Yaki Faitelson is the Co-Founder, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Varonis Systems, a leading data security company that he co-founded in 2005. With a background in cybersecurity, networking, and systems integration from his time at NetVision and NetApp, Yaki played a key role in the co-development of the MetaData Framework technology, which underpins Varonis' Data Security Platform. Under his leadership, Varonis has grown into a multinational corporation and has established a significant presence in the cybersecurity market.
Yaki was born in April 1975, but details about his early life, family, and education remain undisclosed. Despite lacking formal higher education, his professional journey demonstrates a natural aptitude for technology. Through hands-on training from Network Appliance (NetApp) and NetVision, he gained practical experience in file management and systems integration. During those early years, while working alongside Ohad Korkus, he developed a strong interest in data security—an interest that ultimately led him to establish one of the most innovative companies in the cybersecurity field.
Yaki started his career in IT services and system integration, assisting companies in navigating complex data environments. His experience at NetVision and NetApp served as excellent training grounds. In 2005, he partnered with Ohad Korkus to launch Varonis, where they filed a patent for a platform designed to automate storage access control. This vision evolved into DatAdvantage and the broader Varonis Data Security Platform. With his extensive knowledge of cybersecurity, operating systems, and business applications, Yaki successfully guided Varonis from a bold startup to a global leader in cybersecurity.
Varonis integrates AI across its security platform, employing tools like Athena AI and agentic AI to enhance threat detection, automate responses, and streamline data governance for robust cybersecurity.
AI in Cybersecurity: Varonis leverages machine learning and generative AI to enhance cybersecurity through behavior-based threat detection, anomaly recognition, and sensitive data classification. With responsible AI principles, Athena AI enables SOC teams to investigate alerts using natural language, improving speed and precision.
Data Expansion and AI: Varonis has unveiled cutting-edge data centers, empowering Indian enterprises with faster, localized data processing. This strategic move boosts compliance with national regulations while advancing AI-driven security automation and safeguarding sensitive data with low-latency cloud.
Varonis at RSAC: At RSAC 2025, Varonis spotlights its AI-driven, automated security solutions to combat today’s evolving threats. Through expert talks on resilient cyber teams and modern DLP, they reveal how their cloud-native platform secures data and drives regulatory compliance.
Data Governance: Varonis Data Lifecycle Automation simplifies data governance by automating its entire lifecycle, from creation to deletion. It ensures compliance, mitigates risks, optimizes storage, facilitates smooth data migration, and enforces policies seamlessly across domains without disrupting operations.
Varonis MDDR: Varonis MDDR is the first managed service to prevent data breaches. It offers 24/7 detection and response, powered by AI, combining automated insights with expert threat hunters. This ensures real-time protection and swift resolution for sensitive data, enhancing overall security.
AI in Data Discovery: Varonis introduces advanced AI-powered data discovery and classification, using machine learning to identify and categorize unique customer data automatically. This solution enhances security enforcement and exposure remediation with minimal training, local scanning, and high accuracy.
AI Prompt Monitoring: Varonis improves Microsoft 365 Copilot security by introducing AI-powered prompt monitoring, enabling security teams to track and analyze risky prompts, responses, and sensitive file references. Using machine learning, this feature helps prevent data breaches and protects against malicious AI activity.
Varonis and Concentrix: Varonis and Concentrix collaborate to secure sensitive data against AI-driven threats. Their partnership offers automated data security solutions, including classification, remediation, and continuous monitoring, ensuring protection from vulnerabilities and breaches in the evolving AI landscape.
Agentic AI: Varonis introduces agentic AI to enhance data defense, enabling security teams to counter AI-driven threats like phishing and brute-force attacks. By automating threat analysis and continuously improving, agentic AI strengthens Varonis' Managed Data Detection.
As of May 2025, Yaki's estimated net worth is $78 million. He has 1,711,247 shares of Varonis worth about $77.5 million. Yaki made tremendous profits on his share transactions from the very first time, gaining a return of about 19.17% on every transaction. In addition to the value of his shares, he also benefits from an annual income of $560,000, together with substantial equity rewards and bonuses. Yaki’s financial expertise and strategic decisions have played a key role in his success.
Under Yaki’s leadership, Varonis has grown from a disruptive startup to a global leader in data security. His patents, with data classification, access simulation, and visualization, became the foundation for products that transformed the dynamics of data protection by organizations. DatAdvantage brought waves with simple but powerful control of enterprise data. With a culture of innovation and service to customers globally, Varonis has flourished. In 2014, Yaki’s entrepreneurial vision earned him EY’s Technology Entrepreneur of the Year award, cementing his status as a trailblazer in secure data management.
Varonis Systems, Inc. is currently dealing with various legal and reputational issues, including fraud investigations, lawsuits, and shareholder concerns due to missed earnings, executive decisions, and a significant decline in stock price.
Legal Investigation: The Schall Law Firm conducted an investigation into Varonis Systems, Inc., regarding potential securities law violations. Allegations included false or misleading statements and missed earnings projections, which contributed to a significant drop in the company’s stock price and affected shareholder investments.
Fraud Investigation: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC probed Varonis Systems, Inc. for potential securities fraud after the company’s earnings fell short of expectations, citing the Ukraine conflict and economic downturn. This resulted in a significant 35% decline in its stock price.
Lawsuit by Sphere In 2019, Sphere Technology Solutions sued Varonis Systems for breach of contract and other claims. The court dismissed Sphere’s counterclaims for insufficient evidence and denied the motion to strike Sphere’s affirmative defenses, ruling in favor of Varonis Systems.
Varonis Systems Vs Ex-Employees: Varonis Systems sued ex-employee Gregory Jarvis for allegedly violating post-employment agreements by joining a rival, AppOmni, and withholding a required termination certification, risking exposure of confidential information and business relationships.
Stock Drop Scandal: In November 2022, Varonis Systems' stock nosedived, triggering an investigation by Pomerantz LLP. Allegations of securities fraud and misleading disclosures by top executives alarmed investors, casting doubt on the company’s financial transparency and corporate governance.