About Nick Shevelyov
Nick Shevelyov is the founder and managing partner of vCSO.ai. He is a cyber security executive, advisor, investor, and published author. He applies his experiences as Chief Security Officer (CSO), Chief Privacy Officer (CPO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to improve his client’s probability of success. A sought-after public speaker on innovation and cyber risk management, he demonstrated the ability to handle complexity and ambiguity by helping build and defend Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) as it expanded globally (2007 – 2021). After winning the SVB MVP award and completing fifteen years as a highly respected executive C-suite leader at the Bank of the Innovation Economy, Nick stepped down from his role in 2021 to concentrate on starting vCSO.ai, a firm that helps businesses build better security programs, and security companies build better businesses.
Nick has been called on at the earliest ideation stage to develop concepts for next-generation technology companies, ranging from Kubernetes security (StackRox / Acquired by Red Hat $400M) to cloud real-time software composition analysis solutions (Kodem / Greylock Series A), data-loss container technology (Bedrock Security—Greylock Series A), and shadow-data discovery (Laminar / Insight Ventures Series A).
With a wealth of experience, Nick Shevelyov advises founders and CEOs on product development and go-to-market strategies. His guidance has been instrumental in increasing time-to-value propositions for companies like Pixee.ai, Quokka.io, Boostsecurity.io, ETZ, and more. He works with companies in a variety of industries at every stage, from seed to IPO and beyond.
He consults with Private Equity firms, including Insight Ventures (also an LP) and FTV Capital, and sits on the Advisory boards of Forge Point Capital, Mayfield Fund, Evolution Equity Partners, Night Dragon, YL Ventures, and Glynn Capital.
Mr. Shevelyov is on the Board of Directors of Cofense | Phishme and the Bay and the Area CSO Council (BACC), an invitation-only group of Chief Information Security Officers representing the largest companies headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Following his time as CIO, Nick is an honorary member of the Blumberg Technology Council, where he participates in technology industry thought leadership collaborations.
He is the author of “Cyber War…and Peace: Building Digital Trust Today, with History as our Guide” and is passionate about leveraging insights from history and behavioral science into technology development and risk management practices.
Mr. Shevelyov holds an Executive MBA from the University of San Francisco and industry certifications, including Stanford’s Strategic Decision & Risk Management, Harvard’s Corporate Risk for Executives, and the CISSP, CISM, and CIPP
Team
Methodology
Probabilistic Thinking and a Polymath’s Perspective
Using SWOT Analysis, the “Five Whys” root cause analysis method, Pre-Mortem exercises, to identify potential vulnerabilities and threats.
Measured, data centric “value at risk” approach using a proprietary “V12 Data” approach to managing cyber risk, following the philosophy of “Those who wish for peace, prepare for war”.
The Right Horses, for the Right Courses…at the Right Time
Commitment to highly-tailored and balanced solutions addressing clients’ cybersecurity needs through a unique combination of business risk awareness and first principles thinking, enabling the identification and mitigation of potential systemic vulnerabilities and threats.
Sensible Design and Deployment of Strategy
Principled strategy design and deployment centering the balance amongst fit to externalities, proportionality of means and ends, efficiency of leverage, cohesion of internal assets, and resilience to adversity.
Strategy
Strategy is based on shrewd calculations factoring dynamic circumstances.
Speed
Continuously calibrate and refine desired results.
Educate Business Leaders
Get more out of the balance of the business and technical considerations.
AI + Human expertise
Attention to logistical optimization needs to maximize strategy.
Board of Directors
Advisory Boards
