Loading organizations...
Key people at S21sec.
S21sec provides comprehensive cybersecurity services and solutions, specializing in continuous monitoring, advanced threat detection, and rapid incident response. The company offers a robust suite of methodologies, tools, and expert support designed to manage and mitigate cybersecurity incidents effectively. Its technical approach centers on protecting critical digital assets and ensuring the resilience of organizational infrastructure against evolving cyber threats, leveraging deep expertise in forensics and incident management.
The company was founded in 2000 by Xabier Mitxelena and Miguel Fernandez, initially establishing its presence in Donostia-San Sebastian. Their foundational insight stemmed from recognizing a significant gap in the market: a pressing need for specialized cybersecurity expertise and advanced technological solutions to combat the burgeoning challenges of cybercrime. This foresight positioned S21sec as an early pioneer in dedicated cybersecurity services within Europe.
S21sec serves a broad range of organizations seeking to safeguard their digital environments and comply with stringent security standards. Its vision is to empower clients to confidently navigate their digital transformation journeys by minimizing risk and fortifying their defenses. Through its strategic offerings, S21sec aims to foster secure operations and contribute to the economic value of its clients through ethical business practices and sustainable development in cybersecurity.
Key people at S21sec.
S21sec is a leading European cybersecurity company specializing in managing cybersecurity risks and protecting clients' assets across sectors like transportation, aerospace, defense, government, and finance.[1][2][3] Founded in 2000 as one of Spain's first pure cybersecurity firms, it offers comprehensive services spanning the NIST Framework, including strategy definition, consulting, technology integration, and incident response via Security Operations Centers (SOCs).[1][2] Now operating as S21sec, Cyber Solutions by Thales after acquisitions by Sonaecom in 2014 and Thales, it employs over 400 security experts in Spain and Portugal, backed by Thales' global network of 6,000 experts and €2 billion in annual cybersecurity revenue.[2][3][5] S21sec serves organizations undergoing digital transformation, delivering modular managed services in consulting, solutions integration, and 24/7 detection/response to enable secure business growth.[2][4]
S21sec was founded in 2000 in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain, by Miguel Fernandez, who pioneered ethical hacking services during the dotcom bubble when cybersecurity was emerging as "IT security."[3] As one of Spain's first professional cybersecurity companies, it quickly gained recognition, winning the McKinsey Start-Up Award that year for its innovative vulnerability testing via hacking techniques.[3][4] Early growth involved recruiting specialists from across Spain, supported by Navarran government funding that enabled a headquarters move to Navarra and the establishment of Spain's first cybersecurity R&D lab in Pamplona.[3] Key milestones include Sonaecom's majority stake acquisition in 2014, fostering R&D expansion, and Thales' later purchase of S21sec and Excellium via Maxive Cybersecurity, enhancing its SOC and global capabilities while retaining the S21sec brand in Iberia.[1][2][3][5]
S21sec rides the surging demand for cybersecurity amid digital transformation, rising nation-state threats, and regulatory pressures in critical infrastructure.[2][3] Its timing capitalized on early 2000s IT security awareness post-dotcom, scaling through acquisitions to address modern challenges like AI-driven attacks and industrial IoT vulnerabilities in aerospace, defense, and finance.[1][2][4] Market forces favoring it include Europe's push for sovereign cyber defenses, Thales' global reach amplifying Iberian expertise, and a shift from tactical fixes to strategic integration in governance and risk management.[1][3] S21sec influences the ecosystem by advancing ethical hacking standards, contributing to EU projects on factory security and metaverse standards, and enabling clients' secure innovation, positioning Spain as a cyber hub.[3][4]
S21sec's Thales backing positions it for expanded global SOC dominance and AI-enhanced threat intelligence, targeting growth in emerging areas like metaverse security and zero-trust architectures.[2][4] Trends like quantum threats, regulatory harmonization (e.g., NIS2), and industrial digitization will propel its trajectory, with R&D investments driving new services.[3][4] Its influence may evolve from regional pioneer to key Thales cyber arm, fostering Iberian talent and public-private innovation to shape resilient digital ecosystems—reinforcing its role as a foundational protector in an increasingly hostile cyber landscape.[1][2]
