“Start with the basics” - Shark Tank's Herjavec shares cybersecurity advice

Robert Herjavec, CEO of $200 million cybersecurity firm Cyderes and Shark Tank investor since 2009, provided detailed security strategies for businesses in a Media Planet interview released December 17, 2024. Speaking with John Ayers, SVP of Professional Services at Cyderes, Herjavec addressed rising ransomware threats and social engineering attacks powered by AI.

The Shark Tank investor’s guidance stems from founding BRAK Systems to leading Cyderes. He outlined specific protection measures for small businesses:

“I would tell a small business to start with the basics: Help your employees understand risk by working to implement training; have a password policy…partner with an MSSP to help get visibility to your environment inside and out; and finally, get informed about risks in your industry.”

The Croatia-born entrepreneur focuses on making advanced security accessible to small businesses through partnerships with managed security providers.

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Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec shares basic security steps for business owners

On December 17, 2024, Herjavec tweeted about his contribution to The Media Planet campaign, a security awareness initiative. The Shark Tank investor gave an interview breaking down security fundamentals while highlighting the growing risks to business data. His guidance targets organizations of all sizes, with particular attention to small business needs.

During the detailed interview, Herjavec emphasized data protection as the foundation of business security.

"Companies need to understand that ransomware’s biggest reason to attack is your data, and having critical data backed up will limit downtime," he stated.

The cybersecurity expert detailed how businesses should assess their external security stance. He explained stating:

“What I mean by this is that we always think about the inside of the network. However, the threat actor can only see what is outside. What the threat actor can see is how they decide if you are a target of opportunity.”

The Shark Tank investor continued:

“If a bad guy is looking to rob a house and they see an ADT sign or a dog barking, this recon can help a bad guy decide if the home is an opportunity or not...Threat actors are looking for easy targets so as not to waste time. Knowing your weak links and getting visibility of your assets will help reduce your attack surface risk.”

Herjavec's guidance also covered identity protection across organizations. He stressed that companies must establish strong password rules and implement multi-step verification as this approach helps block unauthorized system access and protects sensitive information.

System maintenance forms another key element of his recommendations. Regular updates across all business technology prevent easy system breaches. He noted:

“Keeping systems up-to-date on the latest firmware and software is one of the easiest tasks. However, if not done, it is one of the easiest options to compromise.”

For smaller operations, Herjavec recommended working with security service providers. These partnerships help businesses understand their protection needs and implement appropriate measures.

Working with Cyderes SVP John Ayers, he explained their advanced threat detection approach. Ayers compared their method to an oil refinery, processing raw security data into useful protection measures:

“Think of it as a big oil refinery. We bring all that oil (intelligence) and refine it into gas to power services like MDR and EDR to help clients improve the ability to see what battleships are forming, which we call “finished intelligence.” This intelligence then enables clients to outline how to defend against the potential threat actors that are coming.”

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Herjavec's Background

Herjavec's security expertise spans multiple business ventures since the 1980s. He started BRAK Systems from his basement after early roles at Logiquest, where he sold IBM mainframe boards. The company grew into a major security provider before its AT&T acquisition.

His media presence began with Dragons' Den in Canada, where he served as an original cast member for six seasons. In 2009, he joined Shark Tank's first season, bringing his business assessment skills to American television.

Robert Herjavec’s current company, Cyderes, provides security services to major corporations. The business handles threat monitoring, system protection, and security consulting.

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The Shark Tank investor maintains active involvement in both television and security sectors. Fans can catch him in Shark Tank season 16 on the ABC network.