video1.0<iframe src="https://www.loom.com/embed/888d51d142d644019007dcd8c38dd17b" frameborder="0" width="1280" height="960" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>9601280Loomhttps://www.loom.com9601280https://cdn.loom.com/sessions/thumbnails/888d51d142d644019007dcd8c38dd17b-883e8bcd1d784881.gif1374.41Cogna is an AI-powered SOC startup (agentic SOC) that automates detection and response to reduce analyst workload and accelerate security operations. The team standardized on the Atlassian suite (Jira, Confluence, Product Discovery, Jira Service Desk) to support asynchronous, distributed work, align OKRs, centralize processes, and automate incident/customer workflows. Atlassian for Startups reduced cost and implementation barriers; Cogna recommends founders choose customizable, community-backed tools to optimize time, avoid reinventing workflows, and scale efficiently. ### Cogna product and mission 1:05 - Cogna is an AI-powered SOC platform described as an "agentic SOC" that acts as a co-pilot for security teams. - Platform automates detection and response to handle threats at high speed and reduce human analyst workload. - Company mission framed as a small team pursuing a large security-focused objective. ### Global team and choice of atlassian suite 1:37 - Cogna is a global startup with hires across multiple time zones and is homegrown in Saudi Arabia. - Team selected the Atlassian suite for collaboration because it fit needs for connected tools and centralized processes. - Integration between Jira and Confluence plus marketplace apps provided autonomy for engineers and reduced duplicated work. ### Challenges addressed: asynchronous work and process alignment 2:06 - Major challenge: distributed teams with mismatched work hours required asynchronous management. - Need to avoid redoing work led to emphasis on well-connected processes across tools. - Engineers proceeded independently with changes reflected across the project ecosystem due to integrations. - Cogna adopted OKRs and connected objectives to Jira tasks to align initiatives; team reports achieving OKR targets for five consecutive quarters. ### Atlassian products used and how they support operations 4:09 - Jira Software: core task management for development, scrum, and extended to HR, finance, marketing, business, and R&D using Kanban workflows for centralization. - Confluence: hosts documentation for coding practices, procurement, hiring, and information security policies; enables cross-team sharing and annual reviews. - Product Discovery: used to build a public product roadmap, connecting strategic vision with sprint-level work; early regional adopter. - Jira Service Desk: used for customer support tickets and internal incident handling; automated SLAs and outages monitoring to unify communications under one umbrella. ### Atlassian for startups support and cost advantages 7:16 - Atlassian for Startups program made enterprise-grade tools accessible at the right time for Cogna. - Program reduced implementation and licensing barriers that commonly prevent startups from adopting such tools. - Enabled Cogna to maintain agility while minimizing costs during growth. ### Advice for founders on tool selection and leveraging community 8:47 - Founders should adopt a "startup hat" mindset and avoid defaulting to familiar enterprise tools; choose tools that reduce complexity and hiring needs. - Use customizable solutions and marketplace templates to avoid reinventing workflows (example: using predefined Jira workflows for procurement). - Leverage Atlassian's community and marketplace to find ready-made solutions quickly and boost productivity and customer-centric capabilities. ### Closing remarks and emphasis on ai in security operations 11:05 - Cogna reiterates value in harnessing AI within security operations and recommends others explore those capabilities. - Reiterated team is small with a big mission and expressed appreciation for the discussion and Atlassian's support.