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Why I Joined Exabeam

  • Apr 11, 2025
  • Brook Chelmo
  • 3 minutes to read

Table of Contents

    A Journey Through Security

    Throughout my career, I’ve worked across a wide range of security technologies in product management and marketing—spanning backup, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) mitigation, encryption, firewalls, email security, endpoint security, and, most recently, extended detection and response (XDR). I’ve seen how security solutions evolve in response to an ever-changing threat landscape and worked for both some of the largest security vendors and startups. This breadth of experience has shaped my perspective on how different organizations tackle security challenges and what matters most in designing solutions for customers—particularly the CISO.

    Why I Chose Exabeam

    As the security landscape shifts, so do the priorities of security buyers. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is becoming commoditized, and XDR is often too resource-intensive for many mid-market organizations. Seeing XDR fall into the trough of disillusionment in Gartner’s 2024 Hype Cycle for Endpoint and Workspace Security reinforced what I already knew: SIEM remains essential for organizations that need broad visibility across their environments.

    When I started looking for my next role, I knew it had to be in the SIEM space. Exabeam stood out immediately—not just for its position as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, but for its fundamentally different approach to security operations, substantiated by customer feedback.

    Unlike traditional SIEMs that rely on static rules and correlation engines, Exabeam is built on user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA), automatically establishing baselines of normal behavior. By leveraging behavior analytics, automated threat timelines, and AI-driven correlation, Exabeam helps security teams cut through the noise and focus on real threats.

    Customers consistently validate this approach with real-world results. Security teams report fewer false positives, faster investigations, and a significant drop in alert fatigue. MSSPs managing security at scale have even chosen Exabeam for their own environments—evidence of its effectiveness.

    One customer, r-tec CDC, quantified the impact of switching from a competitive solution to Exabeam:  Log onboarding times dropped by 70%, alerts decreased by 60%,  phone calls about abnormal behavior fell by 80%, and they cut their mean time to acknowledge (MTA) by 50%, reducing resolution time to just 17 minutes.

    I’ve read several other compelling case studies, but what resonates most is how these results align with the challenges my CISO colleagues and friends have shared over countless meetings and meals. Seeing a customer like r-tec CDC so clearly measure the difference Exabeam makes—well, it just took me a little longer to acknowledge it.

    Company Culture

    But what really convinced me to join Exabeam wasn’t just the technology—it was the culture and the people. From my first week, I saw how Exabeam had built strong product management, user experience (UX), product marketing, and field marketing teams, all backed by advanced processes, systems, and tools to drive success.

    Beyond that, the company’s commitment to corporate responsibility is real. Too often, organizations post lofty values and occasionally showcase an executive leadership team handing over an oversized check to a nonprofit. At Exabeam, it’s different. In the past, I’ve volunteered by helping the homeless, planting trees, and attending short educational seminars. By my third day here, I was already invited to participate in many similar initiatives through ExaCares, a program that actively encourages employees to give back.

    Many of the things I see here remind me of the best days in my career—when innovation, collaboration, and purpose drove the work. I thought this way of working had gone extinct in security, but I’m thrilled to have found it again.

    More Than Just a Job— A Life Change

    Joining Exabeam was about more than making a career move; it was about reclaiming balance in my life. Within two weeks of making the switch, I felt a noticeable difference in my overall happiness and wellbeing. I laughed more with my kids, my mood improved, and I found myself wondering—what changed? Then I realized it was the Exabeam difference.

    After just four weeks, other parts of my health improved such as my sleep patterns as well as improvements like my blood pressure.

    Today, I work from home four days a week, surrounded by a team of experienced professionals who share my passion for security. The company culture is genuinely supportive, and Exabeam takes corporate responsibility seriously. Ultimately, I am healthier, and my family is happier—especially our dog since he thinks I switched my role just for him.

    The Best-Kept Secret in Security

    At Exabeam, I have the creative freedom to build impactful programs and contribute to a mission that matters. My goal is simple: to ensure that Exabeam is no longer the best-kept secret in security. I look forward to working with CISOs and security leaders worldwide, helping them solve real-world challenges, and continuing to do what I love—helping organizations stay ahead of threats.


    We’re always looking for the best and brightest. There’s work to be done—let’s do it together. Read more about what makes us tick and check out our open roles.

    Brook Chelmo

    Brook Chelmo

    Director of Product Marketing | Exabeam | Brook Chelmo is a seasoned cybersecurity strategist and product marketing leader with deep expertise in emerging threats, threat actor behavior, and security technology. He has conducted embedded research with ransomware groups, including direct engagement with Russian cybercriminals, offering rare insights into their operations, motivations, and monetization strategies. Known for delivering award-winning and standing-room-only presentations at global security conferences, Brook helps security teams stay ahead of evolving threats by translating complex threat intelligence into actionable strategies. His work spans product development, threat research, and education, supporting both the advancement of security technology and the global community’s ability to defend against cyber risk.

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