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Cybersecurity is constantly changing, which makes it hard to know which trends matter and which are just noise. New threats, rapidly evolving technologies, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements keep raising the stakes for businesses.
If you want a deeper look at what’s driving that urgency, our breakdown of the top emerging cybersecurity threats covers what organizations are up against right now. In that kind of environment, the right cybersecurity influencers can be valuable guides. They do more than react to breaking news. They add context, share real expertise, and help leaders make better sense of the issues shaping the field.
This list brings together cybersecurity voices from across the industry, including researchers, founders, CISOs, journalists, advisors, and educators.
Some are known for threat intelligence and investigative work. Others stand out for product security, vulnerability disclosure, human risk, cyber policy, or responsible AI. What connects them is credibility. They do not just comment on cybersecurity; they help shape how the industry thinks, builds, and responds.
1. Chuck Brooks (Cybersecurity Advisor, President of Brooks Consulting International)
Chuck Brooks is a cybersecurity advisor with a long track record across government, defense, and industry, whose work sits at the intersection of public policy, national security, and enterprise technology.
He served at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including as the first Director of Legislative Affairs at the Science and Technology Directorate. He was also a senior advisor to Senator Arlen Specter on security and technology matters.
What makes Brooks stand out is the range of spaces where his views carry weight. Along with his speaking and advisory work, he writes for Forbes on cybersecurity and emerging technology. His perspective is especially useful for readers who want a wider view of cybersecurity, one that includes policy, critical infrastructure, and public-sector risk, not only breach headlines and product news.
Today, he is President of Brooks Consulting International and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, where he teaches graduate courses on cybersecurity and risk management.
Years Of Experience: 25+
Achievements:
- Two-time U.S. Presidential Appointee
- Recognized as “Cybersecurity Person of the Year”
- Named one of LinkedIn’s “Top 5 Tech People to Follow”
- Forbes contributor and global keynote speaker
2. Matthew Rosenquist (Founder, Cybersecurity Insights | CISO at Mercury Risk)
Matthew Rosenquist is a cybersecurity executive and strategist with more than 3 decades of experience. He is the Founder of Cybersecurity Insights and currently serves as CISO at Mercury Risk.
Earlier, he spent years at Intel Corporation in senior security roles, focusing on product security, threat analysis, and enterprise risk strategy. His career has centered on helping organizations address security challenges posed by emerging technologies and rapidly shifting threat patterns.
Beyond his executive roles, Matthew is a board advisor, keynote speaker, and industry voice with a strong global following. Through publications, interviews, patents, training programs, and certifications, he contributes actively to the cybersecurity community.
With 200,000 LinkedIn followers, Rosenquist stands out for his ability to speak to both security teams and executive leadership. His work often focuses on cyber risk, trust, disruptive technology, and board-level thinking. That is why he remains a visible voice for readers who want practical cybersecurity guidance without getting lost in technical noise.
Years Of Experience: 30+
Achievements:
- Host of the Cybersecurity Insights Podcast and Channel
- Global keynote speaker and board advisor
- Holds multiple patents and has contributed to cybersecurity training programs and certifications
If you enjoy expert perspectives, explore these cybersecurity quotes from industry leaders.
3. Dr. Magda Chelly (Founder of RuleUp and RiskImmune)
Dr. Magda Chelly is a cybersecurity and risk management leader with more than 15 years of experience across security, compliance, and business resilience. As the founder of RuleUp and RiskImmune, she focuses on helping organizations manage regulatory compliance and cyber risk in a more practical, business-led way.
Her earlier leadership work across multinational environments gave her a strong view of how security decisions affect both day-to-day operations and executive strategy.
She is also a well-known speaker and author who makes cybersecurity easier for business audiences to understand. Her work often sits at the intersection of cyber resilience, governance, and executive decision-making. That mix of technical depth and clear communication has made her a recognized voice in global cybersecurity conversations.
Years Of Experience: 15+
Achievements:
- Recognized among IFSEC Global’s Top 20 Most Influential Cybersecurity Personalities
- Recognized as a World Economic Forum Cybersecurity Expert.
