In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Mike Malone, CEO and Founder of Smallstep, a certificate lifecycle management platform that's raised $26 Million in funding, about why securing distributed software systems is so important for the modern economy, and how it can be achieved without sacrificing the immense potential of the systems themselves. With a tried and tested software solution built on certificate-based authentication, Smallstep identifies critical components that need to be secured, lapses in existing security policy, and helps manage a business’ most valuable resource - trust.

We also speak about Mike’s background in software and his long-running vision to establish himself in Silicon Valley, how authenticity and real-world problem-solving helped Smallstep secure a significant customer base, and why sustainable open-source software is one of the most significant unsolved challenges in the world today.

Topics Discussed:

Mike’s background from a self-proclaimed ‘nerdy kid’ to a systems engineer across a whole range of software firms
How vision eventually became reality as Mike established himself in the Silicon Valley ecosystem
Sustainable open source software as a strategic challenge for modern business, and how Mike and Smallstep are focusing on a solution
Certificate-based authentification as a tried and tested security method with its origins in pre-web software development
Why, regardless of the era we find ourselves in, trust remains the most valuable resource for any business
Why Mike sees Smallstep as improving the security of the internet as a whole, and how that ultimately benefits everyone

Favorite book:

On the Road

Mike Malone, CEO and Founder of Smallstep: $26 Million Raised to Build the Future of Certificate Lifecycle Management For DevOps