‘A force of nature’: Friends and colleagues remember Tenable CEO Amit Yoran

Amit Yoran, a cybersecurity executive, founder and former public servant, is not only remembered for his expertise, but his authenticity. 

The CEO of Columbia, Maryland-based cybersecurity company Tenable died unexpectedly at the beginning of January following a cancer diagnosis. Yoran had previously taken medical leave in December, with Tenable’s CFO Steve Vintz and COO Mark Thurmond stepping in as co-CEOs.

Yoran, who lived in Reston, Virginia, has a resume entrenched with cybersecurity work: He previously led RSA Security in Massachusetts, as well as started NetWitness in Reston before RSA Security acquired it in 2011. He also served on the board of directors for the Center for Internet Security (CIS), an organization promoting cybersecurity awareness and best practices, and the California fintech firm BlackLine prior to his death. 

“He always took his work seriously, but he never took himself seriously,” said Joseph Kopser, Yoran’s former roommate at West Point, adding: “Not trying to be the center of attention, but he just naturally gravitated and became the center of attention because everyone was enjoying  listening to his stories and his larger than life personality.”

Yoran worked as the national cybersecurity director at the Department of Homeland Security in 2003 and 2004 during the George W. Bush administration, as well as for the Department of Defense in the late ’90s. Kopser, a serial tech entrepreneur and president of the consulting firm the Grayline Group, kept in touch with Yoran as he could over the years after their days at the esteemed military academy.

But the duo always supported one another.  

When Kopser founded the transportation tech platform RideScout in 2011, a few years before it was acquired by Mercedes Benz, Yoran invested money into the firm. He also vouched for Kopser’s idea to investors, which then caused a flood of people to put money into the startup. 

Plus, when Kopser ran for Congress, Yoran was one of his biggest donors, he said. The duo didn’t know one another’s politics, Kopser said, but “politics and ideology had nothing to do with it.”

“He was just one of those guys where if he said, ‘Look, I believe in this. I believe it’s got great potential,’” he said, “that’s all people needed to hear.”

Yoran was at the cutting edge of cybersecurity early on, Kopser said, as the sector evolved in relevance throughout the late 90s and 2000s. 

In between stints at the federal government, Yoran founded the cybersecurity company Riptech with his brother, which was later acquired by Symantec (now known as Gen Digital) for $145 million, according to a timeline on Tenable’s website. 

That drive translated to his work throughout his career and at Tenable, which he joined in 2017 and took public in 2018.

His momentum at the company has continued after his death, too. Tenable announced it acquired the Israeli cybersecurity firm Vulcan Cyber for $150 million in late January, according to the Baltimore Business Journal. Yoran guided the company through nine-figure acquisitions of other companies in 2023 and 2021, as well. 

Yoran was also very active with the board positions he held, per Owen Ryan, the chairman of BlackLine’s board and its co-CEO. 

“Even as he faced his battle with cancer, Amit’s determination and strength were a source of inspiration to all who knew him,” Ryan told Technical.ly. “His resilience and unwavering commitment to making a difference will remain an enduring example.”

His colleagues at CIS shared similar sentiments. 

“Amit’s remarkable generosity, coupled with his intellect, wit, and vision, profoundly influenced our industry,” said board chair Bobbie Stempfley in a press release. “His contributions to CIS and the broader cybersecurity community leave an enduring legacy, one that will continue to resonate through the individuals and organizations he supported with such dedication.”

Like Yoran’s West Point roommate Kopser and fellow board members, many people who knew Yoran remember him for his work, as well as his character. 

Amit Pawar, the vice president of consulting services at Xage Security in Prosper, Texas, described Yoran as a “visionary leader and a remarkable human being.”

“Amit was more than a CEO; he was a mentor, and a force of nature who brought wisdom, kindness, and authenticity to every interaction,” Pawar wrote on LinkedIn. “His legacy as a pioneer and a person of immense character will continue to inspire.”