Standards, Regulations & Compliance , Video

Ron Gula's Cybersecurity Mission: 'Data Care,' Inclusivity

Investor and Philanthropist Welcomes US National Cybersecurity Strategy as Catalyst Mathew J. Schwartz (euroinfosec) • May 7, 2023

Ron Gula, president and co-founder, Gula Tech Adventures

Cybersecurity industry veteran Ron Gula, as CEO and co-founder of Tenable Network Security from 2002 through 2016, shepherded the company's rapid growth and product vision. Now with his Gula Tech Adventures, he works as an investor and philanthropist, as well as a government policy influencer.

Practicing what he preaches, the Gula Tech Foundation that he runs with his wife, Cyndi, awards grants to nonprofits multiple times a year, including $1 million last week to six organizations focused on increasing neurodivergent opportunities in cybersecurity. As an industry, "we still have a lot of work to do - so we're very excited about being able to help and give back," Gula said. "One of the things we want to do, besides just creating great technology and great people, is change the conversation."

In particular, he's advocating for cybersecurity to be rebranded as "data care" - not to steal anyone's security budget, but to increase understanding and inclusivity. Calling it data care, he said, "gives you personal responsibility at the board level and also makes it something a little bit more inspirational to those outside of cybersecurity - especially minorities who might not be drawn to … the military terminology we have in cybersecurity."

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at RSA Conference 2023, Gula discusses:

Welcome changes in the cyber policy debate following the release of the Biden administration's national cybersecurity strategy;
His work as investor, philanthropist and influencer of government policy;
With the market currently "at a crossroads," his venture capital priorities related to funding, products and strategies.

Gula is an investor and philanthropist in over 100 cyber companies and organizations, including Huntress Labs, Girl Security, Scythe, Cybrary and Trinity Cyber. He was the co-founder and CEO of Tenable Network Security.