6 days ago
Bugcrowd names Umesh Shankar to board, bolstering AI security
Bugcrowd has appointed Umesh Shankar, Corporate Vice President of Data, Privacy & Security Engineering at Microsoft AI, to its Board of Advisors, marking a notable step in the company's focus on AI security expertise.
Shankar brings substantial industry experience to the advisory board. At Microsoft AI, he leads teams responsible for ensuring the privacy and security of AI products, with a particular emphasis on maintaining user trust through privacy-first engineering practices.
He previously held pivotal roles at Google for more than 18 years. During his tenure there, Shankar served as Distinguished Engineer and Chief Technologist for Google Cloud Security. In these roles, he led key initiatives related to data protection, key management, authentication, authorisation, and insider risk controls. Shankar was also instrumental in integrating generative AI functionalities into Google's security offerings, which improved automated security management capabilities. Beyond Google Cloud, Shankar contributed to the development of Google Assistant, focusing on developer tools, identity, monetisation, and discovery.
Shankar's academic credentials include a PhD and MS in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley, specialising in security and privacy. He also holds a BA in Computer Science from Harvard University.
With the increasing adoption of AI across sectors, Bugcrowd has underscored its commitment to providing robust crowdsourced security solutions, particularly for organisations integrating AI into their operations. The company emphasises that incorporating Shankar's expertise is aligned with its strategy to expand its platform capabilities, especially in AI-powered security. "I'm inspired by Bugcrowd's mission to help organizations proactively uncover and address vulnerabilities, strengthening cybersecurity through collaboration and innovation. I am excited to join Bugcrowd's Board of Advisors to help contribute to its efforts as it explores new ways to harness AI, foster trust, and support organizations in addressing emerging security challenges," said Umesh Shankar.
Dave Gerry, Chief Executive Officer of Bugcrowd, commented on Shankar's addition to the Board of Advisors, highlighting the growing importance of AI security frameworks for organisations. "AI is no longer just hype—it's now a core part of technology stacks across industries. However, many organizations are still early in building the security, policy, and governance frameworks needed to support it. At Bugcrowd, AI is embedded into the fabric of our platform, powering innovations like CrowdMatch and enabling secure, confident deployment of LLM-based applications. We're committed to helping organizations de-risk their AI initiatives with the insights and guidance they need. And we're honored to welcome Umesh to our Board of Advisors, his deep expertise will be an invaluable asset," said Dave Gerry, CEO of Bugcrowd.
Bugcrowd's approach to crowdsourced cybersecurity involves leveraging the skills of a broad community of security researchers, or ethical hackers, to identify potential system weaknesses. The company's platform uses AI-powered tools such as CrowdMatch, which aims to efficiently connect organisations with relevant cybersecurity expertise for tackling specific risks. According to the company, integrating AI into its processes supports scalable and adaptive security solutions that respond to evolving threats.
The addition of Shankar to the board is expected to bolster Bugcrowd's capacity to advance its AI-powered crowdsourced intelligence offerings. The company points to the growing need for sophisticated security, policy, and governance measures in the context of rising AI adoption worldwide.
Bugcrowd indicates that this latest appointment reflects its broader strategy to support organisations in navigating the complex digital risk environment created by modern AI applications. Under Shankar's guidance, Bugcrowd aims to further refine its product suite and reinforce its resources for clients seeking to secure AI-related systems and data.
The appointment comes at a time when industries are grappling with new challenges in maintaining digital trust and compliance as AI technologies become more integral to business operations. The company noted that Shankar's background in both technical development and strategic AI integration aligns with Bugcrowd's priorities in this evolving landscape.