- Co-Author of Building a Cyber Resilient Business
- TEDx speaker
4. Graham Cluley (Independent Cybersecurity Analyst, Speaker, and Co-host of Smashing Security)
Graham Cluley has been a familiar name in cybersecurity since the early 1990s. He began as a programmer and wrote the first version of Dr. Solomon’s Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows, a milestone that placed him close to the early days of commercial antivirus. He later held senior roles at major security companies, including Sophos and McAfee, building a career spanning technical work, threat communication, and public education.
Over the years, Graham has become one of the most recognizable public voices in the industry. He is known for breaking down cyber threats in a clear, sharp, and easy-to-follow way, whether through keynote talks, media appearances, blog posts, or podcasts.
His long-running work as an independent analyst and the success of Smashing Security have helped him stay relevant across changing waves of security news, making him a trusted voice for both industry insiders and wider audiences.
Years of Experience: 30+ years
Achievements:
- Inducted into the InfoSecurity Europe Hall of Fame in 2011
- Winner of EMEA Cybersecurity Educator of the Year at the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards
- Recognized among the world’s top IT security influencers
5. Brian Krebs (Investigative Reporter, KrebsOnSecurity)
Brian Krebs is one of the most trusted investigative voices in cybersecurity journalism. He is the founder of KrebsOnSecurity, a long-running independent news site focused on cybercrime, online fraud, privacy, and internet security.
Before launching his own platform in 2009, he spent years at The Washington Post, where he reported on security, privacy, and technology policy, and wrote the well-known Security Fix blog.
What sets Krebs apart is his depth of reporting. His work has consistently exposed major cybercrime operations, payment card breaches, botnet activity, and criminal networks operating behind the scenes of the internet.
Over time, his work has helped make complicated security issues understandable for a much wider audience, which is a big reason he remains such an influential figure in the field.
Years Of Experience: 20+
Achievements:
- Author of Spam Nation, a New York Times bestseller
- Recognized with major journalism and cybersecurity honors, including the SANS Top Cybersecurity Journalist Award and ISSA’s President’s Award for Public Service
6. Shira Rubinoff (CEO, The Cybersphere Group)
Shira Rubinoff is a cybersecurity executive, advisor, and speaker known for connecting cybersecurity, AI, and the human side of technology. She is the CEO of The Cybersphere Group and has built two cybersecurity product companies throughout her career.
She is also widely recognized for her public presence in cybersecurity. Rubinoff serves on multiple boards, including advisory roles tied to cybersecurity education and industry groups. What makes Rubinoff stand out is her public influence. Her work is not limited to executive advisory and speaking.
She is also known for her thought leadership on the human factors of cybersecurity, media commentary, and broader visibility across the cyber community. That is why she fits well on a list like this, especially for readers looking for voices that bridge security, leadership, and business communication.
Her influence extends beyond consulting and speaking, with a YouTube channel that has passed 300,000 subscribers and a reputation as one of the leading female voices in cybersecurity and AI.
Years Of Experience: 20+
Achievements:
- Author of Cyber Minds
- Named Outstanding Woman in Infosec by the CyberHub Summit
- Received the One to Watch honor from CSO and the Executive Women’s Forum
- Recognized by CSO Magazine as a Woman of Influence
7. Troy Hunt (Founder of Have I Been Pwned)
Troy Hunt is one of the most recognized names in cybersecurity, particularly in data breaches, online security, and public education. He is the creator of Have I Been Pwned, the widely used breach notification service that helps people check whether their email addresses, phone numbers, or passwords have appeared in known data leaks.
Alongside that work, he is a Pluralsight information security author and instructor, and he has spent years teaching developers and security teams how to build safer software. His background in software development gives his security work a strong practical foundation.
His background in software development and web security gives his work a practical edge, which is a big reason so many developers, security teams, and everyday users follow him. What makes Hunt stand out is how clearly he explains security issues that often feel technical or overwhelming.
Along with running Have I Been Pwned, he writes, teaches, speaks globally, and has become a trusted voice on breach response and digital trust. His work has helped make breach awareness far more accessible not only for security professionals but also for the wider public.
Years Of Experience: 25+
Achievements:
- Pluralsight information security author and instructor
- Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for Developer Security
- Microsoft Regional Director
- Appeared before the U.S. Congress as an expert witness on the impact of data breaches
8. David Kennedy (Founder of TrustedSec, Co-Founder of Binary Defense)
David Kennedy is a well-known name in offensive security and security services. He founded TrustedSec and later co-founded Binary Defense, building companies that cover both advisory work and managed detection. Before that, he served as Chief Security Officer at Diebold, a Fortune 1000 company, gaining experience leading security at scale from the inside.
