President and CEO, Check Point Software Technologies, Inc. AGE 49 ADDRESSwww.checkpoint.com BIO It's no surprise that the world's
premier network-security company started in Israel, where
security and defense are at a premium. What is a surprise is that
its American CEO is a horseback-riding Sarah Lawrence graduate--a
leafy school known more for its arts courses than computer
science. But Triant's left brain has served her pretty well.
After stints at Adobe and Sun, she came to Check Point in 1995.
Since then, this former math professor and mother of two has
created a billion-dollar business out of selling corporate
firewalls. Just the kind of behind-the-scenes business that has
the unwired scratching their heads while the company, and its
investors, make millions. 1998 POWER PLAY Every company with
electronic information--from an accounting spreadsheet to trade
secrets--needs a protective firewall, and Check Point controls
about 35% of the market, almost four times the share of its
nearest competitor. But it's not easy money--this type of success
is just what attracts big fish like Cisco and Microsoft to your
corner of the business. To help fend them off and broaden its
market base, Check Point announced deals this year with Internet
Security Systems to sell intrusion-detection software and with
Trend Micro to market an antivirus program. PLACE YOUR BETS Check
Point has financial analysts wringing their hands. With every
rumor that a bigger player is getting into its market, Check
Point's stock takes a dive. Ah yes, but what is a low-priced
stock if not a bargain buy? With first-quarter revenues of $30.8
million, Check Point is looking good. Analysts call it a moderate
buy.
