Israeli and U.S. cybersecurity company Twine launched today with an announcement that it has raised $12 million in funding to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence-driven “digital cyber employees.”

The company is offering “digital employees,” AI-powered tools designed to automate cybersecurity tasks and help organizations address the industry’s critical talent shortage. The digital employees, starting with the first product, Alex, focus on identity management by learning and executing tasks from start to finish.

The problem Twine is seeking to address is a well-known one: While cybersecurity threats continue to grow, driven by the adoption of AI, cloud and remote work, the cybersecurity industry continues to suffer from a shortage of trained workers.

Twine’s platform seeks to address the shortage through the introduction of virtual digital employees who work alongside human teams to take on repetitive and time-consuming tasks. By automating these processes, Twine enables organizations to redirect their limited cybersecurity resources toward more strategic and complex challenges, improving overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Alex, Twine’s first digital employee, is specifically designed to handle identity management, a core area of cybersecurity that involves managing access to systems and sensitive information. Alex not only identifies potential vulnerabilities but also executes proactive measures to prevent unauthorized access, alleviating the workload on information technology and cybersecurity teams.

Twine’s founders bring extensive experience from leading cybersecurity organizations, including Claroty Ltd., where they developed solutions for some of the industry’s most pressing challenges. The background expertise has informed Twine’s approach, ensuring its platform is both practical and impactful for modern enterprises, the company claims.

Ten Eleven Ventures LP and Dell Technologies Capital led the seed round, with angel investors and Wiz Inc. also participating.

“Our vision is to create AI digital cybersecurity employees that can grasp each organization’s unique needs and allow end-to-end cyber execution, starting with identity management,” said co-founder and Chief Executive Benny Porat.  “We believe that cybersecurity teams are looking for a solution that improves efficiency and strikes the right balance between human and machine collaboration.”

Image: Twine