Sagar Bharadwaj, senior director, talent acquisition and compensation, shares how TA is more than just filling roles at cybersecurity services provider Cyderes.
By Debbie Bolla
HRO Today: What is the biggest hiring challenge you are currently facing and what are you plans to overcome it?
Sagar Bharadwaj: One of the biggest hiring challenges we’re currently facing at Cyderes is sourcing and engaging top-tier cybersecurity talent in highly specialized areas like identity security (SailPoint, CyberArk), and security engineering (AI, DevSecOps, CrowdStrike, Sentinel, Chronicle SecOps) roles. With the rapid adoption of AI and machine learning technologies, there’s a growing need for experts who can secure AI models, protect against data poisoning, and build governance frameworks for ethical AI use. The talent pool in this space is still emerging.
To overcome this, we’re taking a multi-pronged approach.
- Proactive sourcing: Investing in building dedicated sourcing pipelines for niche skills and strengthening our internal sourcing capabilities.
- Global reach, local talent: Tapping into global markets like the U.S., U.K., Canada, India, and Eastern Europe, for critical roles while supporting hybrid/remote flexibility to widen the talent pool.
- Employer brand: Elevating our brand through authentic employee stories, thought leadership, and showcasing our mission-driven culture to attract purpose-aligned talent.
- Internal mobility and referrals: Leveraging our own talent through upskilling and promoting from within, while incentivizing high-quality referrals from our employees.
HROT: How do you align talent acquisition with broader business goals?
Bharadwaj: Talent acquisition is more than just filling roles at Cyderes. We identity, attract, and retain high-performing, purpose-driven talent who elevate our culture and capabilities. We partner closely with delivery teams to hire experts who can meet and exceed our clients’ expectations while fueling our innovative edge in the rapidly evolving cybersecurity industry. We have been building a scalable talent pipeline to support our growth. We have grown from 180 employees in February 2021 to just over 950 employees in July 2025. One of the five strategic priorities at Cyderes is “Global Expansion.” For example, we have increased our footprint in India from 20 employees to over 200 employees in the last 2.5 years.
HROT: How does your organization have a competitive advantage when attracting and hiring talent?
Bharadwaj: Our competitive advantage in attracting and hiring top talent stems from a unique combination of mission-driven culture, cybersecurity specialization, and global flexibility. We’re not just another cybersecurity company — we’re solving real, complex threats that impact global enterprises. Our brand is backed by industry veterans and visionary leaders — including Robert Herjavec — which gives us a strong reputation and credibility in the cybersecurity space. Talent wants to work with the best.
We offer roles in highly specialized areas (e.g., IAM, MDR, AI Security, Cloud Sec), which appeal to talent looking to deepen their craft. Our rapid growth also means fast career mobility and chances to lead new initiatives early. Our ability to hire globally, support remote/hybrid setups, and create region-specific talent strategies allows us to tap into top talent pools without being limited by geography.
HROT: What are you currently binging?
Bharadwaj: I’m currently reading “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle and binging on Squid Game 3.
