SolarWinds CEO on Building Trust After Breach, Unifying IT and C-Suite, and GenAI Future

The company stands on solid financial ground even after a massive breach four years ago shook the tech community. SolarWinds CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna tells InformationWeek that his “against the grain” approach helped rebuild trust.

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At a Glance

  • Ramakrishna's support for CISO Timothy Brown highlighted the importance of a collaborative, team-based cybersecurity.
  • SolarWinds saw a 97% customer retention rate in the most recent quarter, which Ramakrishna attributes to rebuilding trust.
  • SolarWinds took a measured approach to generative AI, prioritizing observability and AIOps to deliver ROI.

Sudhakar Ramakrishna was just days into his new role as SolarWinds chief executive officer when news broke of a historic nation-state hack targeting his company.

During “Sunburst,” a cyberattack spanning nearly two years targeted SolarWinds’ flagship software platform, Orion. The attack struck several US government networks, including the Departments of Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, State, and Treasury. The 2019 attacks were revealed in December 2020. The US suspected Russian state actors were behind the breach.

In the ensuing fallout, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil suit in October 2023 alleging the company and its CISO, Timothy Brown, had committed fraud by failing to disclose the breach sooner. In July, a federal judge dismissed most of the charges in the lawsuit.

When Ramakrishna first walked into the SolarWinds offices in January 2021, he faced some tough decisions. The company in 2021 shed a large portion of its workforce, going from a headcount of 3,340 to 2,147. A security software firm falling victim to one of the biggest cyberattacks in history took a toll on reputation and customer trust as well.

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About the Authors

Shane Snider

Senior Writer, InformationWeek

Shane Snider is a veteran journalist with more than 20 years of industry experience. He started his career as a general assignment reporter and has covered government, business, education, technology and much more. He was a reporter for the Triangle Business Journal, Raleigh News and Observer and most recently a tech reporter for CRN. He was also a top wedding photographer for many years, traveling across the country and around the world. He lives in Raleigh with his wife and two children.

InformationWeek

InformationWeek, a sister site to ITPro Today, is a trusted source for CIOs and IT leaders seeking comprehensive and authentic coverage of the constantly evolving world of technology and its impact on business. Our experienced and ethical journalists conduct in-depth examinations of crucial issues and the impact of global events on IT operations and strategies, helping forward-thinking executives stay at the forefront of their industries. InformationWeek also provides a platform for enterprise IT leaders and leading tech companies to share their insights and experiences through exclusive interviews, opinion pieces, and events, offering firsthand accounts of strategies, trends, and innovations.

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