His career has moved across consulting, enterprise security, incident response, and security operations, which is a big reason his voice carries weight in the field.
What makes Kennedy stand out is the way his influence goes beyond the companies he built. His name is closely tied to practical security work, community education, and widely used tools and frameworks. He has spoken at major conferences, advised on cybersecurity issues in the media, and helped shape how many people in the field think about penetration testing and social engineering
Years Of Experience: 20+
Achievements:
- Creator of the Social-Engineer Toolkit, SET
- Co-author of Metasploit: The Penetration Tester’s Guide
- Co-creator of the Penetration Testing Execution Standard, PTES
- Co-founder of DerbyCon
- Named one of the Top 10 IT Security Influencers in the World by CISO Platform
9. Rinki Sethi (CISO & CSO, Upwind Security
Rinki Sethi is a cybersecurity executive known for leading security programs at some of the biggest names in tech. She is currently the CISO and CSO at Upwind Security and a founding partner at Lockstep. Earlier in her career, she held senior security leadership roles at Twitter, Rubrik, BILL, IBM, Walmart.com, Intuit, eBay, and Palo Alto Networks, which gives her a strong mix of product security, operations, and executive leadership experience.
What makes Rinki stand out is the scale and range of her leadership. She has worked across Fortune 500 environments, led global teams, and handled high-stakes security work tied to enterprise growth and business risk. Her profile is also shaped by board and advisory work, including roles connected to StrongDM and other security-focused companies. She is widely recognized as a leader who can connect security strategy with business priorities, which is why she remains a respected voice in the CISO community.
Years Of Experience: 20+
Achievements:
- Received the “One to Watch” award from CSO Magazine and the Executive Women’s Forum
- Received the Senior Information Security Practitioner Award from ISC2 in 2018
- Led the initiative to develop the first set of national cybersecurity badges and curriculum for the Girl Scouts of the USA
- Led the eBay team that received SC Magazine’s “Information Security Team of the Year” award
10. Jessica Barker MBE PhD (Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Cygenta)
Jessica Barker is one of the best-known voices on the human side of cybersecurity. She is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Cygenta, where her work focuses on security awareness, behavior, and culture inside organizations. Her background blends cybersecurity with behavioral science, which is why her work often stands out from more technical voices in the field.
She is known for helping leaders understand that stronger security is not only about tools, it is also about how people think, act, and respond.
She is also a best-selling author and international keynote speaker whose work has reached audiences across business, government, and the wider security community. Jessica has delivered keynotes for events and organizations, including NATO, the World Government Summit, and RSA, and in 2023, she was awarded an MBE for services to cybersecurity by King Charles III.
Years Of Experience: 10+
Achievements:
- Best-selling author of Confident Cyber Security and Hacked
- Named among the top 20 most influential women in cybersecurity in the UK
- Delivered 80+ keynotes, including NATO, the World Government Summit, and RSA
11. Katie Moussouris (Founder and CEO, Luta Security)
Katie Moussouris is one of the most influential voices in vulnerability disclosure and bug bounty program design. She is the founder and CEO of Luta Security, a firm that helps companies and governments build stronger ways to work with hackers and security researchers. Her career has focused on disclosure policy, researcher engagement, and the systems organizations need to handle vulnerabilities more maturely and responsibly.
What sets her apart is the scale of her impact on the field. She helped move bug bounty programs and coordinated disclosure from niche security practices into wider government and enterprise use. Her work sits at the meeting point of security research, public policy, and institutional trust, which is why she is such an important figure for anyone following how vulnerability reporting has changed over time.
Years Of Experience: 20+
Achievements:
- Helped launch Hack the Pentagon, the first U.S. federal bug bounty program
- Helped create Microsoft’s first bug bounty program
- Served on federal cyber advisory bodies, including DHS/CISA’s Cyber Safety Review Board and NIST’s
- Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board
12. Ryan Naraine (Editor-at-Large, SecurityWeek | Host, Security Conversations)
Ryan Naraine is a cybersecurity journalist and strategist with more than 20 years of experience covering security news, threat activity, and the business side of cyber. He is Editor-at-Large at SecurityWeek and host of the Security Conversations podcast series.
