Security legend brings 25+ years of experience to accelerate AI adoption and governance for enterprise CISOs
CISOs are drowning in data blind spots. While AI transforms business operations at breakneck speed, security teams are operating in the dark with traditional data security tools that only monitor data at rest. The result? Massive security gaps that put organizations at risk and slow down AI innovation.
Today, we're thrilled to announce that Caleb Sima, one of cybersecurity's most respected voices, a visionary CISO, and founder, has joined Relyance AI as Strategic CISO Advisor. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in our mission to provide CISOs with the visibility they need to secure AI initiatives and accelerate the adoption of responsible AI.
Why Caleb matters
Caleb is a pioneer who's been ahead of every major security curve for over two decades. As founder of WhiteRabbit, a venture studio focused on building the next generation of cybersecurity companies, and former security leader at Robinhood, Databricks, Capital One, and multiple successful startups he founded, Caleb has consistently solved tomorrow's security challenges today.
His track record speaks volumes:
- Founded WhiteRabbit, a venture studio building next-generation cybersecurity companies
- Built security teams from scratch at high-growth companies like Databricks and Robinhood
- Founded and sold multiple security companies (SPI Dynamics to HP, Bluebox Security to Lookout)
- Authored "Web Hacking Exposed" and holds multiple security patents
- Currently chairs the Cloud Security Alliance AI Safety Initiative
Most importantly, Caleb understands that security can't be a roadblock to innovation—it must be an enabler.
The data journey problem
Traditional Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) tools give CISOs a false sense of security. They scan data at rest, create inventory lists, and call it protection. But modern data doesn't sit still. AI is data and data is AI. Data flows, transforms, and moves across complex cloud environments faster than traditional tools can track.
"CISOs need to see the entire data journey, not just point-in-time snapshots," says Caleb. "When you're trying to secure AI pipelines and enable responsible AI adoption, you can't just know where your data is stored—you need to know how it moves, who touches it, and what happens to it at every step of the data journey. That's exactly what Relyance AI delivers."
This visibility gap is why AI initiatives stall. CISOs can't approve what they can't see. Legal teams can't assess compliance risks on data they can't track. Privacy officers struggle with governance frameworks built for static data in a dynamic world.
What sets Relyance AI apart
While competitors focus on data discovery and classification, Relyance AI illuminates entire data journeys from code to runtime to cloud. Our platform maps data flows in real-time, showing CISOs not just what data exists, but how it moves, transforms, and gets used across their entire AI and data stack.
This comprehensive visibility enables CISOs to:
- Approve AI initiatives with confidence
- Implement governance frameworks that scale with business needs
- Demonstrate compliance across complex data pipelines
- Accelerate innovation while maintaining security standards
Tech-forward CISOs at companies like Zuora, 1Password, and ClickUp already leverage Relyance AI to stay ahead of data risks while enabling AI innovation. Our unique approach combines advanced privacy capabilities with security insights, making us the only platform that truly serves both privacy and security teams.
Accelerating AI adoption
"The companies that figure out secure AI adoption first will dominate their markets," Caleb explains. "CISOs who wait for perfect solutions will find themselves left behind. The key is having the right visibility and governance frameworks in place so you can move fast without breaking things."
This philosophy aligns perfectly with Relyance AI's mission. We don't just help CISOs manage risk—we help them become AI enablers. Our platform provides the foundation for responsible AI adoption by giving security teams the confidence to say "yes" to AI initiatives.
With AI transforming every industry, CISOs need tools that match the pace of innovation. Legacy security approaches built for slower, more predictable technology cycles simply can't keep up. Organizations need security platforms designed for the AI era.
What this means for the future of data security
Caleb's involvement signals a major shift in how we approach CISO challenges and the evolving data security landscape. His deep experience scaling security at high-growth companies, combined with his current focus on AI safety, brings invaluable perspective to our product development and go-to-market strategy.
"Relyance AI solves a problem I've wrestled with throughout my career," Caleb notes. "Every CISO knows that data visibility is the foundation of good security. But most tools only give you part of the picture. Relyance AI's approach to mapping complete data journeys is exactly what security teams need to handle modern data challenges, especially as AI becomes central to business operations."
The data security landscape is evolving rapidly. Privacy regulations are expanding globally. AI governance requirements are emerging. Data environments are becoming more complex. Traditional security tools are falling behind.
CISOs need platforms that can handle this complexity while enabling business growth. They need visibility into data journeys, not just data inventory. They need governance frameworks that work with modern data flows, not against them. They need solutions that help them become AI enablers, not AI blockers.
Under Caleb's guidance, we're doubling down on our commitment to serve the CISO community with solutions that enable rather than hinder innovation. This means building features that integrate seamlessly into existing security workflows, provide actionable insights rather than just more alerts, and scale with enterprise needs.
"The future belongs to CISOs who can balance security with innovation," Caleb emphasizes. "The tools you choose today will determine whether your organization leads or follows in the AI era. Choose wisely."
Looking ahead
With Caleb's expertise guiding our CISO-focused initiatives, Relyance AI is positioned to become the must-have platform for security leaders serious about AI adoption and governance. We're not just building another security tool—we're creating the foundation for responsible AI transformation.
For CISOs evaluating their data security strategy, the message is clear: the old approaches won't work in the AI era. You need platforms designed for modern data challenges. You need visibility into complete data journeys. You need solutions that enable innovation while maintaining security standards.
Most importantly, you need partners who understand that security is not about saying no—it's about finding ways to say yes safely.
With Caleb Sima on board, Relyance AI is setting the new standard where complete data-journey visibility turns every CISO into an unstoppable driver of responsible AI innovation.
