Founder Spotlight: Kieran Roberts, Fortifi Cyber — Cyber Runway

Founder Spotlight: Kieran Roberts, Fortifi Cyber — Cyber Runway

The world of penetration testing has come a long way. I still remember my first engagement — working overnight, running on diner coffee at a midnight Denny’s stop, and hacking printers just because they were on the same network. Back then, pentesting was a niche skill, a black-box art practiced by a handful of specialists.

Fast forward to today, and the industry looks completely different. Security compliance, cloud infrastructure, ransomware readiness — pentesting isn’t just for elite red teams anymore. Companies of all sizes are expected to prove they can defend against threats, but too often, they’re given cookie-cutter security tests that don’t reflect real risks.

That’s exactly what Kieran Roberts set out to change with Fortifi Cyber.

From Engineer to Entrepreneur

Kieran didn’t stumble into security — he ran straight at it. Originally, he planned for a career in engineering, aerodynamics, maybe even Formula 1. But halfway through, he realized that while he loved physics, he didn’t want to spend his life crunching equations.

Then came the turning point: a college lecture on hacking.

“It was a simple man-in-the-middle attack, just ARP spoofing and some basic web app security flaws,” Kieran told me. “But it was like witchcraft — I knew immediately that’s what I wanted to do.”

From that moment on, hacking wasn’t just an interest — it was the career path.

He jumped straight into cybersecurity, eventually joining NCC Group, one of the biggest names in the pentesting world. There, he worked alongside some of the smartest minds in the field, tackling everything from hardware security to ATM hacking. It was at NCC that he learned not just the technical craft, but also how pentesting companies operate at scale.

That experience set the foundation for what would come next.

Fixing the Broken Pentesting Model

Before founding Fortifi Cyber, Kieran spent years watching how security testing was sold, delivered, and — too often — misunderstood.

Many companies don’t actually know why they’re getting a pentest. Some do it because they have to (compliance, vendor requirements), while others want a deeper security assessment. The problem? Most companies get the same generic test year after year, without real insight into their security risks.

That’s what Fortifi set out to change.

“We don’t just deliver reports — we teach companies how to think about security,” Kieran explained. “A lot of pentesters focus on just breaking things. We focus on helping businesses understand what actually matters.”

Instead of selling one-size-fits-all tests, Fortifi helps clients tailor assessments to real threats. A company that’s worried about ransomware? Instead of another external network scan, they need a ransomware readiness assessment. A fully remote workforce? Maybe a stolen laptop attack simulation makes more sense.

This approach is reshaping how businesses approach pentesting — and it’s working.

Lessons from Cyber Runway

When Kieran joined Cyber Runway Grow, Fortifi was already on a solid trajectory, but he saw an opportunity to push the business even further.

His biggest takeaway? The power of the right conversations.

“There’s always someone asking a question I didn’t think to ask,” Kieran said. “Being around other founders forces you to refine your thinking — whether it’s about sales, marketing, or scaling a security business.”

Cyber Runway also helped open doors — introducing Fortifi to new customers and partners. Events like the regional smart cities panel in Sunderland helped Kieran position Fortifi’s expertise in emerging security challenges, while networking with potential clients and investors has set the stage for future growth.

For other founders thinking about joining Cyber Runway, Kieran’s advice is simple: engage fully or don’t bother.

“If you’re just here for the badge, you’re wasting your time,” he said. “But if you go in knowing what you want — whether it’s investment, partnerships, or just refining your business — you’ll get something valuable out of it.”

What’s Next for Fortifi?

The next big goal for Fortifi is expanding its direct customer base. While partnerships have fueled the company’s early growth, Kieran is focused on building long-term client relationships to ensure stability beyond third-party referrals.

“We love working with partners, but we don’t want to rely on them,” he explained. “Losing one partner can mean losing a big chunk of revenue. By working directly with businesses, we can have more impact and more control.”

Fortifi is also doubling down on niche security assessments — particularly in ransomware defense, VIP cyber training, and real-world attack simulations. These aren’t just compliance-driven checkboxes; they’re tailored engagements that help companies defend against actual threats.

“We’re not just here to run scans and write reports,” Kieran said. “We’re here to make companies actually more secure.”

Pentesting isn’t what it used to be — and that’s a good thing. What started as a small, highly specialized field has evolved into a critical part of modern cybersecurity. But too often, companies are checking the box without getting real security value.

Kieran and Fortifi Cyber are changing that. By focusing on education, tailored assessments, and real-world risk, they’re not just finding vulnerabilities — they’re helping companies understand security in a way that actually protects them.

And as cyber threats continue to evolve, that kind of approach is exactly what businesses need.

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