing. This confirmed that our vision resonated with the broader industry.

When I joined Oort, the concept was exciting, but the product was nascent – essentially super basic wireframes. This blank slate allowed me to join as part of the founding team and influence the product’s direction from the ground up. Startup life, especially in the early stages, demands versatility. My role quickly evolved into a multifaceted one:

• Product Design: I was involved in every stage of design, from initial sketches and user flows to detailed mockups and interactive prototypes. My focus was always on deeply understanding user needs, pain points, and the intricate workflows of security operations.
• Frontend Development: I translated designs into a live, responsive, and high-performing user interface. Bringing the designs to life and ensuring a smooth, intuitive user experience was a core part of my contribution. Make sure that the product was functional and easy to use.
• End-to-End (E2E) Testing: Quality was paramount. I played a key role in developing and executing end-to-end tests, simulating real-world scenarios to proactively identify and resolve potential issues before they could impact our customers.

This broad involvement wasn’t just necessary; it was a strategic advantage for both myself and the team. My combined design and development skills fostered a fast iteration cycle. I could directly translate user feedback into design adjustments, implement those changes in code, and immediately test the results. This tight feedback loop was invaluable, enabling faster validation by allowing us to get working prototypes in front of potential customers much earlier, gathering crucial feedback at the most impactful stage of development.

Incorporating user feedback became incredibly efficient, ensuring the product evolved precisely to meet market demands. This agility significantly boosted the company’s overall momentum, allowing us to quickly demonstrate value and establish a robust foundation for future growth.

Our continuous iteration and early validation were instrumental in securing seed funding, which further propelled our development and expansion. The momentum continued to build, culminating in a successful Series A funding round. This rapid growth and the clear market need for our solution ultimately led to Oort’s acquisition by Cisco in 2023.

My time at Oort was about more than just building a product; it was about trying to introduce a fundamental shift in how organizations approach identity security. Being part of the team that helped define the ITDR category, and witnessing that work recognized by industry leaders like Gartner and ultimately integrated into a global technology leader like Cisco, was a truly defining experience in my career. It demonstrates the impact of a clear vision, rapid iteration, and a team ready to tackle the multifaceted challenges of creating something that had genuine value for our users.