Srinivas Mukkamala: Cybersecurity Leader Behind RiskSense and Securin
From artificial-intelligence research to leading global companies that protect businesses from serious digital threats
Introduction
Srinivas Mukkamala is a cybersecurity executive, artificial-intelligence researcher and technology entrepreneur. He is best known for founding RiskSense, developing new ways to identify dangerous software weaknesses, and helping businesses decide which security risks need urgent attention.
As of July 2026, Dr. Mukkamala is the Chief Executive Officer of Securin, a cybersecurity company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He previously served as Chief Product Officer at Ivanti after Ivanti acquired RiskSense in 2021.
His career is important because it connects university research, artificial intelligence, business leadership and real-world cybersecurity. Instead of treating every computer weakness as equally dangerous, his work focuses on finding the problems that attackers are most likely to use.
Srinivas Mukkamala Quick Facts
| Detail | Verified Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dr. Srinivas Mukkamala |
| Also Known As | Sri Mukkamala |
| Profession | Cybersecurity executive, AI researcher and entrepreneur |
| Known For | Founding RiskSense and advancing risk-based vulnerability management |
| Current Role | Chief Executive Officer of Securin |
| Former Major Role | Chief Product Officer of Ivanti |
| Education | Master’s degree and PhD in Computer Science from New Mexico Tech |
| Main Research Areas | Cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, neural networks and intrusion detection |
| Company Founded | RiskSense |
| Board Role | Member of the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents |
| Industry | Cybersecurity and enterprise technology |
Who Is Srinivas Mukkamala?
Srinivas Mukkamala is a technology leader who works at the meeting point of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
He became widely known after founding RiskSense, a company that helped organisations understand which software weaknesses created the greatest real-world danger. Ivanti acquired RiskSense in August 2021 and later appointed Mukkamala as its Chief Product Officer.
He is now leading Securin, which provides security testing, vulnerability intelligence, attack-surface management and other services designed to help organisations prevent cyberattacks.
The official Securin leadership page currently lists Srinivas Mukkamala as the company’s Chief Executive Officer.
Education and Academic Background
Srinivas Mukkamala studied computer science and engineering before building his professional career in the United States.
He completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Madras in 1999. Before starting his graduate education, he also completed an internship with the Indian Space Research Organisation, commonly called ISRO.
Mukkamala later attended the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, widely known as New Mexico Tech.
He earned:
- A Master of Science in Computer Science in 2002
- A PhD in Computer Science in 2005
During his graduate studies, he worked as a research assistant in computer science and became involved in projects related to information security, artificial intelligence and intrusion detection.
His path from academic research to company leadership is similar to the journey of technology researchers such as Ashish Vaswani, who also moved from advanced AI research into entrepreneurship.
Early Cybersecurity Research
Mukkamala began working on artificial intelligence in cybersecurity long before AI became a common business topic.
His research examined how computer systems could recognise unusual or harmful behaviour. He studied methods involving:
- Neural networks
- Support vector machines
- Machine learning
- Data mining
- Malware analysis
- Intrusion detection
- Digital forensics
An intrusion-detection system watches activity inside a computer or network. It looks for warning signs that someone may be trying to steal information, damage a system or enter without permission.
Mukkamala helped study how intelligent computer models could identify these warning signs more quickly and accurately.
Work on the CACTUS Research Project
One of Mukkamala’s important early projects was CACTUS, which stands for Computational Analysis of Cyber Terrorism Against the United States.
The project examined how advanced computing and artificial intelligence could help understand and defend against serious cyber threats.
His professional profiles describe him as a leading researcher connected with the project. The work involved cybersecurity problems relevant to the United States Department of Defense and the intelligence community.
This experience helped Mukkamala understand that cybersecurity is not only a technical subject. It can also affect governments, energy systems, transport networks, financial institutions and national security.
Cybersecurity Patent
Mukkamala is named as an inventor on a United States patent involving intelligent agents for distributed intrusion detection.
The patent describes software agents that can operate across different computer systems. These agents can collect information, identify risks and communicate with one another to support security monitoring.
The patent application was filed in 2003, and the patent was granted in 2011.
This work was completed years before modern AI tools became widely used by companies and everyday users. It shows that Mukkamala was studying practical uses of intelligent computer systems at an early stage.
Founding RiskSense
Srinivas Mukkamala co-founded RiskSense as a cybersecurity company connected with research developed in New Mexico.
RiskSense focused on risk-based vulnerability management.
A vulnerability is a weakness in software, hardware or a computer system. Attackers may use these weaknesses to enter networks, steal data or stop important services.
Large organisations may discover thousands of vulnerabilities. However, they often do not have enough time or staff to repair every problem immediately.
RiskSense was designed to answer a more useful question:
Which vulnerabilities create the greatest danger right now?
The platform used information about active threats, available hacking tools, known attacks and business systems to help security teams choose what to fix first.
This approach made cybersecurity work more practical. It helped companies focus their limited resources on weaknesses that attackers were most likely to exploit.
