Addressing Visibility in DDoS Defense: Insights from MazeBolt at AppWorld

Key Concepts

• DDoS Mitigation: The process of protecting networks and applications from Distributed Denial of Service attacks.
• Vulnerability Identification: The core function of Mazebolt, which involves finding ways attackers bypass existing security defenses.
• Automated Mitigation: The shift toward removing human intervention in the security response loop to counter AI-driven attacks.
• ADSP (F5 Technology Alliance Program): The strategic partnership framework between F5 and Mazebolt.
• AI-Driven Attacks: The use of artificial intelligence to increase the speed and adaptability of cyberattacks.

1. The Mazebolt and F5 Partnership

Matthew Andreani, CEO of Mazebolt, highlights a specialized synergy between his company and F5. Mazebolt functions as a vulnerability discovery engine; they identify specific methods attackers use to bypass existing DDoS mitigation systems. This intelligence is then fed to F5, which implements patches or configuration changes to close these security gaps. Andreani notes that F5 is uniquely capable of implementing these fixes faster than any other vendor in the market.

2. Addressing the AI Threat Landscape

A primary focus of the discussion is the evolution of the threat landscape due to AI.

• The Speed Factor: Andreani emphasizes that AI-driven attacks, similar to the speed of ChatGPT, operate at a velocity that renders traditional human-led mitigation processes obsolete.
• The Need for Automation: To combat these threats, the partnership is moving toward a more automated workflow. The goal is to eliminate human latency in the "identify-to-patch" cycle, allowing systems to adapt in real-time as an attack evolves.
• Timeline: New developments regarding this automated integration are expected to be released in Q2 of 2026.

3. Customer Priorities and Market Demand

Mazebolt primarily serves the Banking and Financial Services industry, a sector where security resilience is paramount. According to Andreani, customers are currently prioritizing two main areas:

• Visibility: Clients demand comprehensive insight into their security posture to verify that their protection systems are actually functioning as intended.
• AI Readiness: Customers are actively seeking guidance on how to defend against AI-powered threats, leading to a collaborative effort between Mazebolt and F5 to provide robust mitigation strategies.

4. Business Expansion and Growth

Mazebolt is currently undergoing a significant scaling phase in the United States:

• Team Growth: The U.S. team is expanding to 11 personnel, focusing heavily on sales and marketing.
• Market Traction: This expansion is driven by a growing pipeline and successful acquisitions of Fortune 500 clients toward the end of 2025.
• Strategic Shift: Previously, the company was more concentrated in Europe and Israel; the current move reflects a strategic decision to capitalize on the increasing demand for their specialized security data in the North American market.

5. Synthesis and Conclusion

The collaboration between Mazebolt and F5 represents a proactive approach to cybersecurity, moving away from reactive, manual patching toward a data-driven, automated defense model. By focusing on the intersection of vulnerability discovery and rapid mitigation, the two companies aim to enhance customer resilience against the accelerating threat of AI-driven attacks. The year 2026 is positioned as a pivotal period for this partnership, characterized by increased automation, U.S. market expansion, and a shared commitment to evolving security infrastructure to meet the demands of the AI era.