Guest: Jackie McGuire (LinkedIn)
Company: Cribl (Twitter)
Show: Let’s Talk

Cribl offers a versatile data engine for IT and security, functioning as both a telemetry and observability pipeline to meet diverse enterprise needs. In this show, Jackie McGuire, Senior Security Strategist at Cribl, discusses the new Copilot feature that automates repetitive tasks for IT and security professionals, the recent $319 million Series E funding led by Google Ventures, and how this funding will support vendor-agnostic data integration and routing solutions while assisting customers in aligning their strategies with executive goals. McGuire says, “We’re trying to supercharge what our customers are able to do with their technology in a given day.”

Cribl’s evolving role as a flexible data engine for IT and security

• Cribl is a flexible and powerful data engine designed for IT and security teams. It is built to help organizations efficiently collect, route, and analyze vast amounts of telemetry data across enterprise systems, solving multiple business problems simultaneously.
• McGuire elaborates on Cribl’s role as a telemetry pipeline for security and an observability pipeline for IT. Cribl can transport data to any destination in the format required, making it a versatile tool that adapts to different teams’ needs.

Leveraging AI: Cribl’s Copilot enhances productivity for IT and security

• McGuire explains Cribl’s launch of Copilot, a new feature designed to help automate repetitive, low-risk tasks for security analysts and IT professionals. It is useful for tasks that take up time but do not require extensive expertise.
• Copilot supports professionals by simplifying query writing, translating natural language commands into structured queries, and generating regex expressions—tasks that typically require more manual effort and specialized knowledge but are essential to data analysis and system monitoring.
• McGuire notes that while AI and generative AI are not yet mature enough for high-risk tasks, Copilot is designed to handle time-saving, low-stakes jobs that free up skilled professionals to concentrate on more important work.
• IT and security professionals often need to be proficient in multiple query languages and Copilot’s ability to streamline this requirement by automating the simpler aspects of query generation makes a significant difference in efficiency.

How Cribl differentiates Copilot from competitors like Microsoft and Salesforce

• McGuire emphasizes that Cribl’s Copilot is not a standalone product but a feature embedded within the Cribl suite. It helps users save time by automating tasks that do not require deep expertise or human intervention.
• McGuire emphasizes that Cribl’s key differentiator is its vendor-agnostic approach, which allows the platform to integrate seamlessly with a wide range of tools and technologies, giving enterprises flexibility and avoiding vendor lock-in.
• Cribl’s goal with Copilot is not to replace other AI products but to enhance the efficiency of Cribl users, enabling them to leverage AI to improve productivity without the need to replace their existing infrastructure.

How Copilot integrates into the workflows of Cribl’s existing users

• McGuire discusses how Copilot is designed to blend into users’ current environments without causing disruptions or requiring major changes in their workflows.
• Copilot is accessible directly from the Cribl platform, allowing users to ask questions or automate tasks without leaving the interface or switching between multiple screens. This design minimizes the cognitive load and maximizes productivity.
• As co-chair of Cribl’s neurodiversity resource group, McGuire highlights the importance of creating tools that reduce distractions, noting that neurodiverse professionals, in particular, benefit from workflows that minimize interruptions and task switching.
• Copilot’s automation of low-risk, repetitive tasks allows users to remain focused on their primary responsibilities, cutting down on manual work and ensuring that time-consuming but simple tasks are handled in the background.

Copilot’s potential to address the cybersecurity workforce shortage

• McGuire talks about the broader impact of Cribl’s Copilot feature, particularly in addressing the current shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. She refers to the federal government’s estimate that at least 500,000 more cybersecurity professionals are needed to keep up with demand.
• Tools like Copilot lower barriers to entry for cybersecurity by automating complex but mundane tasks, allowing people without advanced technical skills to contribute meaningfully to the field. This democratization of cybersecurity tasks can help reduce the skills gap.
• Simplifying these tasks enables professionals who may not have deep technical knowledge to play a valuable role in cybersecurity operations, making it easier for organizations to onboard new talent and keep up with growing cybersecurity needs.
• McGuire highlights how Cribl’s product suite helps companies efficiently scale their security teams, as even less-experienced professionals can manage routine operations, freeing up skilled workers for higher-stakes tasks like preventing breaches and outages.

AI as a skill enhancer: Cribl’s approach to AI in the workplace

• McGuire talks about AI’s role in enhancing human skills, noting that AI and generative AI can significantly reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, allowing professionals to shift their focus to higher-value work that requires their expertise and judgment.
• AI tools, such as Copilot, streamline processes for developers and cybersecurity professionals, making their data pipelines more efficient and reducing the manual labor required for everyday tasks.
• McGuire emphasizes that Cribl’s AI tools are not designed to replace jobs but to complement and enhance the skill sets of IT and security professionals, enabling them to do their jobs better, faster, and more efficiently.

Cribl’s Series E funding round and strategic investment plans

• McGuire discusses the company’s recent Series E funding round saying that Cribl successfully raised $319 million, with Google Ventures leading the round and notable industry leader Michael McBride joining Cribl’s board.
• McGuire emphasizes that securing Google Ventures as an investor not only boosts Cribl’s financial standing but also offers strategic advantages that could help the company grow its business and expand into new markets.
• McGuire believes that the successful funding round serves as proof of Cribl’s potential to solve critical challenges in IT and security—particularly in underserved areas where more efficient data management and analysis are needed.

Why Vendor-agnosticism is key to Cribl’s competitive edge and future

• McGuire elaborates on Cribl’s commitment to being a vendor-agnostic platform, explaining that this flexibility allows the company to work with any tool or technology, making Cribl a preferred solution for organizations seeking a flexible, scalable approach.
• McGuire underscores that achieving vendor-agnosticism means building a sustainable business that can serve a broad range of customers, from small enterprises to large organizations, without forcing them into rigid ecosystems.
• McGuire likens Cribl’s collaborative philosophy to how cyber attackers freely share tools and information, stressing that defenders in cybersecurity must adopt a similar collaborative mindset by using tools like Cribl to remain agile and adaptive in the face of emerging threats.
• Cribl’s recent funding success proves that vendor-agnosticism is increasingly recognized as the way forward for businesses seeking flexibility in their IT and security infrastructure.

What is Cribl’s vision for 2025

• Cribl’s future roadmap includes focusing on deepening its partnerships with customers, not only as a tool provider but as a strategic advisor that helps them make better data decisions and align their projects with broader business goals.
• McGuire’s work includes focusing on developing a set of data modernization tools and maturity scales that help customers assess their current data capabilities, identify gaps, and chart a path forward in their data management strategies.
• McGuire expresses excitement about helping Cribl’s customers become thought leaders within their organizations, guiding their data priorities to align with executive strategies and positioning them as leaders in innovation and data-driven decision-making.

This summary was written by Emily Nicholls.