His career spans journalism, research, community engagement, and cybersecurity strategy, which gives him a broad view of how security ideas move from technical circles into business and leadership discussions.
What makes Naraine stand out is his role as a connector inside the cybersecurity community. He has spent years bringing together researchers, practitioners, founders, and decision-makers through media, podcasts, and community-led efforts. That makes him a valuable voice for readers who want to follow not only cyber threats, but also the people, conversations, and trust networks shaping the industry.
Years Of Experience: 20+
Achievements:
- Host of the Security Conversations podcast
- Co-founder of Threatpost
- Former Director of Security Strategy at Intel
- Founding director of the Security Tinkerers nonprofit
13. Chris Wysopal (Co-Founder and Chief Security Evangelist, Veracode)
Chris Wysopal is one of the early names that helped shape modern application security. He was part of L0pht, the hacker collective that pushed software security into public view in the 1990s.
He later co-founded Veracode, where he helped bring software security testing into mainstream enterprise use. His career connects early vulnerability research with the rise of secure-by-design thinking in commercial software.
What makes Wysopal stand out is his long influence on how the industry thinks about secure software and vulnerability disclosure. He has spoken publicly about software risk for years, and his work continues to matter because it links hacker research, software assurance, and public policy in a way that remains relevant today.
Years Of Experience: 30+
Achievements:
- Testified before the U.S. Senate and U.S. House on cybersecurity and software vulnerabilities
- Co-author of The Art of Software Security Testing
- Named a Cybersecurity Visionary by CyberScoop
14. Dean Sysman (Co-Founder and Executive Chair, Axonius)
Dean Sysman is a cybersecurity entrepreneur best known for co-founding Axonius, where he now serves as Executive Chair after leading the company as CEO for its first nine years. Before Axonius, he also co-founded Cymmetria, a cyber deception company later acquired by a private equity firm. His background combines company building, product thinking, and deep cybersecurity experience, which is why he is often seen as one of the stronger founder-led voices in the industry.
What makes Sysman stand out is the scale and speed of what he helped build. Axonius became one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies, reaching a multibillion-dollar valuation and crossing $100 million in annual recurring revenue in under five years. That growth, along with his broader work as an investor and advisor, has made him a notable name not just in cybersecurity operations, but in cyber entrepreneurship as well.
Years Of Experience: 15+
Achievements:
- Recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 Israel
- Winner of EY Entrepreneur of the Year in New York
- Helped Axonius exceed $100 million in ARR within five years
15. Helen Yu (Founder and CEO, Tigon Advisory)
Helen Yu is a tech advisor and business leader whose work sits at the intersection of responsible AI, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and growth strategy.
She is the founder and CEO of Tigon Advisory, where she advises technology companies on growth, governance, cyber risk, and executive decision-making. Her public profiles also position her as a board advisor and a visible voice on ethical tech and trust as organizations scale new technology.
What makes Yu stand out is her ability to speak to both growth and risk in the same conversation. She is active through speaking, writing, and media, and her work is especially relevant for business leaders trying to balance AI adoption, governance, and cybersecurity. That makes her a useful name on this list, especially for readers who want a broader executive view of cyber and AI rather than a purely technical lens.
Years Of Experience: 20+
Achievements:
- Host of CXO Spice
- Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Ascend Your Start-Up
- Recognized as one of the Top 50 Women in Tech
Named among the Top 10 Influencers in Digital Transformation by IBM, as listed in public speaker bios
Why These Names Deserve Your Attention
The cybersecurity world needs more than technical knowledge. It needs people who can explain risk clearly, question bad assumptions, and push better security thinking across industries. The influencers on this list stand out for their diverse strengths, from deep research and investigative reporting to board-level strategy, secure software, human behavior, and cyber resilience.
Following the right voices can help you stay informed, spot meaningful trends early, and see beyond the noise that often surrounds this space. Whether you are a security professional, business leader, founder, or just someone trying to keep up with the field, these cybersecurity influencers are worth watching.
If you are looking to learn more about security and the latest technology, start by following these leading voices in the profession. You can also follow Ace Cloud Hosting on social media – Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook to get the latest insights into the world of managed security and IT.
Disclaimer: The rankings in this blog are based on publicly available information. Ace Cloud Hosting does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this data. The inclusion of businesses or experts in this blog does not imply any endorsement, partnership, or association with Ace Cloud Hosting.