Technology founders such as Michael Truell have also built companies around solving difficult software problems, although Mukkamala’s work is centred on security rather than AI coding tools.
RiskSense Acquisition by Ivanti
Ivanti announced its acquisition of RiskSense on 2 August 2021.
The purchase brought RiskSense’s vulnerability-prioritisation technology into Ivanti’s wider security and IT-management platform. Financial terms of the acquisition were not publicly disclosed.
After the acquisition, Mukkamala joined Ivanti as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Security Solutions.
He helped integrate RiskSense’s technology and team into Ivanti’s business. His role included shaping the company’s security-product strategy and improving how customers identified and managed digital risks.
Becoming Ivanti’s Chief Product Officer
Ivanti appointed Srinivas Mukkamala as Chief Product Officer in September 2022.
In this senior role, he became responsible for product strategy, product management and innovation across Ivanti’s major business areas.
These included:
- Cybersecurity
- IT service management
- Unified endpoint management
- Patch management
- Enterprise automation
Patch management is the process of installing software updates that repair security weaknesses and technical problems.
Mukkamala’s experience at RiskSense was valuable because many cyberattacks happen when organisations fail to install important security updates quickly enough.
His move from company founder to senior enterprise-software executive can be compared with leaders such as Mike Gianoni, who has also guided a major software company through technological change.
Why Mukkamala Left Ivanti
Current Ivanti material describes Mukkamala as its former Chief Product Officer.
His next major leadership appointment was announced in May 2025, when Securin named him its Chief Executive Officer.
The move allowed him to return to a chief-executive position while continuing to work on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and vulnerability management.
Srinivas Mukkamala as Securin CEO
Srinivas Mukkamala became Chief Executive Officer of Securin in May 2025.
Securin helps organisations find and understand weaknesses across websites, computer systems, cloud services, applications and connected technology.
The company’s services include:
- Attack-surface management
- Vulnerability intelligence
- Vulnerability management
- Penetration testing
- Security research
- AI-assisted security analysis
An attack surface includes all the systems, devices and services that an attacker could try to enter. As a company grows, its attack surface can become larger and more difficult to manage.
Securin helps customers see this wider picture and identify exposures that may create genuine attack paths.
How Securin Uses Artificial Intelligence
Under Mukkamala’s leadership, Securin has increased its focus on AI-powered security.
Its strategy includes using intelligent systems to study how an attacker might combine several smaller weaknesses to create one serious attack.
This is important because a single weakness may appear harmless when examined alone. However, several connected weaknesses can sometimes allow an attacker to enter a system, move through a network and reach valuable information.
AI can help security teams analyse these connections faster.
Mukkamala’s work is part of a larger movement in which AI leaders are building systems that process complex data at great speed. Ali Ghodsi, for example, is known for his work in AI and large-scale data technology through Databricks.
What Is Risk-Based Vulnerability Management?
Traditional vulnerability management may organise problems by their technical severity score.
However, a high technical score does not always mean that attackers are actively using the weakness. At the same time, a weakness with a lower score may still create serious danger in a particular network.
Risk-based vulnerability management looks at more information, including:
- Whether attackers are actively using the weakness
- Whether working attack tools are available
- Which company systems are affected
- Whether sensitive information could be reached
- How the weakness connects with other security problems
- How important the affected system is to the organisation
This allows security teams to make better decisions.
Mukkamala helped make this approach an important part of modern vulnerability management through RiskSense and his later leadership roles.
New Mexico Tech Board of Regents
Srinivas Mukkamala serves as a member of the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents.
His first term runs from 2023 to 2028.
A Board of Regents helps oversee a university’s major policies, finances, leadership and long-term direction. Mukkamala returned to serve the institution where he had earned his master’s degree and doctorate.
The New Mexico Tech Board of Regents profile also identifies him as an independent board member of El Paso Electric and an adviser on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity in New Mexico.
El Paso Electric Board Role
Mukkamala joined the board of El Paso Electric as an independent director in 2023.
Electricity companies operate important physical and digital systems. A cyberattack against an energy provider could affect homes, hospitals, businesses and public services.
His cybersecurity knowledge therefore has practical value in the energy industry, where leaders must protect both computer networks and physical infrastructure.
Congressional Cybersecurity Testimony
In December 2024, Mukkamala appeared before a cybersecurity subcommittee of the United States House Committee on Homeland Security.
The hearing examined secure-by-design principles.
Secure by design means that companies should build security into technology from the beginning instead of trying to add protection after a product has already been created.
During the hearing, Mukkamala discussed subjects including:
- Old and difficult-to-update computer systems
- Software security responsibilities
- Technology used in critical infrastructure
- The need for clearer security standards
- Training more cybersecurity workers
- Accountability among software companies
His appearance showed that his work extends beyond commercial products. He also contributes to discussions about public policy and national cybersecurity.
Leadership in Technology and Security
Mukkamala’s career combines several different types of leadership.
