
In the complex and critical world of identity and access management (IAM), trust and reliability are paramount. Okta, a leading independent identity provider, understands this better than most, not just as a vendor but as a primary user of its own comprehensive suite of solutions. The "Okta on Okta" philosophy—essentially "eating their own dogfood"—is a core tenet of their development process and security culture. By deploying its own products to secure its global workforce, manage access to thousands of applications, and protect its infrastructure, Okta gains invaluable firsthand experience that directly shapes the robustness, usability, and innovation of the platform it offers to its customers.

### Customer Zero: Deploying and Refining from the Inside Out

Okta doesn't just preach a security-first approach; it practices it internally, often making its own employees the first and most critical users of new features and products. A prime example is the internal deployment of **Okta Device Access**, a solution designed to enhance device security posture. In an insightful [Okta blog post titled "Insights from Our Experience: Okta deploys Okta Device Access,"](https://www.okta.com/blog/2025/04/insights-from-our-experience-okta-deploys-okta-device-access/) the company details its journey of rolling out Desktop MFA to its workforce.

The internal Okta technology team identified pilot groups, gathered user feedback, and refined support documentation throughout the deployment. The post explicitly states: "**Beyond improving our security posture, this experience proved an excellent opportunity to gather helpful feedback on the overall product design and user experience, which has helped inform the Okta Device Access roadmap.**" This is a clear demonstration of how internal challenges and successes directly translate into product improvements for external customers. The process helped find edge cases and informed future development, including new recovery flows to reduce support burden.

### The Okta Secure Identity Commitment: Leading by Example

Okta's commitment to internal adoption is further underscored by its **Okta Secure Identity Commitment**. This initiative, often championed by CEO Todd McKinnon, emphasizes a relentless investment in a defense-in-depth and Zero Trust security architecture—principles applied vigorously to Okta's own corporate infrastructure.

A key aspect of this commitment, as highlighted in an [Okta newsroom post](https://www.okta.com/en-nl/newsroom/press-releases/introducing-the-okta-secure-identity-commitment/), is "modeling security best practices to our customers." Okta proudly states: "**We have 100% of Okta employees using FastPass and phishing resistant passwordless authentication, and we encourage customers to do the same.**" By mandating strong authentication for its own workforce, Okta not only enhances its internal security but also validates the usability and effectiveness of its most advanced security features in a large-scale, real-world environment.

### Securing a Global, Hybrid Workforce with Okta

Like many of its customers, Okta operates with a globally distributed and often hybrid workforce. This makes its own internal environment a perfect proving ground for the entire Okta Workforce Identity Cloud, including:

* **Single Sign-On (SSO):** Okta employees use Okta SSO to seamlessly and securely access the thousands of cloud and on-premise applications necessary for their daily work. This constant internal use helps refine the SSO experience, the Okta Integration Network (OIN) which boasts over 7,000 integrations, and the overall admin and end-user usability.
* **Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):** As a leader in MFA, Okta ensures its own employees are protected by strong authentication methods. This internal deployment across a diverse user base helps them understand the practicalities of various factors and enrollment processes.
* **Universal Directory:** Managing identities for all its employees and contractors relies on its own Universal Directory, ensuring that features for provisioning, de-provisioning, and attribute management are robust and scalable.
* **Lifecycle Management:** The onboarding and offboarding of Okta employees are managed using Okta Lifecycle Management, streamlining IT processes and enhancing security. Experiencing these workflows internally helps identify areas for automation and improvement.
* **Advanced Server Access & API Access Management:** Protecting its own critical infrastructure and APIs with solutions like Okta Advanced Server Access and API Access Management allows Okta to understand the nuances of securing modern, ephemeral infrastructure and microservices from an operator's perspective.

### The Benefits of "Okta on Okta"

This deep internal reliance on its own products yields significant advantages:

* **Enhanced Product Quality & Security:** Rigorous internal use by a security-conscious workforce helps identify and remediate vulnerabilities and usability issues before they impact customers. Okta's [Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL)](https://www.okta.com/sites/default/files/2025-02/Okta%20Secure%20Development%20Lifecycle_8.5x11_Whitepaper_FINAL.pdf) outlines comprehensive security practices, and using their own tools to secure this process adds another layer of validation.
* **Deep Customer Empathy:** Okta's product teams gain a profound understanding of the challenges IT and security professionals face when deploying and managing identity solutions. This empathy translates into more intuitive products and better customer support.
* **Faster Innovation Cycles:** The direct feedback loop from internal users allows for quicker iterations and refinements. New ideas and features can be prototyped and tested within Okta's own environment, accelerating the path to market.
* **Credibility and Trust:** When Okta showcases how it secures its own enterprise, it builds significant credibility with prospective and existing customers. They are not just selling a vision; they are living it. This is often a theme at their [Oktane conferences](https://www.okta.com/blog/2024/10/oktane-2024-the-future-of-identity-security/), where the company shares its own journey and learnings.

