As startups and scaleups begin to grow, structure can quickly fall behind. Without the right systems and security foundations in place, it becomes harder to manage risk, respond to security demands, or take on new opportunities with confidence.

At LeftBrain, we work with VC-backed companies that are moving fast. Many of them are starting to realise that security is not just about protection. It also enables operational clarity, deal-readiness, and long-term growth.

In this interview, CEO Charlie Naughton-Rumbo shares how we help ambitious tech companies put strong foundations in place early. He explores common pitfalls, the systems we recommend, and how to scale with confidence.

What kind of scaleups come to LeftBrain for security support?

Early-stage and ready to grow

My absolute favourite is when we get a client who comes in the door, they’ve just had some seed funding, and they know they are going to grow. They come to us and say, “This is going to kick off. We need to have some strong foundations in place.” We see that situation quite often.

Organically grown and now under pressure

Another common case is when a company has grown organically over time and has not put any structure in place. They come to us with urgent requirements, saying they really need to get those foundations sorted.

I enjoy working with those teams just as much because, truthfully, I like a bit of drama. It is always interesting when you have to build a plane while you are going down the runway, as I often say.

What security foundations do we put in place for our clients?

Start with governance

The first and most important step is to start with a governance framework. What we do not want to do is roll out technology without justification, without proper decision making, without policies, and without linking it to what the business actually wants to achieve.

We begin by clarifying roles and responsibilities and connecting what we are doing to the goals of the business. This gives us a shared framework and a common language that allows us to make a real difference through the initiatives we implement.

Build systems that can grow with you

Once governance is in place, we move on to technology. We build a solid backbone that can grow over time.

The key point is that we do not need to start with all the controls in place. Early-stage companies need innovation, freedom, and agility. Our job is to find the right balance with foundational systems that support growth and can be scaled later.

What happens when you skip the security foundations?

That is when the firefighting begins. We often meet companies that have built up technical or security debt. It becomes a heavy burden.

Usually, the pressure hits when someone asks them to complete a long security questionnaire or to confirm if they have ISO 27001 certification. They say, “No, not yet,” and suddenly they have a few months before a deal might fall through. They need to act fast to get everything sorted.

That can be exciting, but it also demands focus and momentum across the team.

What does secure, scalable growth looks like in practice?

Everything is smoother and simpler.

We roadmap things far in advance and build what we call easy buttons. Each initiative is tied to a business outcome or a security requirement. So when the time is right, all they need to do is press the button and we are ready to go with a scoped plan of action.

It is simple. It is predictable. It is easy. And because the groundwork is already there, rollout is much faster. There is no scramble or restructuring. Everything already fits.

Any practical advice for scaleups building their foundations?

My biggest encouragement is that it does not need to be a big or expensive undertaking.

We often work with clients at the early stages, just helping them think through the decision they are about to make. We help them make sure it is heading in the right direction, instead of being a decision made in isolation without considering future implications.

You do not need to buy a load of enterprise tech or activate everything at once. It is about putting down smart foundations that you can grow into over time. You do not need to spend big. You need to make clever choices.

And that is one of the parts of the job we enjoy the most.