Context
Cerbos is an open-source authorization platform helping developers manage access control policies with flexibility and security. As the company transitioned from open source to launching its first paid offering, the team wanted to ensure it made the right strategic choices from the start. Having never approached pricing in a structured way, Cerbos sought external expertise to define a clear strategy and avoid early missteps.
Challenge
The main challenge was designing a commercial model that reflected product value while remaining accessible to a broad developer audience. The team needed guidance on how to structure packaging, differentiate features, and determine pricing thresholds and triggers as they evolved from community-driven adoption to a paid product model.
Approach
Northlane worked with Cerbos to develop a structured framework for packaging and pricing, helping the team analyze different models, define value drivers, and create a logical feature hierarchy. The collaboration encouraged the company to think strategically about monetization early on, even as the product continued to mature. The process combined strategic direction with practical validation and external benchmarking.
Impact
The engagement resulted in a clear and well-received pricing plan that provided confidence internally and externally. It gave Cerbos the structure and validation needed to move forward with its first paid product launch and build a foundation for scalable monetization as the product matured.
Why Northlane
Cerbos valued Northlane’s curiosity, structured approach, and efficient collaboration. The process was fast, transparent, and outcome-oriented, offering expert guidance tailored to an early-stage product. Northlane’s methodical yet flexible approach helped Cerbos build confidence in its pricing strategy and set the right foundation for future growth.
