Meet the SensorFu team - Anu Laitila
In this edition of Meet the Team, we’re excited to introduce Anu Laitila, our Customer Success Lead. With a unique blend of cybersecurity expertise and a strong background in marketing, sales, and business development, Anu plays a key role in helping our customers achieve success and get the most value from SensorFu.
What’s your role at the company, and what does a typical day look like for you?
I work as our Customer Success Lead, which means I spend a lot of my time working closely with our clients. However, since I have a strong background in marketing and sales, I’ve also been driving a lot of our strategic growth initiatives lately. I’ve been heavily focused on refining our partner models and planning events. Right now, my time is split pretty evenly: about half is spent directly with clients, and the other half is dedicated to business development.
Honestly, there is no typical day, it varies completely! One day we might be representing the company at a major industry trade show or fair, and the next day I’m working hands-on with a client, helping them scale and expand their Beacons to brand-new sites.
How did you get started in your career, and what led you to this company?
I am a career changer, having fully transitioned into cybersecurity in August 2019. Previously, I worked at specialized consulting firms like Nixu, where my focus was primarily on cyber strategy services, handling everything from maturity assessments to tabletop cyber exercises.
My path to this current role actually started through mutual hobbies with our Founder Mikko. We began chatting about job opportunities some point last year, and I was instantly drawn to the company. I think our product is truly amazing, and I see massive potential for us to rapidly expand our footprint abroad. Lately, I’ve been running our Customer Success surveys, and I am incredibly happy to report that our clients agree, the feedback confirms we are on the exact right track.
How would you describe SensorFu company culture and how does it differ from other places you’ve worked?
I’ve only been here for three months and work mainly from home, so I’m still immersing myself in the company culture and have plenty left to experience. However, I make it a point to visit our office at Maria01 from time to time and visit our headquarters only a few times a year. The team is packed with incredibly talented individuals, especially on the deep technical side and it’s been a joy collaborating with them because I’m constantly learning new things.
The culture here is low-hierarchy and inherently hacker-minded. It is a stark contrast to my previous company, which was the largest of the “Big 4” firms. That was a traditional corporate environment with a massive influx of junior consultants just launching their careers. Here, the atmosphere is entirely different, driven by a highly experienced, tight-knit team.
What motivated you to get involved in cybersecurity?
I actually discovered cybersecurity over ten years ago through my hobbies. The industry appealed to me so much that I knew I had to pivot, start studying it, and land a job in the field. Before I even got my first official role, I began attending industry events and teaching others about basic cyber hygiene.
What really struck me and still does, is how many people share a deep passion for keeping our digital society safe from cybercriminals. The community is incredible; people are friendly, open-minded, and encouraging, which was especially true when I was starting out and still learning the ropes. My colleagues were always there to help, and I remain incredibly grateful to the many people I’ve met and had insightful discussions with along the way.
Early on, I also realized that my background in marketing gave me a unique advantage: I speak the language of business and know how to influence people. Combining business acumen with cyber strategy is a powerful mix in an industry that tends to be heavily technical.
What’s a project or achievement you’re particularly proud of?
I’ve been involved in many great projects through both my career and my cybersecurity hobbies, so it is difficult to pick just one. But the one that stands out is a voluntary initiative. Following the tragic Vastaamo data breach, we put our heads together at KyberVPK (the Community Cyber Response Force) to support the victims targeted by the cybercriminal.
I am incredibly proud of what we achieved as a group. For instance, we built a comprehensive checklist of immediate actions victims should take to protect their identities, which was later officially published by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-FI). We also organized an “Ask Me Anything” session on Jodel in collaboration with the NCSC-FI and Victim Support Finland (RIKU), and we continued to provide support to the victims through various channels for years after the incident.
What is the one cybersecurity trend or threat that you think more people should be paying attention to right now?
My answer might sound traditional, but it remains the most critical factor for both businesses and individuals: mastering the basics. Our own product, the SensorFu Beacon, is a prime example of how automated visibility fixes one of the most fundamental security gaps out there for companies.
For individuals, it’s all about hygiene. Everyone needs to use unique passwords paired with a password manager, enable multi-factor authentication, regularly update their devices, and learn how to spot sophisticated phishing attempts. Of course, modern technology like AI is introducing complex new threats such as deepfake videos and manipulated images that can severely disrupt the political and corporate landscape. However, the best defense against these advanced threats still starts with securing the basics
Where do you see the cybersecurity landscape heading by 2030? Are we winning the race against the “bad actors”?
AI is on everyone’s lips right now, and I’m constantly tracking it to see where we are heading. I believe it’s going to completely transform our industry from both sides of the aisle. On the offensive side, attacks are becoming incredibly rapid; vulnerabilities are being discovered and exploited faster than ever before. But on the defensive side, we have AI as well, which will hopefully allow us to identify anomalies and threats much more quickly and efficiently than a human ever could.
My main concern, however, is the human element. How will people keep up with the speed of modern technological advancement? Every one of us will need to continuously upskill, and that learning curve is naturally easier for some than it is for others.
That said, I choose to look on the bright side: I believe we are winning the race.
What’s your favorite way to “unplug” and recharge after a day of being constantly connected?
For me, it’s all about sports, either playing them or watching. I play basketball and occasionally football, and I love traveling for major sporting events. In fact, I attended both the Milan Winter Olympics and the Ice Hockey World Championships in Switzerland this year.
Of course, spending quality time with my family and friends is another wonderful way to unplug. When holidays roll around, traveling and exploring new places is my favorite way to completely reset.
If you weren’t working in cybersecurity, what would your “dream job” be?
Even though I made the switch into this field nearly seven years ago, it feels just like yesterday. It’s hard to imagine doing anything else, cybersecurity truly is my dream job right now.
When I was younger, I always wanted to be a police officer or a firefighter.
Looking back, it makes perfect sense that I landed here, because cybersecurity is deeply rooted in that same core mission: protecting people and providing security.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out in this industry what would it be?
Be curious and ask questions, and I mean a lot of questions. In an industry that moves as fast as cybersecurity, curiosity is your greatest asset, and asking questions is hands-down one of the absolute best ways to learn and grow.
