Nikoloz Kokhreidze

Nikoloz Kokhreidze

Strategic Security Advisor

Founder of Mandos & CybersecTools

13 years Netherlands Global reach

I Help Executives See Through the Security Black Box

13 years in cybersecurity. From banking floors in Georgia to leading security at Forbes Cloud 100 companies in Amsterdam. I've sat in the rooms where security becomes a deal-killer, and I've learned how to make sure it doesn't.

The Origin

Why I Built Mandos

I've spent my career watching the same pattern repeat.

A PE firm acquires a company and discovers security debt that wasn't in the data room. A new executive inherits a security program built on assumptions that no longer apply. A board asks "what are we getting for this spend?" and nobody can give them a straight answer.

Security becomes a black box. And when security is a black box, bad decisions follow.

I started Mandos because I kept being the person executives called when things got complicated. After doing this informally for years, stepping into securuty leadership roles, advising on acquisitions, helping boards understand what their security teams were actually doing, I decided to make it official.

The difference between me and most advisors? I don't guess.

I built CybersecTools, the world's largest directory of 5,800+ cybersecurity products, because I got tired of seeing organizations overpay for redundant tools or miss better alternatives. That database now powers everything I do: M&A assessments, portfolio optimization, vendor benchmarking. Data, not intuition.

Philosophy

My Approach

I'm not here to produce a 200-page report that sits in a drawer. When I work with clients, I focus on three things:

Clarity over complexity.

Security doesn't have to be a black box. I translate technical reality into business language that boards and executives can actually use.

Data over opinion.

Most security advice is based on frameworks and best practices. Mine is based on market intelligence from 5,800+ products and 13 years of seeing what actually works.

Outcomes over activity.

I don't measure success by hours logged or documents produced. I measure it by whether you can make better decisions after working with me.

Whether it's M&A due diligence, a leadership transition, or a board asking hard questions about security spend, my job is to give you the clarity to act with confidence.

Track Record

13 Years of Experience

Now
2021 — 2025

Head of Corporate Security & Security Operations

Mambu (Forbes Cloud 100 FinTech) · Amsterdam

Led security through hypergrowth and organizational turbulence. Built Corporate Security, IAM, and Security Operations from the ground up. Reported directly to the CTO during an 8-month CISO vacancy. Represented the company in security discussions with Goldman Sachs and Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Key Results

  • Reduced threat response times by 36% through Zero-Trust architecture
  • Passed ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II audits consistently
  • Retained team through significant organizational change
2020 — 2021

Cybersecurity Lead

EclecticIQ (Cybersecurity Vendor) · Amsterdam

Advised the CEO on XDR platform strategy and go-to-market. Built threat detection frameworks covering 140+ MITRE ATT&CK techniques. Mentored product teams on enterprise security workflows.

2019 — 2020

Global IT Security Manager

JDE Peet's (Global FMCG) · Utrecht

Directed security for IT, OT, and IoT across 100+ markets. Led response to a major incident that halted production across multiple locations. Managed 18-person global security team.

Key Results

  • Renegotiated MSSP contracts, saving €3.5M annually
  • Reduced incident response times by 45%
2017 — 2019

Group Information Security & IT Risk Manager

Intrum (Financial Services) · Amsterdam

Led security strategies across 24 EEA countries. Conducted M&A security due diligence for €100M+ acquisitions. Supported security integration during the Lindorff merger, the largest credit management merger in Scandinavia.

Key Results

  • Built centralized security audit solution for clients including Google, Uber, and PayPal
  • Established risk management program using NIST CSF and ISO 27001
2015 — 2016

Information Systems Security Analyst

Bank Republic Société Générale · Tbilisi, Georgia

Led security integration for TBC Bank merger, the largest banking merger in Georgia. Designed secure architectures for core banking systems. Deployed enterprise DLP solution bank-wide.

2014 — 2015

Network Security Engineer

Silknet (ISP) · Tbilisi, Georgia

Partnered with CISO to develop Georgia's first ISP Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). Built security governance program from scratch.

2012 — 2014

Early Career

Swiss Capital, CASE Think-Tank, GFSIS

Started in cybersecurity consulting, reporting directly to CEOs. Trained 1,000+ professionals across 50 organizations including law enforcement and military. Conducted cyber warfare research for NATO-affiliated organizations.

Building

Beyond Advisory

CybersecTools

The world's largest directory of cybersecurity products. 5,800+ tools catalogued. 15,000+ security researchers visit monthly.

I built it because organizations don't know what's actually available in the market. They overpay for tools, miss better alternatives, and end up with overlapping capabilities.

Now, CybersecTools powers my advisory work, and helps security vendors get discovered by the people looking for solutions like theirs.

Visit CybersecTools →
Coming Soon

Market Intelligence Platform

A market intelligence platform for security vendors and investors: track funding trends, emerging players, category movements, and competitor activity. All in one place.

Personal

Outside of Work

I'm based in the Netherlands, work globally, and genuinely enjoy digging into security programs that others find overwhelming.

I've spent years turning "black box" security functions into something boards can actually understand. That's the work I find most satisfying: bringing clarity where there's confusion.

When I'm not working, I'm usually reading about stoic philosophy, thinking about how organizations make decisions, or explaining to my family why I'm still looking at my laptop.

"
Strategy is built on Intelligence, not guesswork.

My approach to every engagement

Let's Talk

Whether you're navigating an acquisition, a leadership transition, or a board that's asking hard questions, I can help. Book a 30-minute call. No pitch, just clarity on your situation.

Get Security Clarity