The Security Leaders Who Turned Their Frustrations Into Companies
CSO Online, Wednesday, November 12th, 2025
Former CISOs share their experience after successfully founding security companies. CSO spoke to Paul Hadjy, Joe Silva, Chris Pierson and Michael Coates.
Almost everywhere, being a CISO means dealing with limited budgets, competing priorities, tools that don't quite fit the problem and myriad other constraints. Most security leaders adapt, and work within those boundaries to protect their organizations as best they can. But for a few, adaptation and making do with what's available isn't enough. The limitations are not just a problem to get around, but an opportunity to build something new.