Check Point Founders — cybersecurity with roots in the USSR
Check Point Software Technologies was founded in 1993 by Gil Shwed, Marius Nacht, and Shlomo Kramer — all Soviet-born Israelis who emigrated as children. They invented the stateful inspection firewall, effectively creating the commercial cybersecurity industry. Check Point is now worth over $20 billion and protects networks in 100+ countries.
Tracing the roots — USSR Roots
All three founders were born in the Soviet Union and emigrated to Israel as children — Gil Shwed born in Jerusalem but with Soviet family roots, Marius Nacht born in USSR, Shlomo Kramer born in USSR. Their Soviet mathematical and scientific education, combined with Israeli military intelligence training (Unit 8200), created the combination that built the world's most important cybersecurity company.
Gil Shwed & Marius Nacht (Nacht is from Romania/USSR).
USSR Roots. At the time, this region was one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union.