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In today's digital landscape, cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and organizations must stay ahead of the curve to protect their sensitive data. One expert who has been at the forefront of this fight is Kate Bolseth, a renowned cybersecurity professional with a passion for empowering organizations to defend against evolving threats. As the leader of Fortra, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, Kate has been instrumental in shaping the company's vision and strategy. In this blog post, we'll dive into a conversation with Kate about the current state of cybersecurity, the challenges organizations face, and how Fortra is helping to address these threats.
Fortra, under Kate's leadership, has been working to provide a comprehensive cybersecurity platform that addresses the needs of organizations across various industries. "Our goal is to help organizations simplify their security operations, improve their posture, and reduce risk," Kate said. "We take a holistic approach, focusing on three key areas: security awareness, threat intelligence, and security operations. By integrating these areas, we provide a more complete picture of an organization's security posture and help them make informed decisions about their security strategy." kate+bolseth+fortra
Under Bolseth's leadership, the company underwent a high-profile rebranding to Fortra in November 2022. The new name—a blend of "Fortress" and "Extra"—signaled a definitive focus on being a "cybersecurity ally" for organizations facing increasingly complex threats. Key milestones of this era include: In this blog post, we'll dive into a
| Item | What to consider | |------|-------------------| | | Is this a research brief , a business case , a profile article , a conference paper , or something else? | | Audience | Who will be reading it? (e.g., senior executives at Fortra, external partners, academic reviewers, investors, HR) | | Length / Depth | Rough word‑count or page count you’re aiming for (e.g., 1‑page executive summary, 5‑page detailed report, 10‑page academic style) | | Key Topics | What specific aspects of Kate Bolseth and Fortra should be covered? (e.g., career trajectory, leadership style, major projects, impact on company strategy, industry contributions) | | Structure & Format | Preferred format (e.g., APA/MLA citations, bullet‑point executive summary, slide‑deck outline) and any required sections (introduction, methodology, findings, recommendations, etc.) | | Sources | Do you have particular sources you want included (interviews, press releases, annual reports, LinkedIn profiles) or should I conduct a general literature search? | | Deadline | When do you need the draft (or final) version? | | Tone | Formal and academic, business‑professional, conversational, or something in‑between? | "We take a holistic approach, focusing on three
So, what's driving Fortra's success in helping organizations defend against threats? Kate credits the company's commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and collaboration. "We're constantly investing in research and development to stay ahead of the threats," she noted. "We're also working closely with our customers to understand their pain points and evolving needs. By listening to their feedback and concerns, we're able to develop solutions that meet their specific requirements."
As we sat down with Kate Bolseth, she began by highlighting the rapidly evolving threat landscape. "The cybersecurity landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace," she noted. "We're seeing more sophisticated attacks, increased use of AI and machine learning by threat actors, and a growing shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. It's a challenging time for organizations to keep up with the threats, but it's also an exciting time for innovation and collaboration."
As of early 2026, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Fortra , a global cybersecurity and automation leader formerly known as HelpSystems . Since taking the helm as CEO in July 2019, Bolseth has spearheaded a monumental strategic shift, transforming the company from its IT roots into an integrated cybersecurity powerhouse. The Strategic Transformation: From HelpSystems to Fortra