Ankur Shah Triumphs at the 2026 SC Awards, Honored as Security Executive of the Year

Ankur Shah Celebrated as Security Executive of the Year at 2026 SC Awards

In a prestigious ceremony held during the RSA Conference 2026 in San Francisco, Ankur Shah, the co-founder and CEO of Straiker, has been awarded the title of Security Executive of the Year at the 2026 SC Awards. This accolade not only highlights Shah's leadership but also emphasizes the significant contributions of his company in the realm of cybersecurity solutions tailored for enterprise AI agents and applications.

The SC Awards, now in their 29th year, are recognized as a benchmark in the cybersecurity industry, honoring outstanding innovations, solutions, and leaders who exhibit measurable outcomes in enhancing security protocols. The awards ceremony brought together a diverse group of practitioners, innovators, and executives from the cybersecurity field, showcasing the accomplishments of those dedicated to protecting data and systems.

Shah's recognition was announced in an engaging event attended by industry stakeholders. The review process for selecting the winners was rigorous, conducted by an independent panel of cybersecurity professionals from the CyberRisk Collaborative (CRC). The evaluation criteria included the clarity of the security problem being addressed, the strength of the proposed solution, and evidence of effectiveness measured by tangible outcomes, repeatability, scalability, and business impact.

Kelley Damore, Chief Content Officer at CyberRisk Alliance, remarked on the significance of this year's winners, stating, “This year's winners demonstrate clear results—ranging from reduced risks to enhanced resilience and improved user experiences. Their accomplishments reflect what security teams and buyers value most: evidence, execution, and impact.”

In his acceptance speech, Ankur Shah humbly acknowledged his team's contributions, emphasizing that this award is a reflection of their collective efforts. He stated, “This one is for the team. Every person I've had the privilege of building with, those who have gone on to lead their organizations, contribute to OWASP, champion WiCyS, and publish invaluable research that drives our industry forward.” Shah continued, highlighting the pivotal moment the industry is at, where AI agents are evolving beyond merely automating tasks to actually creating other agents, deploying infrastructure, and making critical decisions at unprecedented speeds. He stressed the importance of security in shaping the future of this rapidly advancing field, underscoring the need for building a solid foundation for the next generation of leaders.

Following the awards ceremony, SC Media plans to spotlight this year's winners through various editorial platforms, alongside additional promotions via the channels of CyberRisk Alliance. This initiative aims to increase the visibility of these high-performing organizations and their leaders within the cybersecurity community.

About Straiker

Founded by veterans in the cybersecurity industry, Straiker is an agentic security firm that specializes in safeguarding AI agents within enterprises. The company's innovative approach empowers organizations to uncover their AI agent footprints, perform continuous security assessments through adversarial testing, and ensure runtime security for agents in production. Trusted by many leading businesses, Straiker stands out in the market for its commitment to enhancing AI security during digital transformations.

For more details about Straiker and its innovative solutions, visit straiker.ai.

About CyberRisk Alliance

CyberRisk Alliance acts as a pivotal resource within the cybersecurity sphere, offering critical business intelligence that connects entities across the ecosystem, facilitates knowledge sharing, and accelerates career growth. With over 250 annual events and various trusted information brands, CyberRisk Alliance delivers actionable insights to enhance the effectiveness of cybersecurity marketing and decision-making processes. To learn more, visit cyberriskalliance.com.