Joining us for the latest edition of MD Culture Club is CloudGuard AI.
We spoke to three of their team members to find out what working at CloudGuard AI is like!
Talent Lead - Amy
Can you tell us a little bit about the company, before describing the culture at the organisation?
CloudGuard started four years ago, driven by a vision to address the cybersecurity needs of small and medium-sized businesses. We’ve since pioneered an automated platform that elevates Microsoft Sentinel security for our clients, who range from niche startups to established enterprises.
What truly sets us apart is our unique culture, which blends innovation, collaboration, and a genuinely supportive atmosphere. We are a tightly-knit team of enthusiastic professionals who excel through creativity and shared success. We celebrate each other’s achievements and are dedicated to inclusivity, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard and valued.
Our aim at CloudGuard is to create an environment with open communication, mutual respect, and a commitment to continuous learning and growth.
How does the company go above and beyond to attract and retain tech talent?
We excel at attracting and retaining top tech talent by creating a lively and inclusive work environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Our commitment to ongoing professional development ensures our team members are always learning and growing, helping them stay at the forefront of the industry. This might involve granting dedicated time off for team members to study for and achieve industry-recognised certifications that we actively encourage, or offering structured training programmes, such as CompTIA.
We genuinely care about our employees’ well-being, which is why we provide flexible working options that allow for a healthy work-life balance. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to meet the diverse needs of our team members, ensuring they feel supported both personally and professionally.
Innovation is a core value for us, and we actively encourage creative problem-solving. By providing access to the latest technologies and tools, we empower our team to push boundaries and come up with innovative solutions.
Our goal is to create a supportive and stimulating workplace that not only attracts top tech talent, but also encourages them to stay with us for the long term.
What does the future look like for the company and its employees?
CloudGuard is on an exciting path, with a significant growth trajectory that promises a bright future for us all. We’re strongly focused on innovation and staying in sync with the latest industry trends, which fuels our expansion and opens up a world of new opportunities.
Our Guardians will find themselves at the heart of groundbreaking projects, constantly improving their skills and advancing along their career paths. We’re wholeheartedly investing in their professional journey and well-being, ensuring our workplace remains a nurturing and energetic environment.
As we extend our reach, our Guardians’ contributions will be crucial in steering our progress and defining the next chapter of our story.
New Starter questions - Meet Nicky
Can you describe your role at the company?
My role at CloudGuard, as the Microsoft Alliance Sales Leader, is to increase sales, particularly through building and nurturing partnerships with Microsoft. I'm responsible for aligning our sales team internally, regularly collaborating with the CEO and CTO, and organising events with partners to drive new opportunities.
I bring over eight years of sales experience, starting with cold calling and progressing through various roles, including enterprise account management and new business development. This journey in both sales and cybersecurity has helped me build strong external relationships within Microsoft.
I also expanded my career scope through leadership coaching, which prepared me for my current leadership role.
What was it about the organisation that attracted you to the role?
What attracted me to this role was the opportunity to grow with a smaller company in a leadership capacity, where I could really make an impact with my knowledge and expertise. The people I met at CloudGuard impressed me with their honesty and the genuine, family-like environment they created, which made me feel I could contribute more and bring new ideas to the table.
CloudGuard’s specific offering was appealing to me, as it provides a clearer and stronger opportunity compared to the broader focus of other MSPs I’ve worked with. This not only makes it easier but also more exciting to sell. Plus, the role offers a better work-life balance, allowing me to avoid those exhausting early starts and long commutes, making my workday more realistic and manageable.
Can you describe the onboarding process you’ve experienced?
The onboarding process was smooth and straightforward. It started with Amy on my first day, which allowed me to hit the ground running. Over the next week, I had introductory calls with various team members to understand who I would need to connect with for specific tasks in my role.
Everyone I met was friendly and helpful, which reassured me that I had made the right decision in joining the company. The rest of my onboarding involved working with Matt to understand the company's offerings and how to effectively present them. This process helped me dive straight into my responsibilities with Microsoft and our other partners.
Long-term employee questions - Meet Liam
Can you describe your role at the company?
At CloudGuard, I serve as a Platform Engineer. My primary role revolves around managing continuous integrations within the DevOps workflow. This includes developing and executing the onboarding process for new customers. I also collaborate closely with the team to build pipelines for various solutions and services we offer, such as the dashboard, automation tools, and Sentinel content.
When I first joined three years ago, I was involved in a wide range of tasks, from pre-sales to deployment, and ultimately service management. Over time, as the company has grown, many of these responsibilities have become more specialised. Currently, I lead a small team of two, focusing on development tasks similar to those I handled early on, such as managing workflows, deployments, and developing new code and solutions.
You’ve been at the company for a number of years, can you tell me what has kept you at the company for so long?
The main reason I've stayed here so long is because of the culture and the way the leadership team treats its employees. I feel that my voice is heard, and my opinions are genuinely valued when we're making decisions about how to move the business forward. It's really nice to be part of a company where you feel your opinion is taken on board.
This approach has stayed consistent over time, even as new people join. Their opinions are also considered, so it’s not just one person calling the shots. Plus, the remote-first culture and flexible working hours have been huge factors for me. It’s great to have the freedom to work in a way that suits my lifestyle, without sacrificing the sense of teamwork and collaboration that makes the job so enjoyable. All of this creates a peaceful and supportive environment that really keeps me motivated to stay.
What would you say to a person considering joining the company?
Your ideas and input will be valued, and you’ll have the chance to make a real impact. Because we’re a smaller company, your contributions won’t go unnoticed. If you’re someone who enjoys variety and likes to think outside the box, you'll feel right at home here and be truly appreciated for your efforts.
