Cybercriminals have long felt like they hold all the power.

But what if defenders could flip the script, turning the attackers into the confused ones, lost in a web of fake systems and dead ends?

That’s exactly what Labyrinth is doing.

Born in Ukraine, built in Poland, and expanding worldwide, the company is leading the new wave of cyber deception, a strategy that lures intruders into decoys, keeps them busy, and buys defenders the time they need to respond.

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Turning Defense into Deception

Deception isn’t new — honeypots have existed for decades.

But Labyrinth’s approach is different. Instead of complex setups that require extra headcount, their platform deploys in minutes and starts catching real threats instantly.

Their promise is simple yet radical:

* Zero false positives.

* Instant visibility.

* Built for real-world teams, not research labs.

As Pawel puts it:

“Deception is the most reliable early-warning system you can have.Nobody should be touching fake systems. If they do, you know.”

Pre-Emptive Cybersecurity: From Reaction to Prevention

For years, the cybersecurity industry has been stuck in a reactive mindset: “detect and respond.”

Now, even Gartner - who has been a strong proponent of Detection and Response - is pushing a new category: Pre-Emptive Security.

Labyrinth fits perfectly into this shift.

By trapping intruders before they can do harm, it embodies a new defensive philosophy: proactive, psychological, and smart.

“It’s not about fear. It’s about changing the game.” — Pawel

Built in Europe. Battle-Tested in Ukraine.

Labyrinth’s technology has been proven in one of the toughest environments on Earth: Ukraine.

As Anastasiia Dorosh, one of the company’s technical leads, shared:

“Unfortunately, the war is still happening.But the least we got from it is advancement in cybersecurity.We see real attacks every day — and that makes our solutions real.”

In a world where “battle-tested” is more than a buzzword, Labyrinth’s origins matter.Their platform is refined against real adversaries — not just simulated ones.

Made in Europe, Scaling Beyond Borders

Labyrinth is also part of a growing movement: European-made cybersecurity.

Pawel is one of the most vocal advocates of promoting local innovation, not because it’s patriotic, but because it’s quality.

“We don’t want people to buy European just because it’s European.We want them to buy it because it’s great.”

Their growth strategy is all about partnerships.

Instead of selling directly, Labyrinth works with channel partners, MSSPs, and distributors, building trust and reach from Poland to Mexico to Australia.

“Our DNA is partner-first. It’s how we scale globally.”

Key Takeaways for Cyber Founders

* Deception is innovation. If everyone’s chasing detection, go where the attackers least expect you.

* Validation beats hype. Let your product prove itself. No marketing needed.

* Partnerships scale faster. Global reach doesn’t have to mean huge teams.

* Quality is a narrative. “Made in Europe” can stand for technical excellence.

* Test in reality. The best cybersecurity products are the ones tested under fire.

About This Episode

This episode is part of Season 1 of Scaling Cyber — the show where founders and leaders from outside the US and Israel share how they’re building global cybersecurity companies.

Host: Ignacio Sbampato — cybersecurity executive, former Chief Business Officer at ESET, and founder of BridgerWise.Guests: Pawel Rybczyk & Anastasiia Dorosh, from Labyrinth

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scalingcyber.substack.com