In the long run, AI is going to make software so much more capable, and so much more secure. And reliable. But before that ...

Security researchers and operators from the 90s suiting back up ...

Honestly I feel like cyber had largely become checklists, compliance, reporting, insurance etc over the last decade. But now we're back to fighting the badies. Let's goooooooo!!!!!

I think I've gotten to the bottom of the issue with the "network effects" discourse. The problem is the shape of a moat is often conflated with the mechanism. And there is remarkably little consensus on what a network effect is, or a flywheel. Here's a very simple, very rough vocabulary that I think works with current working definitions. Seriously, learn these few rules so your boardroom conversation about defensibility isn't a waste of time: Shape of Moat: This is what happens to the advantage as the company scales Static : Doesn't change Sublinear : Advantage compounds but at a diminishing rate as the company scales (this is not a long term durable moat against challengers) Linear: advantage is fixed relative to a competitor as company scales Superlinear : Advantage compounds at an increasing rate as the company scale (this is the white wale everyone pretends they have, but almost no one does) Mechanism of Moat: The property, business process that produces the advantage. Network : more users creates more interaction between users. Hopefully superlinear. Scale : greater volume produces better unit economics. normally sublinear Data-driven : new users means more data for new users (or to get new users). normally sublinear Platform : growth on one side increases value to the other. sublinear to superlinear depending on size Distribution : scale improves reach or channel economics. normally sublinear ... etc. Flywheels: Flywheels are also conflated with the above. The most useful working definition of a flywheel is the aggregate advantage when multiple mechanisms are self reinforcing, something in a chain (A->B->C). Imagine multiple forces pushing a flywheel to make it go faster. The hope is this complex interaction produces a superlinear advantage. They are incredibly hard to reason about. And most discussion around them are based on vibes.