When the founder of a fast-growing startup came to me with a challenge, it was one I’ve seen many times before: “We know we need cybersecurity leadership, but we don’t know where to start.”
They had an innovative product, strong early traction and funding behind them, but as their customer base grew, so did the risks. Their board and investors wanted reassurance that the company was taking cybersecurity seriously – not just at a technical level, but at a strategic one.
That’s when they turned to Needus.
Step 1: Understanding the business context
Before talking job titles, I spent time with the founders to understand their goals, clients and growth plans. Too often, startups rush to hire a Chief Information Security Office (CISO) or Head of Security without understanding what they actually need.
In this case, they weren’t ready for a full-time executive – what they needed was a cyber leader who could:
- build a security roadmap aligned to business priorities
- put governance and compliance foundations in place
- engage confidently with the board and investors
- scale security practices as the company grew.
Step 2: Matching leadership to growth stage
Through my network, I identified leaders who had walked this path before – professionals comfortable in the startup world, where resources are tight but expectations are high.
Instead of hiring an expensive permanent executive too early, we proposed an interim Head of Security with proven experience scaling security in venture-backed businesses. This allowed the startup to get:
- strategic oversight from day one
- credibility with their board and clients
- flexibility to adjust as the business matured.
Step 3: Setting the startup up for success
The result was a cyber leader who hit the ground running. Within three months, they had:
- delivered a risk assessment tailored to the business model
- established clear incident-response processes
- presented a cybersecurity strategy to the board
- laid the groundwork for future compliance certifications.
The founders told me that having the right cyber leader not only satisfied their investors but also helped them win new enterprise clients, because they could prove security was built into their DNA.
Cybersecurity is no longer optional for startups – it’s a competitive advantage. The right leadership can mean the difference between stalled growth and scaling with confidence.
At Needus, we specialise in connecting businesses with the cybersecurity talent they actually need, whether that’s a CISO, a head of function or interim leadership to bridge the gap.
Get in touch today to learn how we can help you.
