Sponsored: How Thinkst has survived with a hacker-like mentality at its core
Aug 25, 2024
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Haroon Meer, Founder and CEO of Thinkst, shares insights about the company's 15-year evolution centered on a hacker-like mentality. He emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with talent to tackle security challenges effectively. The conversation touches on fostering a culture of innovation and community engagement, as well as the lessons learned from early hardware failures. Meer also discusses the UK's national deception network initiative, advocating for its potential to enhance cybersecurity through innovative techniques like honey pots.
Fostering a dedicated and skilled team is vital for startups in the security sector, enhancing innovation and customer satisfaction.
A hacker-like mindset in product development prioritizes genuine care for quality, leading to improved user experience and trust.
Deep dives
The Importance of Building a Strong Team
Finding and nurturing great talent is essential for the success of any startup, especially in the security product sector. A strong team can effectively navigate challenges and drive innovation, as evidenced by the successful early partnerships formed at Thanks. Having key individuals who are committed to the company's mission allows for a positive culture where the focus is not just on processes and technology, but on the people behind them. The success of Thanks highlights that a great team can lead to a supportive environment that ultimately benefits customers and fosters continual growth.
A Unique Approach to Product Development
A deep-rooted 'hacker mindset' is crucial for effective product development in the tech industry, particularly in cybersecurity. This approach emphasizes genuine care for the craft, which ensures that every team member remains actively involved in the product's evolution rather than shifting focus solely to business metrics. By prioritizing customer experience and product reliability over merely adding features, companies can foster trust and loyalty among users. Such dedication to product quality is demonstrated through consistent feedback loops that lead to actionable improvements, further enhancing the overall user experience.
The Potential of National Deception Networks
The establishment of a national deception network utilizing Canary tokens and honeypots presents a significant opportunity in the field of cybersecurity. By systematically measuring and analyzing deceptive strategies, organizations can better understand and counter cyber threats, making this an innovative approach to national security. The integration of these technologies can yield high returns on investment, shifting them from an afterthought to a frontline defense strategy. As cybersecurity agencies recognize the value of these proactive measures, they can enhance their overall security posture and effectively respond to evolving threats.
In this Risky Business News sponsor interview, Catalin Cimpanu talks with Haroon Meer, Founder and CEO at Thinkst, about the company’s evolution over the past 15 years, its focus on hacker-like internal culture, and the UK NCSC’s new deception network.