Welcoming Mats Herman Heggelund – Penetration Tester

We’re excited to welcome Mats Herman Heggelund as our new Penetration Tester at River Security. Mats joined us in September and is already proving himself as a strong addition to the offensive security team. 

Mats is a newly graduated computer engineer but already brings solid experience as a Security Analyst from Mnemonic. On top of that, he has qualified for the Norwegian Cybersecurity National Team, described as Norway’s “hacking national team”,  where only the very best young talents in the country are selected. 

Earlier this year, the University of South-Eastern Norway wrote about him on LinkedIn: 

“With deep expertise in cryptography, Mats has shown that he is among the country’s foremost young security talents. He has qualified for the Norwegian Cybersecurity National Team and is an outstanding representative of our computer engineering program.” 

In the national finals, Mats competed against 30 of Norway’s sharpest junior and senior talents. Over two intense days, participants solved advanced technical challenges that required not only raw skills, but also teamwork and collaboration. His strong performance secured him a spot in the upcoming European Cyber Security Challenge (ECSC) later this year. 

“I haven’t been on the national team before, so I’m really excited about what the European Championship will bring. I just turned 22 this summer – so I hope this is only the beginning,” Mats says with a smile. 

— Mats Herman Heggelund, Penetration Tester, River Security

Before joining River Security, Mats built his profile at Mnemonic and through academic excellence, focusing particularly on cryptography. He is now bringing this knowledge, combined with his competitive hacker mindset, into the daily work of our Offensive Security Operations Center (OSOC). 

“Mats brings exactly the qualities we look for: adaptability, curiosity, and drive. I think he’s got what it takes to thrive in our hacker culture and to make a real difference for our customers.” 

— Chris Dale, Chief Hacking Officer, River Security 

Outside of work, Mats enjoys activities like programming, weightlifting and spending time with his friends.

When asked why he chose River Security, Mats points to the company’s unique culture and approach: 

“I was looking for a place where I could grow quickly, surrounded by highly skilled people who are passionate about offensive security. River’s proactive model and the OSOC concept stood out to me because it’s about more than just point-in-time testing – it’s about continuous learning, improvement, and real value for customers. That’s the kind of environment where I know I’ll develop both as a hacker and as a professional.” 

We’re proud to have Mats on board, and we’re confident that his talent and mindset will strengthen both our team and the value we deliver to customers. At only 22, he’s already shown impressive ability and determination, and we’re excited to see how far he’ll go as part of River Security. 

Welcome to the team, Mats – the journey is just getting started!