By Sean Cleary, Partner and Cybersecurity Practice Lead
3 Takeaways
- CISO hiring is accelerating in pre-IPO companies. With the IPO market reopening, boards and investors are prioritizing security leadership.
- The quality of cybersecurity talent is rising. More CISOs have stayed in roles longer, creating a deeper, more experienced pool of candidates.
- Regulated markets are driving earlier hires. Companies selling into finance, healthcare, and government are bringing on CISOs sooner to build trust.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—a reminder that cyber threats aren’t slowing down. But this year, there’s another story leaders can’t ignore: a surge in CISO hiring among pre-IPO companies.
With the IPO market showing signs of reopening after a two-year slowdown, cybersecurity leadership has become a board-level requirement. Investors and regulators now expect CISOs and VP Security leaders to be in place well before a company goes public.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—a reminder that cyber threats aren’t slowing down. But this year, there’s another story leaders can’t ignore: a surge in CISO hiring among pre-IPO companies.
With the IPO market showing signs of reopening after a two-year slowdown, cybersecurity leadership has become a board-level requirement. Investors and regulators now expect CISOs and VP Security leaders to be in place well before a company goes public.
Why CISO hiring is critical for IPO readiness
IPO rebound is real
The IPO market, largely frozen between late 2022 and early 2024, is coming back to life. Analysts forecast that 2025 could see one of the busiest IPO pipelines in recent memory. That means pre-IPO companies need to shore up compliance, governance, and trust. A seasoned Chief Information Security Officer is now a requirement for credibility with investors, customers, and regulators.
CISO talent quality is rising
The downturn stabilized the cybersecurity job market. Many CISOs stayed in their roles for 4–5 years, choosing consistency over risk. The result? A more mature, battle-tested talent pool of security executives with deep experience leading through volatility. Companies now have access to stronger candidates. Forward-thinking companies know that this dynamic won’t last as CISO hiring markets heat up. The time to strike and land top talent is now.
Regulated markets are driving earlier hires
Companies selling into government, healthcare, and financial services are hiring CISOs earlier. They need leaders who can manage compliance conversations with Fortune 500 clients while also building early-stage programs from the ground up. That rare blend of executive presence and hands-on skill is now one of the toughest hires to make.
What tech and cybersecurity leaders are telling us
In our recent survey of more than 1,000 senior technology leaders, one theme came through loud and clear: Cybersecurity leadership is moving to the top of the C-suite agenda.
The findings from Riviera’s Future of Tech Leadership 2025 report highlight why boards, investors, and executives are rethinking how security leadership fits into growth and IPO readiness:
Security leaders are being elevated to boards
High-readiness organizations are far more likely to tie CISOs directly into board oversight and strategy.
Executive hiring is tough (duh!)
Nearly 40% of companies say C-suite hiring will be “very challenging” in the next year.
AI is reshaping leadership needs
Only 2% of companies are structurally AI-ready, highlighting the demand for security leaders who can align AI adoption with risk management.
Boards are fueling expansion
Nearly half (47%) of companies expect to create or reshape executive roles under board pressure in the next 12 months.
What Cybersecurity Awareness Month really means for talent strategy
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is usually about phishing tests, password resets, and employee training. All important. But for growth-minded companies, awareness should also mean asking bigger questions:
- Do we have the cybersecurity leadership bench investors expect during IPO readiness?
- Are we hiring executives who balance technical depth with business acumen?
- How early are we investing in cybersecurity talent strategy to compete in regulated industries?
- Are we prepared for the leadership gaps that will define cybersecurity hiring trends in 2026?
So, yes, cybersecurity leadership has come a long way. The market has matured, the IPO window is opening again, and expectations around security are rising in parallel.
For companies on a growth path, it’s less about checking boxes and more about building trust—with investors, with regulators, and with customers. A strong security leader signals that you take that responsibility seriously.
This Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a good time to pause and reflect: Are we set up with the right leadership to guide us through what’s next?
Sean Cleary leads the cybersecurity executive search practice at Riviera Partners. Connect on LinkedIn.
About Riviera Partners
Riviera Partners is a global executive search firm specializing in technology, product, and design leadership. With over two decades of experience and a proprietary platform that combines deep recruiting expertise with data-driven insights, Riviera is the go-to talent partner for venture capital, private equity, and public companies. Learn more at www.rivierapartners.com.