Intelligent CIO North America Issue 45 | Page 79

Jon Murchison , founder and CEO of Blackpoint Cyber
On the lighter side of things , we ask the industry experts what makes them tick . . . .

. . . GET TO KNOW . . .

Jon Murchison , founder and CEO of Blackpoint Cyber

wWhat first made you think of a career can in cybersecurity ?

It all started with networking . Early in my career building networks fascinated me and sparked my curiosity . I was intrigued by the idea of either joining the military after college or entering the intelligence community . Ultimately , I joined the National Security Agency and this experience steered me towards the path of cybersecurity .
What is your favorite challenge of growing a company ?
be successful if the right players are on the field . Our strategy is strong and success hinges on execution .
In 2023 , we secured one of the largest deals in the cybersecurity world – a $ 190 million investment from Bain and Accel . This was a significant vote of confidence in us – but it also underscored the importance of maintaining solid business fundamentals even amidst rapid growth .
What is the biggest cybersecurity challenge your customers need to keep their eye on , in the next few years ?
The challenge I like the most in growing a company is the art and science of building a robust go-tomarket strategy for rapid growth . We already have an exceptional cybersecurity product that integrates with all Endpoint Detection and Response tools , making it highly effective . However , the real test lies in managing fast growth without compromising the high standards we ' ve set for ourselves .
The actual task of catching hackers isn ' t the toughest part ; it ' s building a world-class organization . I ' ve learned that hiring is one of the most crucial tasks I can undertake , particularly when assembling an elite executive leadership team . Even a mediocre strategy
Undoubtedly cloud security . The COVID-19 pandemic led to a mass migration towards a cloud-first strategy , leading to a significant increase in authentication authorizations and platforms such as Microsoft 365 ,
The actual task of catching hackers isn ’ t the toughest part ; it ’ s building a world-class organization .
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