### Driving the Future of Identity Security

Okta's vision, as articulated by its leadership, is to free everyone to safely use any technology. By being its own most demanding customer, Okta puts its identity platform to the ultimate test every day. This internal proving ground ensures that as the threat landscape evolves and new identity challenges emerge (like securing AI agents and non-human identities, as mentioned in a recent [Okta platform innovations announcement](https://investor.okta.com/news-and-events/news-releases/news-details/2025/New-Okta-Platform-Innovations-Extend-Identity-Security-Fabric-to-Non-Human-Identities-in-an-Agentic-AI-Future/default.aspx)), Okta's solutions are not only keeping pace but are also shaped by the practical needs and security imperatives of a leading enterprise: itself. This commitment to "Okta on Okta" is a powerful driver of its leadership in the identity space.

Okta on Okta: How the Identity Leader Secures Itself and Shapes Its Products from Within


In an era where digital threats are ever-present and sophisticated, Nord Security has carved out a reputation as a leading provider of privacy and security solutions. With a well-known suite including NordVPN, NordPass (password manager), NordLocker (encrypted cloud storage), and NordLayer (business network access security), the company champions a safer digital experience for individuals and organizations worldwide. Crucially, this commitment to security isn't just an external promise; it's a deeply ingrained operational principle, with Nord Security itself relying extensively on its own products to protect its infrastructure, data, and global workforce.

### A Unified Ecosystem for Internal Defense

Nord Security's product lineup offers a comprehensive toolkit for digital protection, and it's logical to see how these tools would be indispensable for their own internal operations:

* **NordVPN:** Renowned for its robust encryption, vast server network, and features like Threat Protection Pro (which blocks malware, trackers, and ads), NordVPN is the cornerstone of secure internet access. Internally, Nord Security employees would undoubtedly use NordVPN to ensure their online activities are private, especially when accessing company resources remotely or using public Wi-Fi.
* **NordPass:** This password manager, built with zero-knowledge architecture and XChaCha20 encryption, is designed for both individual and business use. Within Nord Security, NordPass would be crucial for securely managing employee credentials, facilitating secure sharing of access within teams, and enforcing strong password policies across the organization.
* **NordLocker:** Offering end-to-end encrypted cloud storage and local file encryption using AES-256 and XChaCha20-Poly1305, NordLocker is ideal for protecting sensitive company documents, intellectual property, and development plans. Nord Security's own teams would leverage NordLocker to ensure their critical data remains confidential and secure from unauthorized access.
* **NordLayer:** This solution is specifically tailored for business network security, providing secure remote access, network segmentation, and threat prevention based on SASE and Zero Trust principles. Nord Security, as a modern, likely distributed organization, would utilize NordLayer to secure access to its corporate network, applications, and resources for its employees globally, regardless of their location.
* **NordStellar & NordProtect:** Newer additions like NordStellar (threat exposure management) and NordProtect (identity theft protection, currently US-focused) further illustrate Nord Security's holistic approach, and it's reasonable to assume these capabilities are also applied to monitor and protect the company's own assets and employee identities where applicable.

### The "Customer Zero" Imperative for a Security Company

For a company whose entire business model revolves around trust and security, being "customer zero" isn't just a good idea—it's a necessity. By deploying its own products internally, Nord Security achieves several critical objectives:

