Our Journey to Streamlined, Vendor-Neutral Cybersecurity Planning Tools

How we evolved from a spreadsheet built for higher education into a SaaS platform used by IT and security leaders across industries.

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Meet Our Founder
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Who We Are

A Clear, Data-Driven Roadmap for Every Organization

We help security and IT leaders continuously strengthen their posture through unbiased insight, actionable data, and collaborative tools.

No matter your organization’s size or budget, you deserve a plan tailored to your environment. One that's free from vendor hype and simple to explain to stakeholders.

Our Mission

We equip mission-driven teams with vendor-neutral, data-driven insights that transform complex security information into clear, actionable investment plans

Our Values

▶ Unbiased Guidance
Vendor-neutral advice with no hidden agendas
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▶ Data-Driven Decisions
Transform dense security data into clear investment priorities

▶ Empower Through Knowledge
Share plain-language insights that help every stakeholder act with confidence
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▶ Collaboration & Community
Foster a trusted peer network (Cyber Bridge) for sharing templates, lessons, and support
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▶ Continuous Improvement
Iterate fast, learn from feedback, and keep pace with evolving threats

The Problem and Our First Spreadsheet

2021: Overwhelmed Universities, Endless Audits

Christian “Chris” Schreiber spent almost 30 years in technology leadership roles, including more than a decade as a higher-education CISO. Time after time he watched 80-page audit reports land on a desk only to spark the same question: What should we fix first when there’s not enough budget to fix everything?

‍In 2021, while advising schools through his firm CampusCISO, Chris built a spreadsheet he called the "Cybersecurity Higher Education Assessment Tool", or Cyber H.E.A.T. Map.

This simple tool turned jargon into clear priorities, letting leaders see strengths, gaps, and next steps at a glance. Campus IT leaders had a starting point. And momentum followed.
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Cyber Heat Map compliance analysis report showing web application firewall solutions
From Spreadsheet to SaaS Tool

2022-2024: Proving the Model, Expanding the Vision

Use of the spreadsheet grew organically. Community colleges copied it; a state university system adopted it; consultants asked permission to use it. Chris saw a bigger opportunity:

▶ Consolidate every assessment into a database so users could benchmark against peers.

▶ Layer expert logic and reference data to turn raw answers into actionable recommendations.
We rebuilt Cyber Heat Map as a web application and embedded it in every CampusCISO engagement.

In 2024, we separated the tool from the advisory services, and CYBER HEAT MAP was born.
Demo University cybersecurity benchmark chart comparing scores across different categories
2025 and Beyond

Opening to All Sectors, Powered by Community

Cyber Heat Map was originally created for higher education institutions, but now we welcome any organization that needs a cost-effective tool to understand their cybersecurity capabilities and plan for future investments.

Our focus is building an ecosystem of consultants and clients, all contributing to a shared knowledge base about what vendor solutions are being used, building peer benchmark data, and collaborating in the relaunched Cyber Bridge® Community.
Cyber Bridge live feed with colorful sticky notes and team collaboration
Security program benchmark chart comparing organizational cybersecurity metrics

Guiding Teams Large and Small

Five-person IT teams use Cyber Heat Map to to focus limited resources. Distributed enterprise teams use it to align cross-functional cybersecurity investments. Consulting partners embed it as “phase zero” for larger engagements, rapidly learning a client cyber environment so they can more effectively guide strategy.

In every case, the goal is the same: replace guesswork with a live assessment tool and data-backed planning roadmap.

Join Us on the Journey

Thank you for reading our story. Choosing Cyber Heat Map means gaining both a powerful planning tool and a supportive community that's committed to your success.

Have questions, want a tailored demo, or simply wish to swap cybersecurity stories? Let’s talk.

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