Rinki Sethi Takes the Helm at Upwind
Upwind, a cutting-edge cloud security platform, has made waves in the tech world with the recent appointment of Rinki Sethi as Chief Security Officer. This strategic move aims to propel the company’s mission of advancing the runtime security landscape, which has seen growing importance as businesses increasingly migrate to the cloud.
Rinki Sethi is not just any cybersecurity leader; she brings with her an impressive track record, having held senior positions at major companies including Palo Alto Networks, Twitter, and Shopify. With over 20 years of expertise, Sethi’s extensive experience positions her ideally to lead Upwind's global information security and technology initiatives. Furthermore, her past experience working with state-of-the-art cloud applications provides a unique perspective that will undoubtedly shape Upwind’s strategy in the fast-evolving cybersecurity sector.
Upon joining Upwind, Sethi expressed her enthusiasm for the role, stating, “This is a pivotal moment for the industry, and having been a long-time customer of Upwind, I recognize the value it brings to its clients—particularly in real-time threat detection and resolution. My journey with Upwind has convinced me that we are on the brink of transforming how organizations think about cybersecurity.”
Under Sethi’s leadership, Upwind is expected to accelerate its focus on the essential aspects of security in cloud environments, especially in instances where real-time monitoring is crucial. The company has reported a staggering 4,000% growth in revenue year-over-year, attributed to an increase of 40% in its customer base and the launch of over 30 product updates in the first quarter of 2025. This rapid expansion has positioned Upwind as a formidable competitor against traditional CNAPP providers.
Amiram Shachar, Upwind’s CEO and co-founder, remarked, “Rinki’s credibility and her deep understanding of execution context lays the groundwork for our global vision around cloud security. We believe she will influence how we secure cloud data now and in the future.” The company has made significant strides with its unique offering, which integrates various security features into one platform, enabling seamless visibility and real-time responses.
Unlike conventional cloud security tools, which often rely on fragmented signals and static rules, Upwind provides a unified CNAPP platform. This innovative system combines cloud security posture management, workload protection, and identity security management, anchored by live execution activities. The result? Clients experience up to a 95% reduction in alerts, alongside substantially decreased resolution times. This not only preserves resources but also allows security teams to focus on high-priority threats before they escalate into incidents.
Having previously competed in elder leadership roles, Sethi’s holistic approach encompasses both the technical and customer perspectives—something she believes is vital in developing comprehensive security solutions. “During my time in several security roles, I often found myself chasing dashboards while real-time incidents occurred. Upwind’s innovative methodology—turning the focus from reactive measures to real-time decision-making—is revolutionary,” stated Sethi.
An alumna of UC Davis and Capella University, Sethi is also passionate about mentorship and advocating for women in security roles. Balancing her professional life, she manages her responsibilities at Upwind while being a mother to two children and enthusiastically supporting startups poised to lead against future innovation challenges in cybersecurity.
Aiming to strengthen its market position, Upwind is backed by prominent investors, including Greylock Partners and Cyberstarts, and has raised a total of $180 million since its inception in 2022. This surge in investment not only reflects confidence in Upwind’s vision but enhances its capability to push boundaries in the cloud security domain. To explore what Upwind has in store, visit their official website at
www.upwind.io.