1.  **Ultimate Real-World Testing:** Nord Security's own infrastructure and employees are subject to the same, if not more intense, cyber threats as their customers. Using their own suite to defend against these attacks provides the ultimate proving ground. If NordVPN, NordLayer, NordPass, and NordLocker can effectively protect Nord Security, it’s a powerful validation of their capabilities.
2.  **Driving Product Robustness & Usability:** When employees across all departments rely on Nord products for their daily work, any bugs, usability issues, or performance bottlenecks are quickly surfaced. This direct, continuous feedback loop allows product teams to identify pain points and areas for improvement much faster than relying solely on external feedback. An engineer needing secure remote access via NordLayer or a marketing team member sharing encrypted files with NordLocker will have immediate insights into the user experience.
3.  **Reinforcing a Security-First Culture:** When the company’s own tools for security and privacy are mandated and actively used internally, it reinforces a culture where security is everyone's responsibility. This lived experience makes the principles of data protection and secure access tangible for every employee.
4.  **Accelerating Innovation:** Internal needs often spur innovation. If Nord Security's teams require a specific security feature or a more streamlined workflow that their current tools don't perfectly address, it creates a strong impetus to develop that capability. The creation of NordLynx, NordVPN's custom WireGuard-based protocol, likely benefited immensely from rigorous internal testing focused on achieving optimal speed and security.
5.  **Adopting Zero Trust Internally:** With NordLayer championing Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Nord Security is ideally positioned to implement these principles within its own organization. This means continuously verifying every user and device, limiting access based on the principle of least privilege, and segmenting networks to minimize potential blast radius—all facilitated by their own technology.

### Living the Mission: How Internal Use Benefits End Users

The primary beneficiaries of Nord Security's internal reliance on its own products are, ultimately, its customers:

* **Enhanced Security and Reliability:** Products that have been battle-tested within the high-stakes environment of a cybersecurity company are inherently more robust and reliable.
* **Improved User Experience:** Features are refined based on the daily experiences of a diverse internal user base, leading to more intuitive and efficient tools.
* **Faster Bug Fixes and Vulnerability Patching:** Any security flaw discovered internally would be addressed with utmost urgency, protecting all users.
* **Credibility and Trust:** Knowing that Nord Security trusts its own products to safeguard its operations builds significant confidence among users.

While no company is immune to all cyber threats, Nord Security's approach of building and using its own comprehensive digital shield creates a powerful synergy. It ensures their development is grounded in practical application, their security posture is constantly self-tested, and their commitment to privacy and security is reflected in every aspect of their operations.

### Conclusion: The Nord Standard, Tested From Within

Nord Security’s dedication to leveraging its own suite of tools—NordVPN, NordPass, NordLocker, and NordLayer—goes beyond mere product testing. It’s a fundamental component of their operational strategy and a testament to their confidence in the solutions they offer. By making their own organization a rigorous proving ground, they not only enhance their internal security and productivity but also ensure that the products reaching their global user base are as robust, secure, and user-friendly as possible. This internal commitment is a key ingredient in their mission to build a safer and more private digital world for everyone.

Fortifying the North: How Nord Security Builds Trust by Using Its Own Digital Shield


Cloudflare's mission is "to help build a better Internet." This isn't just a tagline; it's a philosophy that permeates their engineering and product development culture. A core tenet of this approach is the extensive internal use of their own products—a practice often referred to as "dogfooding" or being "customer zero." By deploying, testing, and relying on its own suite of performance, security, and serverless solutions, Cloudflare gains firsthand insights, accelerates innovation, and ultimately delivers more robust and effective tools for its global customer base.

### The Breadth of Cloudflare's Own Playground

Cloudflare's product portfolio is vast, covering critical aspects of internet infrastructure:

* **Network Services:** Global Anycast network, DNS, CDN, Load Balancing.
* **Security:** Web Application Firewall (WAF), DDoS Mitigation, Bot Management, SSL/TLS, Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) with Cloudflare Access and WARP, Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and more.
* **Developer Platform:** Cloudflare Workers (serverless compute), R2 (object storage), D1 (serverless SQL), Queues, Durable Objects, Pages (JAMstack platform), and a growing suite of AI tools including Workers AI and AI Gateway.

This comprehensive suite isn't just for external users; it's the very foundation upon which Cloudflare itself operates and innovates.

### We Use What We Build: Real-World Examples

Cloudflare is quite open about its commitment to internal product usage. As stated on their [own blog ("Identifying content gaps in our documentation", The Cloudflare Blog)](https://blog.cloudflare.com/identifying-content-gaps/), they are "pretty big on using and stress-testing our own products." This practice extends across various teams and products:

* **Securing the Enterprise with Zero Trust:** Cloudflare is a prominent advocate for Zero Trust security, and they practice what they preach. Their own employees utilize Cloudflare Access (for application access) and Cloudflare WARP (to secure device connections) to protect internal resources. This internal deployment proved its mettle, with Cloudflare attributing its successful defense against a sophisticated phishing attack in 2022 (that impacted other SaaS companies) to its Zero Trust architecture, including the use of phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication enforced through their own products. (Source: [Cloudflare Docs, "Building zero trust architecture into your startup"](https://developers.cloudflare.com/reference-architecture/design-guides/zero-trust-for-startups/))

* **Powering `cloudflare.com` and the Dashboard:** While specific "Cloudflare on Cloudflare" case studies for their main website and control panel aren't always in the spotlight, it's inherent to their business model. The global performance and security features they offer customers—like their CDN, WAF, DDoS protection, and bot management—are naturally deployed to protect and accelerate their own mission-critical web properties. Their infrastructure is, in effect, a constant, large-scale testbed.

