#USA #San Francisco #Cloud Security #Rinki Sethi #Upwind

Upwind's Bold Move in the Cloud Security Arena

On June 12, 2025, Upwind, a prominent player in the runtime-first cloud security realm, announced a significant leadership change by appointing Rinki Sethi as its new Chief Security Officer (CSO). This move comes at a crucial time in the industry, as organizations increasingly seek robust solutions to combat evolving cyber threats.

Rinki Sethi is no stranger to cybersecurity excellence; she boasts over two decades of experience, having held pivotal roles at esteemed companies such as Twitter, Palo Alto Networks, and Walmart. Her extensive background equips her well to steer Upwind’s security initiatives and strategic direction in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Upwind has recently reached remarkable milestones, including a staggering 4,000% revenue growth and a 40% increase in its customer base in 2024 alone. With over 30 product updates in the first quarter of 2025, the company is rapidly emerging as a formidable competitor against traditional CNAPP (Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform) providers by offering unprecedented real-time security features. Rinki's appointment is expected to fuel this trajectory further.

Sethi will oversee the company's global information security functions and technology while driving marketing, go-to-market strategies, and customer engagement across the organization. By doing so, she aims to enhance the adoption of runtime security solutions—an area where Upwind excels compared to its rivals.

In her words, "As a former CISO, I know firsthand the frustrations of tracking incidents in real-time while managing a whirlwind of alerts. Upwind is the first platform I have seen that flips the model from reactive noise to real-time decision-making. My experience as an early user has shown me what’s possible with full runtime context."

Her unparalleled perspective as both a customer and a security expert positions her to guide Upwind into its next phase of growth effectively, aligning with the company’s vision to redefine cloud security.

Amiram Shachar, co-founder and CEO of Upwind, aptly noted, “Rinki is recognized as one of the most respected CISOs globally, and her joining Upwind is a significant signal of where cloud security is heading. She was among the first to see how runtime context changes how we secure the cloud, and now she will help to promote that vision globally.”

Upwind distinguishes itself from traditional cloud security tools that often rely on static rules and fragmented signals. Instead, it provides a unified CNAPP platform integrating agentless transparency with eBPF-powered runtime detection. This approach effectively consolidates the functions of Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP), and identity security into a single platform. It empowers security teams to focus on essential tasks and take action before threats escalate into incidents.

Customers report experiencing a reduction of up to 95% in alerts, significantly decreasing incident resolution time, a testament to Upwind’s efficiency.

Moreover, Sethi’s educational credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering from UC Davis and a Master’s degree in Information Security from Capella University. She is an influential voice in the cybersecurity community, a passionate mentor, and a staunch advocate for women in security. Outside of her professional commitments, Rinki enjoys spending time with her two children, leading a fitness-focused lifestyle, and supporting startups that are pioneering the next wave of cybersecurity innovation.

In conclusion, Rinki Sethi’s appointment marks a transformative moment for Upwind, setting the stage for greater innovation and leadership in real-time cloud security. As the market shifts towards more dynamic and responsive security models, Upwind’s commitment to pioneering new standards under Sethi's leadership could very well redefine how organizations approach cloud security in the years to come.