Six Months at River Security – Building Something Different, Together

By Lasse Bogen |

When I joined River Security in January 2025, I knew I was stepping into something unique.

The company wasn’t just doing cyber security. It was challenging it. River had already made a name for itself with its technical edge, brilliant team, and bold approach, but it was clear that the journey had only just begun. I wasn’t walking into a finely tuned machine. I was stepping into a rare opportunity to help build something from the ground up, and to finally step into a role I’ve dreamt of for years: Partner Manager.

Why This Role Meant So Much to Me

Back when I worked in telecom as a 20-something, I looked up to the people who represented brands like Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and HTC, those who were out in the field, building trust, growing visibility, and connecting the dots between product, people, and partnerships. I always knew I wanted that kind of role one day.

Fast forward to today, and here I am: helping build a partnership program for a world-class offensive cyber security company. It’s everything I hoped for and more.

What We’re Actually Doing at River Security

Cybersecurity is evolving fast, but many businesses remain stuck in outdated, periodic defenses. River Security is changing that by shifting to continuous, proactive protection of your digital perimeter. Our approach, centered on a managed service called Active Focus, fundamentally updates how organizations stay secure. It’s not just a new product, but a mindset shift from reactive security to an always-on offense working on your behalf.

Active Focus is our flagship offering and the umbrella for everything we do. It combines continuous digital footprint assessments (so you always know what your IT environment looks like from an attacker’s perspective) with an always-on Offensive Security Operations Center (Offensive SOC) staffed by expert human penetration testers. These experts act like friendly hackers, constantly monitoring and probing your systems for new weaknesses as soon as they arise. When your attack surface changes, say a new application goes live or a configuration is updated, our team immediately tests it in real time. This means we uncover and validate emerging risks right away, rather than waiting for the next scheduled scan or annual audit.

We call this relentless approach Advanced Persistent Testing. It’s not a formal product tier, but a philosophy reflecting our challenger mindset, inspired by how persistent threats operate, except now used for defense. In practice, Active Focus keeps your security one step ahead of the bad guys. Our Offensive SOC is both proactive and persistent, essentially “hacking” your systems continuously so you can fix weaknesses before someone malicious finds them. The result is peace of mind for our partners and clients, knowing that as new threats emerge, we’re already out front helping to stop them.

A Remote Setup That Truly Works

River Security is a fully remote company, and honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect at first. I had never worked 100% remotely before, but it didn’t take long to realize: this works incredibly well. And not just because of the tools, but because of the culture we’ve built around them.

We use a virtual office that blends video, audio, and spatial interaction in a way that actually feels natural. Everyone has their own avatar and desk, and we can walk around, drop in for quick chats, pop into meeting rooms, or even take a break in a virtual game room. It might sound playful, but the result is very real: you feel connected. Sometimes even more so than in a traditional physical office.

For me personally, I love that I can start the day with a quiet coffee, music playing in the background, and full control over how I plan my time and space. I work wherever I’m most productive and that can, if I want, change from day to day. Despite the distance, I’ve never felt closer to my team. We talk constantly, collaborate seamlessly, and have built a strong culture without needing to share a physical address.

This setup gives me energy, flexibility, and focus. It’s a huge part of why I enjoy working here.

The First Six Months: From Kickoff to Momentum

Here’s what the first half of 2025 has looked like for me:

  • I’ve signed five new partner agreements, with more in the pipeline
  • I’ve joined some amazing industry events to represent River, including:
    • ✅ IT-Forum Vest in Haugesund with Proact
    • ✅ Oslo Tech Show
    • ✅ Beredskaps Konferansen in Stavanger, where our very own Chris Dale shared real-world hacking stories
    • ✅ Proact Security Day in Trondheim
  • I’ve helped shape how we work with partners, from onboarding to go-to-market planning
  • And most importantly, I’ve had countless conversations with people who are excited to be part of something different

Now, we’re gearing up to activate sales through our partners, with Active Focus front and center. We’re refining our joint strategies, building resources, and looking ahead to new partner engagements and new customer wins.

What’s Next?

We’re not slowing down. In fact, the second half of 2025 looks even more exciting.

We’ll be at Sikkerhetsfestivalen and Attack Konferansen, two of the biggest security events in Norway, and I can’t wait to connect with more people in the field. And in September, we’ll be heading to our next Hacker Space: a four-day company-wide retreat with hacking sessions, strategic workshops, a cabin close to the sea, casino tables, and (rumor has it) a pretty solid Jacuzzi.

But more than anything, we’re continuing to build:

  • New partnerships
  • New customer relationships
  • New ways of delivering security that actually makes a difference

Are You a Partner Looking to Do Things Differently?

We’re looking for partners who want to challenge the status quo. Whether you’re a security reseller, a consultancy, or a technology company looking to add something powerful to your portfolio, let’s talk.
We’re not offering cookie-cutter services. We’re offering next-generation offensive security, built for real-world risk, and delivered by some of the sharpest minds in the field. If you’d like to explore a partnership or learn more about how we can work together, feel free to reach out.

A Few Things I’ve Learned So Far

Six months in, here’s what stands out:

  • There’s a huge knowledge gap in cyber security, and a huge opportunity to fill it with the right education, tools, and partners.
  • Our team is incredibly sharp and deeply committed to the mission.
  • The partner opportunity is real and growing fast.
  • Remote work can be better than traditional setups when built on culture, communication, and trust.
  • This industry moves quickly, and so do we.

I’m proud of the progress so far. But even more, I’m excited about what’s ahead.

See you out there, or maybe at Sikkerhetsfestivalen at the end of August?

// Lasse

Partner Manager, River Security

Posted in River Security