Our Mission
Bring AI Off the Whiteboard and Into Security Operations
HAWK.io is built around a clear objective: automate security operations as close to 100% as possible.
For too long, AI in cybersecurity has been discussed as a future capability while security teams continue to manage fragmented technologies, overwhelming volumes of data, manual investigations, and disconnected response processes.
HAWK brings AI into operation.
The HAWK Technology Stack combines real-time telemetry, contextual enrichment, advanced analytics, ClaimKit evidence intelligence, Octopus cAI autonomous investigation, and policy-governed orchestration to move security operations from signal to evidence to decision to action at machine speed.
ClaimKit helps make AI operational by identifying, extracting, and citing the evidence most relevant to an investigation. That gives Octopus cAI a focused evidence set to autonomously investigate, reason, validate findings, and support coordinated action.
Our goal is to automate every part of the security operations lifecycle that can be automated within customer-defined policies and authority—from detection and evidence collection through investigation, decision-making, containment, verification, and reporting.
The result is a security operation designed to reduce manual intervention, reduce decision latency, and scale security capability without requiring manual processes to scale at the same rate.
Bring AI off the whiteboard.
Put it into operation.
Drive automation toward 100%.
HAWK Network Defense is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and was founded by experienced cybersecurity executives and veterans of organizations including ISS Internet Security Systems, e-Security, Citadel Security Software, and ACS.
Big Data Security Analytics
Turning Security Data into Actionable Intelligence
HAWK uses the term Big Data Security Analytics (BDSA) to describe an approach designed to analyze large volumes of security telemetry and identify activity that requires attention.
Rather than relying exclusively on traditional correlation rules that require continual tuning and customization, HAWK combines advanced analytics with machine learning and AI-assisted capabilities to analyze activity across users, assets, applications, and security telemetry.
This approach helps transform large volumes of security information into contextualized, prioritized security incidents—giving security teams greater clarity about what requires investigation and response.
The objective is simple:
Less time sorting through noise. More time acting on what matters.
HAWK.io MDR
From Detection to Investigation to Response
Incident response remains one of the most resource-intensive challenges facing security organizations. Teams are often required to make critical decisions while simultaneously gathering evidence, establishing context, determining scope, and coordinating response.
The integrated HAWK Technology Stack brings together BDSA, vTTAC™ contextual enrichment, security operations automation, investigation, evidence collection, and response workflows to help reduce that burden.
HAWK.io MDR helps automate critical activities throughout the incident lifecycle, including investigation, artifact collection, evidence validation, enrichment, prioritization, and response orchestration.
Automation handles repeatable security operations at machine speed while security professionals remain focused on the decisions, exceptions, and complex situations where human expertise provides the greatest value.
This allows organizations of different sizes and levels of security maturity to operate more efficiently, respond faster, and expand their security capabilities without simply adding more manual work.
Better information. Faster investigation.
Better decisions. Stronger security operations.
Tim Shelton
Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Tim Shelton is the Founder and Chief Technology Officer of HAWK Network Defense, where he leads the company’s technology vision, product strategy, and integration architecture. As a key architect of HAWK’s technology platform, Tim has also played a central role in shaping the company’s go-to-market strategy and the evolution of its security operations capabilities.
Tim brings extensive experience as an information security practitioner and technology leader, including his work with ACS (Xerox). During his tenure at ACS, he was recognized for his leadership in developing security service delivery models and the operational processes required to deliver security services at scale.
A recognized expert in zero-day vulnerabilities, emerging threats, and defensive countermeasures, Tim has spent his career focused on advancing how organizations detect, investigate, and respond to sophisticated cyber threats. He is a frequent speaker at cybersecurity conferences and industry events, including Black Hat.
Tim attended Dallas Baptist University’s School of Computer Science.
Reed Harrison
Vice President of Marketing
Reed Harrison serves as Vice President of Marketing at HAWK Network Defense, bringing more than 30 years of experience in information security, enterprise software, and security technology innovation.
Prior to HAWK, Reed served as Chief Technology Officer for Security & Compliance Solutions at Novell Corporation, following Novell’s 2006 acquisition of e-Security, Inc., which he co-founded in 1999. As CTO of e-Security, Reed helped shape the technology and vision of one of the early pioneers in the SIEM market.
Earlier in his career, Reed spent eight years as Chief Information Security Officer at Harris Corporation, where he developed global security processes and standards and helped advance enterprise security technology, including a patented network-based intrusion detection solution.
Reed’s combination of cybersecurity leadership, technology innovation, product development, and enterprise security expertise helps shape HAWK’s market positioning and strategy.
Reed holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Florida Institute of Technology.
David Harris
Chief Executive Officer
David Harris serves as Chief Executive Officer of HAWK Network Defense, bringing extensive leadership experience in cybersecurity, technology, and business growth. Throughout his career, David has worked with organizations ranging from emerging technology companies to established global enterprises, helping build and scale businesses in rapidly evolving markets.
Before joining HAWK, David held senior leadership roles across the technology and cybersecurity industries, including executive positions with organizations focused on information security, managed services, and enterprise technology. His experience spans corporate strategy, business development, operations, acquisitions, and organizational growth.
At HAWK, David focuses on company strategy, market growth, customer and partner relationships, and expanding the reach of HAWK's security operations technology and services.
David is an alumnus of Texas Tech University and the Rawls College of Business.
Steve Zalewski
Cybersecurity Advisor
Steve Zalewski is a cybersecurity executive and advisor with decades of experience spanning enterprise security leadership, security architecture, technology strategy, and executive risk management.
A former Chief Information Security Officer at Levi Strauss & Co., Steve has also held senior security leadership roles at Pacific Gas & Electric and Kaiser Permanente, giving him extensive experience across global retail, critical infrastructure, and healthcare environments. His work has included cybersecurity strategy, incident response, enterprise security architecture, identity and access management, risk and compliance, and communicating cyber risk to executive leadership and boards.
Today, Steve advises organizations, security technology companies, and venture capital firms on cybersecurity strategy, security program development, market direction, product requirements, due diligence, and executive security leadership. He also provides retained CISO services to organizations requiring experienced security leadership on a fractional or transitional basis.
Steve holds CISSP, CISM, and CRISC certifications and has been awarded multiple U.S. patents in data protection and multiprocessor operating-system design. He is also a co-host of the CISO Series Defense in Depth podcast and a frequent speaker and panel moderator at cybersecurity industry events.
Chris Gummer, CPA
Chief Financial Resource
Chris Gummer serves as Chief Financial Resource at HAWK Network Defense, bringing extensive experience in accounting, financial management, operations, and technology-driven process improvement. He joined HAWK in March 2016.
Prior to HAWK, Chris spent seven years with Financial Computer Software, helping grow the company into a leader in asset management software and leveraged loan data. Working closely with CFOs and accounting organizations, he helped improve financial processes, increase efficiency, and reduce operating costs through technology.
Chris later served as Chief Financial Officer of a steel construction company, where he transformed administrative and financial operations, helping reduce collection times, increase recognized revenue, strengthen financial processes, and resolve regulatory issues.
As a Certified Public Accountant, Chris combines financial discipline, operational experience, and technology expertise to support HAWK's financial strategy and operations.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Southern Methodist University (SMU).