* **Enhancing Product Documentation through Use:** The Cloudflare documentation team actively uses Cloudflare products in their workflows. For instance, they've used Cloudflare rules for redirects and transformations, configured bot protection, analyzed traffic with Cloudflare site analytics, and utilized Cloudflare Tunnel for secure pre-release reviews of documentation. This hands-on experience directly helps them identify areas where documentation can be improved or where gaps exist, leading to a better experience for all users. (Source: ["Identifying content gaps in our documentation", The Cloudflare Blog](https://blog.cloudflare.com/identifying-content-gaps/))

* **Driving Serverless Innovation with Workers and R2:** Cloudflare's developer platform, particularly Cloudflare Workers, is used extensively internally. As [ScaleMath notes ("Dogfooding: Why It's Fundamental To Building Great Products", ScaleMath)](https://scalemath.com/blog/dogfooding/), "Cloudflare uses its own suite of products, such as Cloudflare Workers and CDN, to improve both the speed and security of its internal and customer-facing applications." From internal tools and APIs to features within the Cloudflare dashboard itself, Workers provide a flexible and performant way to build and iterate. Similarly, Cloudflare R2 storage, with its zero egress fees, is an attractive option for their own storage needs, from application data to, potentially, AI model training data.

* **Pioneering AI with Internal Applications:** With the launch of "Cloudflare for AI," a suite including AI Gateway, Workers AI, and Firewall for AI, the company is heavily investing in the AI space. These tools are designed to help developers build, deploy, secure, and observe AI applications. It's a natural fit for Cloudflare to leverage these tools internally for their own AI initiatives, refining the products based on their own development and operational experiences. (Source: ["Cloudflare for AI: supporting AI adoption at scale with a security-first approach", The Cloudflare Blog](https://blog.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-for-ai-supporting-ai-adoption-at-scale-with-a-security-first-approach/))

### The Benefits: A Sharper Edge

This deep internal reliance on their own products yields significant advantages:

* **Early Bug Detection and Quality Assurance:** Internal teams often encounter issues or edge cases before they impact external customers. This leads to quicker identification and resolution of bugs.
* **Enhanced User Empathy:** When Cloudflare employees use their own tools daily, they develop a profound understanding of the user experience, driving more intuitive and user-friendly designs and features.
* **Rapid Innovation Cycle:** The tight feedback loop between internal users and development teams allows for faster iteration and refinement of products. New features can be tested in real-world scenarios quickly.
* **Robust Security Posture:** By using their own security tools (like their WAF, Zero Trust services, and bot management), Cloudflare continuously stress-tests and improves its defenses against an ever-evolving threat landscape.
* **Credibility and Trust:** Using their own products sends a strong message: Cloudflare believes in its technology and stands by its effectiveness.

### Potential Considerations

While the benefits are substantial, the practice of a company being its own primary user isn't without general considerations. One is ensuring that internal use cases, which might become highly optimized, don't lead to blind spots regarding the diverse needs of the broader, external user base. Another is the risk of employees becoming "expert users," potentially overlooking usability challenges that a new or less technical customer might face.

Cloudflare seems aware of these nuances, maintaining active community forums, extensive documentation efforts, and customer feedback channels to complement internal insights.

### Conclusion: Strengthening the Internet from Within

Cloudflare's commitment to using its own technology is a powerful driver of its innovation and a testament to its confidence in its products. By being "customer zero," Cloudflare not only refines its existing offerings like its CDN, WAF, and Zero Trust solutions but also pioneers new frontiers with tools like Cloudflare Workers, R2, and its AI platform. This internal proving ground ensures that when Cloudflare releases a product or feature, it’s not just theoretically sound—it’s battle-tested and ready to help build a faster, safer, and more reliable internet for everyone.

Articles tagged with "Zero Trust"

Okta on Okta: How the Identity Leader Secures Itself and Shapes Its Products from Within

Fortifying the North: How Nord Security Builds Trust by Using Its Own Digital Shield

Cloudflare: Building a Better Internet by Using Its Own Tools