E167: Taking on Network Security with a Zero Trust Approach with NetBird
Feb 24, 2025
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Misha Bragin, Founder & CEO of NetBird, shares his journey in creating a zero trust networking platform that simplifies secure access for remote users. He discusses the shift from hardware to software, driven by the surge in remote work. Misha explains why traditional VPNs are outdated and highlights the advantages of the WireGuard protocol. He also delves into the unique features of NetBird compared to Tailscale, and the importance of hiring a technical marketer early for technical founders. Insightful and engaging!
NetBird's pivot from hardware to a software-based approach addresses growing remote access needs through a zero trust networking model.
Their commitment to open source enhances security, flexibility, and user control while fostering community engagement and trust in enterprise environments.
Deep dives
Origin and Evolution of Netbird
Netbird began as an idea for a user-friendly hardware solution to address privacy concerns associated with data storage alternatives like Dropbox or Google Drive. The founder initially envisioned a plug-and-play device that allowed users to store data at home and access it securely from anywhere. However, with the onset of the pandemic and subsequent hardware production challenges, the focus shifted from hardware to software development. This pivot led to the discovery that their peer-to-peer networking technology could effectively solve remote access issues, ultimately positioning Netbird as an open source zero trust network security solution.
Core Use Cases of Netbird
The primary use case for Netbird revolves around ensuring secure remote access to infrastructure for employees working from various locations. Unlike traditional VPNs that rely on centralized servers, Netbird utilizes a peer-to-peer network where devices discover one another and create direct tunnels for communication. This flexibility allows for a wide array of connections beyond just employee access, including links between mobile devices, IoT systems, and cloud databases. The emphasis on establishing direct connections enhances both security and performance, making Netbird suitable for diverse connectivity needs.
The Open Source Approach
Netbird's commitment to being fully open source stems from the belief that advanced network security should be accessible to companies of all sizes, regardless of their budget. This decision fosters trust among users, especially in enterprise contexts where skepticism around security solutions is prevalent. By providing an open source product, Netbird enables users to maintain not only flexibility in implementation but also control over the network environment. Additionally, this approach facilitates feedback loops that help improve product development while allowing users to run the software independently if desired.
Challenges and Insights in Fundraising
Fundraising for Netbird, especially in Europe, presented significant challenges post-pandemic, but the company successfully raised funds based on community traction from their open source model. Initially, the fundraising environment changed rapidly in 2022, making it difficult to secure investments, however, by the seed round, Netbird experienced greater interest from investors. The presence of public grants from the German government also aided their efforts, providing additional motivation for private investors. This background reveals the importance of having a solid product and community to reach investors, especially during economically challenging times.
Misha Bragin is the Founder & CEO of NetBird, the open source zero trust networking platform that allows companies and individuals to create secure private networks without the hassle of corporate networks. Their open source, also called netbird, has over 12K stars on GitHub and connects devices into a secure WireGuard-based overlay network.
NetBird has raised $4M from investors including InReach Ventures.
In this episode, we discuss:
Pivoting away from their initial hardware-based approach
How the growth in remote employees has driven demand
Why VPNs needed to be reinvented
Why they use the WireGuard protocol
What's different about their approach vs. Tailscale
Managing big and small users at the same time
Why most technical founders should hire a technical marketer early
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