Cloud Security Podcast

Cybersecurity Isn’t Crowded: Security Engineering and the 5,000 Vendor Problem

Jan 10, 2025

Ross Haleliuk, author of "Cybersecurity for Builders" and creator of the Venture in Security blog, dives into the complex world of cybersecurity. He discusses why the industry is less crowded than it appears and the critical divide between in-house security and vendor reliance. Ross also emphasizes the importance of balancing business needs with security engineering, sharing insights on addressing market problems for startups. The conversation highlights the ongoing need for knowledge sharing and innovation in this ever-evolving tech landscape.

01:10:13

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Episode guests

Ross Haleliuk

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The cybersecurity market is less crowded than perceived, with about 5,000 vendors, highlighting the unique challenges faced by security engineers.

Founders of cybersecurity startups must prioritize understanding market needs and avoid biases from their own experiences to innovate effectively.

Security engineering, recognized as essential today, is unevenly distributed across sectors, leading to ongoing reliance on third-party vendors for security solutions.

Deep dives

The Landscape of Cybersecurity Vendors

The number of vendors in the cybersecurity space is significantly fewer than in other tech sectors, with around 5,000 compared to 50,000 in fintech. This suggests that while cybersecurity is often touted as a universal concern, the actual market is not overwhelmingly crowded. Companies that typically need security the most often lack incentives to invest in it, creating a challenging environment for security engineers and vendors. This dichotomy indicates that while attackers continue to utilize established methods, the need for innovation in security products remains critical.

Intro

3min

Navigating the Cybersecurity Landscape

10min

Navigating Security Investments Across Industries

25min

Navigating Cybersecurity Startups

17min

Navigating Technology Complexities and the Journey to Self-Publishing

5min

Navigating the Publishing Landscape: Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Routes

5min

From Immigrant to Amazon Bestseller: A Personal Journey

3min

Food Preferences and Cybersecurity Resources

2min

In this episode our host Ashish Rajan sat down with Ross Haleliuk, author of Cybersecurity for Builders and creator of the Venture in Security blog, to explore the current state and future of the cybersecurity industry. From understanding the challenges of building a cybersecurity startup to the dynamics of security engineering and market trends for 2025. Ross and Ashish explore why the cybersecurity industry isn’t as crowded as it seems and the divide between companies that build in-house security and those that rely on vendors.

Ross also unpacks why sales and marketing aren’t “dirty words” in cybersecurity, why security engineering is “the present,” and how practitioners can balance business needs with technical aspirations.

Guest Socials: ⁠⁠Ross's Linkedin

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If you are interested in AI Cybersecurity, you can check out our sister podcast - AI Cybersecurity Podcast

Questions asked:

(00:00) Introduction

(05:33) How Venture in Security started?

(09:33) Security Engineering in Cybersecurity

(18:18) Cybersecurity markets that will be top of mind in 2025

(24:15) GTM for Defender Tools