At just 29 years old, Mark Bacsko brings infectious energy and sharp focus to his role as Chief Product Officer at BitNinja. A tinkerer at heart, he thrives on solving puzzles—whether it’s DIY electronics projects or crafting custom gaming setups. You might already recognize him from our video series, where his passion for BitNinja shines through.
Mark’s dedication to balancing cutting-edge innovation with rock-solid stability has made him a key figure in BitNinja’s journey. His leadership ensures that every feature we release meets the high expectations of our users while addressing the ever-evolving challenges of server security. Curious about how he navigates his fast-paced role, managing developers day and night? Read on for an exclusive look behind the scenes.
At BitNinja, balancing the rapid pace of innovation with the uncompromising need for stability is no small feat. In Part 1 of our series, we introduced the team driving our success and highlighted the achievements of our Stability Team. Now, in this exclusive interview, Mark shares insights into how we’re shaping the future of server security.
The Challenge of Balancing Innovation and Stability
As a Product Manager of BitNinja, could you share with us the most common challenges product teams face when it comes to creating effective roadmaps and managing product backlogs?
“Innovation and stability have long been two opposing forces in software development. The need to innovate and stay ahead of the competition often clashes with the necessity for consistent, reliable results. At BitNinja, we carefully balance these priorities by involving all stakeholders—from our users to our internal teams—ensuring every feature or improvement delivers value without compromising stability.”
How Features Come to Life
How do you determine which new features to include in the roadmap? What criteria do you consider?
“This is always a balancing act. It’s about evaluating the time it will take versus the value it will bring. User feedback plays a critical role here. Whether it’s improving an existing feature or introducing a new one, we prioritize what our users and internal teams—like Support Ninjas—need the most. If they struggle with something, it’s a strong indicator others will too.”
User-Driven Success: Outbound Spam Protection
Can you share an example of a feature that was developed based on direct customer feedback? What was the impact?
“One of the standout examples is our Outbound Spam Protection module. It was a direct response to user requests, and the payoff was incredible. Many website owners were unknowingly leaving their systems vulnerable to spam abuse, not because they didn’t care, but because they weren’t aware of the risks. The feature addressed a widespread issue, significantly reducing spam abuse while enhancing server reputation.”
Testing Strategies
What strategies do you use to ensure new features meet customer expectations before they are fully launched?
“Of course, this is heavily dependent on the exact feature we want to test. We use the common practices of A/B testing for UI changes as well as hallway testing, and of course, we consult with our BETA testing partners (and YOU can also become one here😉), to discuss our goal and their feedback about a certain feature coming to BitNinja. (Of course, we are not mentioning the plethora of other testing required for rolling something out into production.). For Agent features, we employ Beta version testing, ensuring the feature is stable on hundreds of servers before releasing it to the masses. Our refined release schedule helps with this, as we have strict guidelines on how long a new version has the be in the "beta" state to progress to frequent, and stable respectively.”
Learning from Challenges
Can you give an example of a time when the introduction of a new feature significantly impacted the product's stability? How was this managed?
"Whew, sadly yes! The latest culprit was an update to our SpamDetection module. It has caused issues with PHP mailers due to CageFS. In cases like this, we always try and work together with our partners to pinpoint exactly what went wrong, and then figure out a solution as soon as possible.
We usually have 2 paths to choose from: On one hand, if the issue is relatively straightforward and not too complicated, we can release a bugfix version to address the issue. On the other hand, if it requires more detective work, or the solution itself also needs testing to avoid further complications, then we usually opt for a “rollback” version, which is basically a new agent version without the breaking change. - Now, this issue was due to the fact that on our test environment, we didn’t do automated tests for CageFS compatibility at the point of release, and during manual testing, the issue did not occur on our instance, so it could pass our testing phase. To mitigate the risk of this happening again, we’ve changed our testing methodology, and allowed more time for each manual test. As an addition, we’ve also introduced our choosable Release Channel feature, that allows you to choose between Stable, Frequent update and Bleeding Edge release channels.”
A Message from Mark: Let’s Build the Future Together
Finally, Mark, do you have a message for our customers?
"At BitNinja, every improvement starts with you—our users. Your feedback, your challenges, and your trust drive us to innovate and refine every single day. Whether it’s a small suggestion or a major insight, your input is the cornerstone of everything we achieve.
I want to personally thank you for being an essential part of this journey. Together, we’re not just tackling today’s challenges; we’re building a safer, more secure internet for everyone’s future.
Let’s continue this partnership—your voice matters more than ever."
Be Part of the Journey
BitNinja is built on collaboration, innovation, and your invaluable feedback. Whether you're sharing your experiences, testing our latest features, or simply reaching out with a suggestion, your involvement shapes our path forward.
We’re excited about what’s ahead and invite you to join us in making the internet a safer, more secure place. Together, we can achieve more than ever before. Let’s move forward—together.
