A brighter future for the cybersecurity ecosystem with Neuvik
Future-Proofing Peace, Justice, and Security
Founded in 2021 in the US, Neuvik is opening their first international office at HSD Campus in The Hague. Ryan Leirvik Co-Founder and CEO of Neuvik sees their mission directly in line with that of The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice. In the world of Information Technology, ethics and legal issues matter. Ryan and Neuvik work to “allow people peace and to provide solutions that bring justice to those that try to disrupt the peace in the digital world,” as he mentioned their alignment with the city.
Built by experienced professionals within the cybersecurity space including authors and SANS trainers, Neuvik is taking a high-level and detailed approach to the cybersecurity landscape. Neuvik, like many cybersecurity companies, is working to solve clients’ security challenges, but they are going a step further. This involves identifying and resolving root causes of security problems and preventing them from resurfacing.
Stephanie Selander, Marketing Coordinator for Neuvik, said it best: “Through understanding each client’s unique landscape, we can create lasting change that intersects at all aspects of their business.” Ryan broke down most organisations’ issues into three parts: finding vulnerabilities, training practitioners, and managing risk. Their team of founders is passionate about and perfectly suited to each of these issues. Jean-Francois Maes, Director of Advanced Assessments in the EU, together with David Mayer, Managing Director of Advanced Assessments, lead red teams that include researchers like Moses Frost to find vulnerabilities. Tillery, Director of Training and Education, trains teams to make sure those vulnerabilities are not recreated. And Ryan himself makes sure businesses understand what it means for them, making sure the impact of each risk is understood within a business’s context. Neuvik is “constantly trying to give our clients confidence in the systems that they rely on so that they may go about the business they are in,” as Ryan mentioned.
Currently under 25 employees and growing, Neuvik has a business philosophy unlike many others.
Ryan relayed that they are “not just in it for ourselves, we’re in it for the community. We put our clients first and then teach and educate those who can build resilience in their own organisations.”
This mindset made coming to The Hague an obvious choice after a long search looking at potential landing spots across the EU. The Hague’s heritage as a city focused on peace and justice for over 100 years has made it an attractive destination, allowing for the growth of a flourishing cybersecurity ecosystem. Neuvik prides themselves on confidentiality and does not disclose any of their clients. They were able to mention that they already work with many EU based clients, some of which are requiring them to work within the EU ecosphere. Their team of technical cybersecurity leaders and certified SANS instructors will add to the growing strength of Zuid-Holland’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
Neuvik attended RSA this year where they aimed to connect with potential clients and likeminded members of the cybersecurity community. With a focus on discussing opportunities to continuously solve the cybersecurity problem, Neuvik is looking for truly innovative answers. They are attending conferences throughout the year and will be at ONE Conference in The Hague where they will potentially be giving multiple talks and presentations. This helps to further Neuvik’s mission, where Ryan discussed their goal to “constantly learn and innovate, while teaching the next generation of cybersecurity defenders.”
Neuvik is officially welcomed to The Hague’s cybersecurity ecosystem by InnovationQuarter, the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, the Municipality of The Hague and Security Delta (HSD) at RSA 2024.
Ryan spoke about how smooth the transition to Zuid-Holland has been, thanks to the support of InnovationQuarter, NFIA, the Dutch Government, and HSD Campus.
He went on to say that “it was HSD Campus, NFIA and InnovationQuarter teams who really stood out and made a very attractive offer and helped us build strong relationships.”
The steps to establish their EU office were very clear and InnovationQuarter “acted as an immediate trusted partner, helping shepherd us through the process.” Neuvik is expecting to grow their team in the next few years, already impressed with the top tier talent available in the Netherlands. With the help of Jean-Francois stepping into the role of Director of European Operations, Neuvik hopes to help their clients in the EU move beyond regulatory issues and focus on what is having the largest impact on their businesses. Ryan is excited to start their journey of, as he put it, “Peace, Justice, and Stroopwafels.”
Are you involved in cybersecurity and interested in exploring potential business opportunities in the greater Rotterdam – The Hague area?