Empathy, motivation and diverse perspectives drive Beauceron to cybersecurity success
Cyber Champions is a new monthly feature put out by the Canadian Cybersecurity Network to celebrate Canadian founders and their amazing companies.
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The origin story
When David Shipley witnessed a hacking incident at the University of New Brunswick, he saw firsthand that cybersecurity failures often stemmed from weaknesses in people, processes and culture – not technology alone. This realization sparked his journey to found Beauceron Security, a company that aims to transform individuals from passive victims of cybercrime into active defenders.
“The root of all cyber incidents is people, process and culture. Technology alone isn’t enough,” says Shipley.
The name Beauceron reflects this mission. Inspired by the Beauceron sheepdog, known for its protective instincts, the company’s goal is to motivate people to become defenders – cyber sheepdogs – in their digital environments. Beauceron is Shipley’s first start up – talk about hitting a homer the first time up to the plate.
The Beauceron crisis moment
Every founder faces a moment of crisis and for Shipley, it came early in Beauceron’s journey. As the company faced mounting pressures and challenges, Shipley realized the importance of emotional resilience and the need to seek advice.
“Building emotional resilience…you really do have to take care of yourself and put your mask on first,” he says.
By adjusting strategies and leaning on trusted advisors, Shipley guided Beauceron through difficult times, emerging with a stronger focus on people and culture as the foundation of cybersecurity success.
The problem Beauceron is trying to solve
Beauceron was founded to address a critical challenge: how to motivate individuals to make better security choices without resorting to fear-based training or compliance-driven programs.
“We were trying to solve how to motivate people to make good choices about technology so they can reduce their cyber risk and thrive in a digital world,” Shipley says.
Instead of treating people as the “weakest link,” Beauceron’s approach empowers them to become active participants in their organization’s cybersecurity efforts.
Breaking into the industry
Shipley believes that diverse backgrounds and skillsets are vital for success in cybersecurity. His advice for those trying to break into the field? Focus on critical thinking, communication and understanding human behavior.
“You don’t need to be a programmer or a deep tech person to lead in cybersecurity,” he says. “Critical thinking, psychology and the ability to ask fundamental questions are just as important.”
Shipley’s journey is proof that leadership in cybersecurity can come from unexpected places – and that passion and curiosity are often more valuable than technical expertise alone.
The cybersecurity mythbuster
“The biggest cybersecurity myth that drives me crazy is that you have to be a programmer or deep tech person to hold a leadership role in cyber,” Shipley says.
With a background in liberal arts and a fascination for psychology, Shipley built a multi-million-dollar cybersecurity company focused on empowering people, not just deploying technology.
Canadian innovation
Shipley believes there is a significant opportunity to support Canadian innovation in the cybersecurity space. He advocates for investing in homegrown cyber solutions and service providers to develop skills and resiliency within Canada.
“We absolutely should be investing in Canada first,” he says. “You cannot be a sovereign country without a cyber defense industrial base.”
Shipley warns against simply subcontracting cyber defense to big American brands, emphasizing that a sovereign country needs its own cyber defense capabilities.
Achievements
Despite the challenges of being a startup, Beauceron has reached significant milestones, including:
- Achieving $5 million in annual recurring revenue.
- Serving 1,200 clients and a million users.
- Creating 48 Canadian jobs and making a meaningful impact on the cybersecurity landscape.
The most cyber-paranoid thing
When it comes to his own cybersecurity habits, Shipley takes a proactive approach. While he didn’t specify a single “paranoid” behavior, his philosophy centers around reducing risk through awareness and responsible decision-making.
“Ninety-five per cent of people know what cybersecurity is and want to do the right thing. It’s not a knowledge issue – it’s about applying that knowledge and caring about the issue.”
Key takeaways
- People, process, and culture: The foundation of cybersecurity success lies in human factors, not just technology.
- Motivation over compliance: Engaging and empowering individuals leads to better security choices.
- Emotional resilience: Founders must prioritize self-care and adaptability to navigate the challenges of startup life.
- Diverse skillsets: A range of backgrounds can drive innovation and effective leadership in cybersecurity.
- Support local innovation: Investing in Canadian cybersecurity companies is crucial for national security and growth.
Shipley’s journey with Beauceron exemplifies a human-centric approach to cybersecurity – one where empathy, motivation and diverse perspectives drive meaningful change in the digital world. Beauceron shows how a Canadian company can grow and scale to incredible heights, proving that people, not just technology, are the key to cybersecurity success.
