Cyber Defencely, a rapidly growing Swedish AI security company, has appointed Ritva Rantala as its new Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). She most recently served as CISO at Transdev and has previously held senior roles at Swedish Customs (Tullverket), Ericsson and Tieto. The hire coincides with the company’s launch of a new AI tool for assessing organizational information security ahead of the upcoming cybersecurity law taking effect in January 2026.
A clear strategy for AI-driven growth
Cyber Defencely has quickly established itself as one of Sweden’s most innovative firms in AI-enabled information and cybersecurity. The company combines advanced AI tools with cross-functional expert teams to deliver measurable, fast-to-implement results for both private and public sector clients.
With Ritva Rantala joining as CSO, Cyber Defencely intends to accelerate its growth trajectory with the ambition to reach Sek 200 million in revenue by 2030.
– “Cyber Defencely faces a fast-paced growth path where we must guarantee customers the highest level of expertise and quality. We are therefore pleased to welcome Ritva Rantala as Chief Strategy Officer. With her experience in strategic governance, product development and security across both private and public sectors, she is the right person to evolve our AI tools and strengthen our delivery capability,” says Daniel Reinholdsson, CEO of Cyber Defencely.
Strategic leadership with technical grounding
Ritva Rantala is a trained computer scientist with more than 20 years of experience in international technology and security projects. Her career spans project management, product development and information security roles at organizations including Ericsson, Tieto, Swedish Customs and Transdev.
Her background gives her a distinct combination of technical insight, business-strategic perspective and the ability to drive change in complex environments.
– “Organizations often search for a silver bullet — a single, simple fix that keeps them secure. That does not exist,” says Ritva Rantala. “Information security is about balancing people, processes and technology in the right proportions. That is the path to real resilience. With Cyber Defencely’s AI support and quality-assured processes we deliver capability — not just hours — which is exactly what organizations need today.”
AI as a catalyst for security capability
Cyber Defencely’s offering differs from traditional consulting models. Rather than selling hours, the company provides team-based deliveries that merge human expertise with AI-driven analysis and decision support. The aim is to help clients achieve concrete, measurable improvements in their security posture.
In practice, this approach enables clients to rapidly receive recommendations, risk assessments and prioritization plans to meet both internal and regulatory requirements.
This autumn the company will roll out a new AI-based evaluation tool that allows organizations to self-assess their information security. An open beta program is already available via cyberdefencely.com.
Positioning ahead of the new cybersecurity law
The new EU-aligned cybersecurity law, effective January 2026, raises the standards for how public authorities, suppliers and critical service providers handle information and system risks. Cyber Defencely’s platform and consulting teams are designed to help organizations quickly comply with the new requirements, with emphasis on measurability, documentation and continuous improvement.
The company has already begun collaborations with several Swedish and Nordic actors in transport, finance and the public sector. With the new tool, Cyber Defencely expects to scale internationally during 2026.
Leadership with strong cybersecurity expertise
Cyber Defencely is led by cybersecurity experts Emanuel Lipschütz and Daniel Reinholdsson, both with long experience building security solutions for complex environments. Headquartered in Stockholm, the company comprises experienced specialists in security, AI and governance who focus on creating scalable security models.
“Cyber Defencely’s strength lies in delivery — the ability to quickly implement change at the client with clear accountability, proven methods and measurable results,” says Daniel Reinholdsson. “With Ritva Rantala’s strategic expertise and industry insight, we strengthen our position as a leading player in AI-driven cybersecurity. ”
About Cyber Defencely
Cyber Defencely is a Swedish AI security company offering integrated solutions for information security, strategy, risk and compliance. Through AI-supported expert teams and quality-assured processes, the company delivers fast, scalable and measurable results for organizations across the private and public sectors. The goal is to make security a growth enabler rather than a cost.