Maria Taberna (Steryon): 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Maria Taberna is a prominent figure in the field of industrial cybersecurity, recognized for founding Steryon, a startup dedicated to addressing cybersecurity challenges in industrial environments. Founded in 2024, Steryon is a Barcelona-based company that recently raised €1 million in seed funding to advance its pioneering solutions. As an engineer with over 15 years of experience, Maria aims to transform how cybersecurity is approached within industries, making it an integral part of business strategy rather than a secondary concern. The coming sections will delve into the multifaceted contributions of Maria and her firm, from her innovative approaches to the broader implications of her work.

1. Early Career and Education

Maria Taberna began her professional journey after completing her degree in Advanced Telecommunications Engineering from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. She further honed her skills with an Executive MBA from EAE Business School, equipping herself with both technical expertise and managerial acumen. Her early career involved significant roles at Rockwell Automation, where she led global cybersecurity initiatives, and Oylo, a company she co-founded and later saw acquired by Rockwell.

2. The Founding of Steryon

In 2024, driven by the immense potential and need for innovative cybersecurity solutions in industries, Maria founded Steryon. The company focuses on developing an AI-driven platform tailored for Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS), aiming to offer real-time visibility, automated compliance, and effective risk management solutions. Maria's vision for Steryon is not only to provide robust cybersecurity but to integrate these measures seamlessly into existing industrial processes.

3. Mission and Vision

Steryon’s mission centers around transforming industrial cybersecurity into a strategic business function. Maria emphasizes the integration of cybersecurity as a key operational capability rather than an isolated IT function. This approach reflects her belief in the necessity of embedding cybersecurity within the industrial infrastructure to address vulnerabilities swiftly and strategically.

4. Steryon’s Technological Edge

The platform developed by Steryon is distinguished by its use of artificial intelligence to predict, manage, and mitigate cybersecurity threats. This AI-centric approach allows the platform to offer actionable insights by understanding the context and prioritizing threats based on their impact. Such capabilities are crucial in ensuring the integrity and resilience of critical infrastructures.

5. AI Integration for Enhanced Security

Maria and her team are deeply invested in leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance the capabilities of their cybersecurity solutions. AI plays a significant role in Steryon’s operations by aiding in threat detection, data analysis, and providing real-time solutions which are crucial in high-stakes industrial environments.

6. Recent Achievements and Accolades

Steryon has been recognized as one of the three Spanish startups selected for the Google for Startups Growth Academy, specifically in the AI for Cybersecurity program. This prestigious acknowledgement underscores Maria's leadership and the innovative impact Steryon aims to deliver in the realm of industrial cybersecurity.

7. Strategic Partnerships

In securing €1 million in seed funding, Steryon is backed by prominent investors such as 4Founders Capital and Abac Nest Ventures. These partnerships are pivotal in fueling Steryon's technology development and expansion efforts, reflecting investor confidence in Maria’s vision and the potential of the company’s offerings.

8. Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite the achievements, Maria acknowledges the challenges in continually adapting to evolving cyber threats and regulatory landscapes. Nevertheless, Steryon’s roadmap includes aggressive scaling, both nationally and internationally. Maria is focused on enhancing the platform’s capabilities and expanding its application across various industrial sectors.

9. The Societal Impact of Industrial Cybersecurity

Maria is an advocate for highlighting the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding critical infrastructure which supports societal functions. She argues that vulnerabilities in these sectors not only pose economic risks but can have direct physical and societal impacts, thus the role of cybersecurity is increasingly critical.

10. Personal Attributes and Leadership

Maria Taberna is known for her visionary leadership and technical depth, combining operational insight with strategic foresight. Her journey from engineering to entrepreneurship is marked by her proactive stance on cybersecurity challenges and her commitment to fostering innovation.

Conclusion

Maria Taberna’s work through Steryon is shaping the future of industrial cybersecurity. Her strategic approach and the firm’s technological innovations underscore the critical need for integrating cybersecurity into the core operations of industrial firms. Moving forward, Maria's efforts are likely to not only reinforce industrial defenses but also set new standards for cybersecurity practices globally.