He has worked as:
- A university researcher
- A cybersecurity inventor
- A company founder
- A chief executive
- A product leader
- A university regent
- A corporate board member
- A government and policy adviser
This combination allows him to understand cybersecurity from technical, business and public-policy viewpoints.
Other major technology executives, including ASML leader Christophe Fouquet, also show how deep technical knowledge can support leadership in complex global industries.
Major Career Timeline
1999
Completed a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Madras.
2000–2005
Worked in research connected with computer science, artificial intelligence and information security at New Mexico Tech.
2002
Earned a Master of Science in Computer Science from New Mexico Tech.
2003
Filed a patent application connected with intelligent agents and distributed intrusion detection.
2005
Completed his PhD in Computer Science at New Mexico Tech.
2011
The United States patent involving distributed intrusion-detection agents was granted.
RiskSense Years
Co-founded RiskSense and led the company as Chief Executive Officer.
August 2021
RiskSense was acquired by Ivanti.
September 2022
Appointed Chief Product Officer of Ivanti.
2022
Received recognition as a CyberScoop 50 Cybersecurity Visionary.
2023
Began serving on the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents and joined the El Paso Electric board.
December 2024
Testified before a United States House cybersecurity subcommittee.
May 2025
Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Securin.
July 2026
Continues to serve as Securin CEO and a member of the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents.
Major Recognition
Mukkamala was recognised as a CyberScoop 50 Cybersecurity Visionary in 2022.
The recognition highlighted professionals contributing to the protection of computer networks, important information and critical infrastructure.
His New Mexico Tech records also mention academic honours received during his university years, including awards connected with scholarship, research and service.
Why His Work Matters
Cybersecurity problems affect almost every part of modern life.
Schools, hospitals, banks, governments, shops and energy providers all depend on computer systems. A successful attack can expose personal information, stop essential services or cause major financial losses.
Mukkamala’s work matters because it helps organisations separate urgent risks from less dangerous problems.
His approach can be explained simply:
- Find the weaknesses.
- Understand how attackers may use them.
- Identify the systems that matter most.
- Fix the most dangerous problems first.
- Continue checking as threats change.
This process helps organisations use their time, staff and money more effectively.
Connection Between AI and Cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence can support both attackers and defenders.
Attackers may use AI to create convincing scams, study computer systems or automate harmful activity. Security teams can use AI to identify unusual behaviour, examine large amounts of data and discover attack patterns.
Mukkamala has worked with AI and neural networks since the early part of his career. This gives him experience in a field that has become increasingly important to modern cybersecurity.
His current role at Securin places him among technology executives working to make AI useful for practical business protection rather than treating it only as a popular trend.
Verified Interesting Facts
- Mukkamala worked with artificial intelligence in cybersecurity before AI became widely used in consumer technology.
- He completed an internship with India’s national space agency before beginning graduate studies.
- He earned both his master’s degree and doctorate from New Mexico Tech.
- He later returned to New Mexico Tech as a member of its Board of Regents.
- He helped create technology for distributed intrusion detection.
- He moved from academic research into entrepreneurship and corporate leadership.
- He led RiskSense until the company was acquired by Ivanti.
- He has contributed to discussions about cybersecurity policy in the United States Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Srinivas Mukkamala?
Srinivas Mukkamala is a cybersecurity executive, artificial-intelligence researcher and entrepreneur. He founded RiskSense and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Securin.
What is Srinivas Mukkamala known for?
He is best known for founding RiskSense and helping develop risk-based vulnerability management, which allows organisations to prioritise the security weaknesses that create the greatest real-world danger.
What is Srinivas Mukkamala’s current position?
As of July 2026, he is the Chief Executive Officer of Securin.
What company did Srinivas Mukkamala found?
He co-founded RiskSense, a cybersecurity company focused on vulnerability management and risk prioritisation.
What happened to RiskSense?
Ivanti acquired RiskSense in August 2021. Mukkamala then joined Ivanti and later became its Chief Product Officer.
Where did Srinivas Mukkamala study?
He earned a Master of Science and a PhD in Computer Science from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.
Does Srinivas Mukkamala work with artificial intelligence?
Yes. His academic and professional work has included artificial intelligence, neural networks, machine learning and their use in cybersecurity.
Is Srinivas Mukkamala part of New Mexico Tech?
Yes. He serves on the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents. His first term runs from 2023 to 2028.
Conclusion
Srinivas Mukkamala is a cybersecurity leader whose career has developed from university research into company building, enterprise-product leadership and public service.
He became known for founding RiskSense and promoting a smarter way to manage software weaknesses. Rather than asking companies to fix every problem at once, his approach helps them identify the weaknesses most likely to support a real attack.
After Ivanti acquired RiskSense, he became an important product leader within the company. He later returned to a chief-executive role as CEO of Securin, where he now focuses on cybersecurity testing, vulnerability intelligence and artificial-intelligence-supported defence.
His continued work at Securin, New Mexico Tech and El Paso Electric places him at the meeting point of technology, education, business leadership and public security.
