Former ReFirm Labs CEO joins NetRise as senior VP

Terry Dunlap, a former co-founder and CEO of ReFirm Labs, has joined NetRise as Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Development. Dunlap is expected to lead the company into its next growth phase and enhance innovation.

Thomas Pace, CEO of NetRise, expressed his confidence in Dunlap's abilities. “Terry's talent, proven track record, and expertise are invaluable as we accelerate our growth and build awareness on the hidden dangers of blind trust in software. From hacking to IoT and firmware vulnerabilities, his first-hand knowledge makes him a strategic addition to our leadership team. I am thrilled to welcome Terry to NetRise as we continue our momentum in delivering the industry's most innovative software supply chain detection and response platform,” said Pace.

Dunlap has an extensive background in cybersecurity, starting his career in an unconventional manner. As a teenager, he was arrested for credit card fraud but later transitioned to working at the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Global Network Vulnerability Analyst. At the NSA, he was involved in uncovering security vulnerabilities. His career then progressed into entrepreneurship, where he launched and founded two cybersecurity companies. These include Tactical Network Solutions, which provides offensive cyber capabilities, and ReFirm Labs, which offered proactive IoT and firmware security solutions. Notably, ReFirm Labs was acquired by Microsoft in 2021. Dunlap also co-founded Gray Hat Academy, which provides advanced training in hardware hacking and embedded exploitation for cybersecurity professionals.

Commenting on his new role, Dunlap said, “Protecting the software supply chain is a critical, complex problem that is frequently underestimated. NetRise is focused on not only creating market recognition of the problem that they solve, but also its magnitude and urgency. Many solutions specifically target companies that develop software but not those that use it, such as the enterprise community. The NetRise team has a deep understanding of the challenges their customers face and developed a robust platform designed to serve the entire software supply chain industry - from software developers to users. I'm excited to join NetRise as we work together to expand our footprint and help organizations detect and respond to software risks.”

NetRise has experienced significant growth over the past year, bolstered by new product launches, strategic partnerships, and recognition through industry awards. As the company enters its next growth phase, it aims to continue enhancing its innovation capabilities. The company’s mission is to aid organisations in building comprehensive inventories of software assets, proactively responding to security risks, and strengthening the cybersecurity posture of their products and software supply chains.