Tributes have poured in for the late Amit Yoran, the pioneering Chairman and former CEO of Tenable, who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
A West Point graduate and former Director of Vulnerability Programs at the Department of Defense’s Computer Emergency Response Team, Yoran was a true leader in the cybersecurity world. His career was described as nothing short of “rock star” status, as CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz put it, calling him “one of the true OGs in cybersecurity.”
In late November, Yoran had shared with his extensive network that he was taking a “temporary leave of absence” to undergo additional cancer treatments, though he remained optimistic, stating, “While this is disappointing, it is still a very treatable situation.”
On January 4, Tenable’s Chief People Officer informed staff with deep sadness of Yoran’s passing, stating, “Amit was not only a visionary leader but also a guiding force who had a profound impact on our industry.”
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Under Yoran’s leadership, Tenable grew to serve more than 44,000 organizations globally, including 65% of the Fortune 500. The company is renowned for its work in vulnerability and attack surface management, as well as for creating Nessus, one of the most widely deployed vulnerability scanners in the cybersecurity sector.
Known for his candid and direct leadership style, Yoran frequently shared bold perspectives on security issues. His open letter to Okta following its 2022 security breach and his outspoken commentary on a 2023 Azure vulnerability were clear, insightful, and rooted in his commitment to industry best practices.
As CrowdStrike’s Kurtz shared on LinkedIn, “Amit was a trailblazer… His contributions shaped the industry in countless ways, and his absence will be felt across the entire cybersecurity community.”
Yoran’s career also included founding RIPtech Inc., a managed security services firm, in 1998, which was later acquired by Symantec for $145 million in 2002. At just 33 years old, he was appointed by President Bush as director of the National Cybersecurity Division, where he coordinated federal departments and law enforcement to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure.
A staunch advocate for securing the U.S. from cyber threats, Yoran’s final public post highlighted new guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which encouraged leaders to adopt encrypted messaging tools. Yoran supported the effort, saying, “Great to have CISA and others championing the way.”
After announcing his leave in late 2024, Tenable appointed Steve Vintz and Mark Thurmond as Co-CEOs. Yoran expressed his full confidence in their ability to lead, stating, “I have complete trust in their ability—and yours—to keep our mission and transformation moving forward with the same passion. We have much to do and there is no time to waste.”
Our deepest condolences go out to Amit Yoran’s family, friends, and colleagues.
