The observability information deluge has gotten so dangerous that the quantity of observability information generated is usually larger than the structured information organizations wish to preserve. As a substitute of draining your checking account to retailer all this information, what for those who filtered out the pointless or extraneous information first? That was the unique premise behind Cribl, a startup co-founded by Clint Sharp, who’s one among BigDATAwire’s Folks to Look ahead to 2025.
Cribl doesn’t change your SIEM, endpoint detection and response (EDR), prolonged detection and response (XDR), SecOps, or AIOps merchandise. It sits in entrance of Splunk, Datadog, and different instruments to tamp down the hovering prices whereas retaining information constancy excessive.
Cribl’s success has spawned copycats, a certain signal that Sharp and his co-founders had been on to one thing. We just lately caught up with Sharp to debate observability information challenges and Cribl’s market-leading strategy. Right here’s what he needed to say:
BigDATAwire: First, congratulations in your choice as a 2025 BigDATAwire Particular person to Watch! Observability information continues to blow up in quantity and has turn into an enormous information drawback in of itself. Do you suppose a bit of purchaser’s regret is so as?
Clint Sharp: There’s undoubtedly a realization setting in throughout the business that extra information doesn’t at all times imply higher outcomes. Corporations have invested closely in amassing the whole lot, solely to search out themselves buried in price and complexity. It’s not a lot purchaser’s regret as it’s an inflection level: groups are asking smarter questions now. What information do I actually need? How can I extra successfully acquire and analyze it? How do I get worth from it with out breaking the financial institution? That’s the place Cribl is available in — serving to prospects analyze, acquire, course of, and route information in order that they’re not caught with an all-or-nothing strategy.
BDW: What’s Cribl’s perspective on observability information. How does it create worth for patrons?
CS: Observability information is an asset — for those who can management it. What we’ve completed at Cribl is give prospects the flexibleness to resolve what information to maintain, the place it goes, and in what format. Meaning higher efficiency, decreased prices, and fewer time spent managing pipelines. It’s not nearly amassing logs and metrics. It’s about giving groups choices and empowering them to look the information to search out insights and take actions. Observability information is the spine of IT and safety, however to create worth these groups want a brand new composable administration strategy. In spite of everything, the information belongs to them, to not the instruments they’re compelled to make use of.
BDW: Cribl’s success has spawned various imitators. What would you prefer to say to them?
CS: Actually? Welcome. It validates the market we’ve constructed. However copying the floor is simple — constructing one thing that delivers actual worth to prospects is difficult. We’ve been doing this for years. We’ve made errors, discovered quick, and stayed targeted on one factor: making life higher for IT and safety groups. If others can push the house ahead too, nice. However we’ll preserve elevating the bar.
BDW: Cribl’s mascot is a goat named Ian. Why did you decide a goat, and why is his identify Ian?
CS: There are just a few origin tales — some extra severe than others. One model traces again to Skanderbeg, a legendary Albanian hero whose helmet had a goat’s head. One other includes a haunted animatronic goat we discovered on-line. Goats are identified for his or her potential to adapt, navigate tough terrains, and devour almost something, which mirrors the ethos on the coronary heart of Cribl. From navigating the complexities of IT infrastructure to consuming and processing huge information streams, our options replicate the goat’s potential to adapt and thrive. And why Ian? Ian is a nod to all of us right here at Cribl being “Criblanians.”
BDW: What are you able to inform us about your self exterior of the skilled sphere – distinctive hobbies, favourite locations, and so on.? Is there something about you that your colleagues is likely to be stunned to be taught?
CS: After I’m not working, I’m an avid reader, watch all types of reveals and films, and gaming on my PS5 and steam deck. I additionally play guitar, take images, and like to prepare dinner good meals. I additionally spend lots of time fascinated about and tinkering with our merchandise as a result of this job actually is my greatest ardour. I’m fairly lively in our Slack channels, so most colleagues hear about my hobbies usually. However what may shock folks is that I don’t dwell on the previous. I don’t spend time ruminating or wanting backward. I’m targeted on what’s subsequent — for Cribl, our prospects, and our crew.
You’ll be able to learn the remainder of our Folks to Watch interviews right here.
