About CyberFern
CyberFern is a cybersecurity consultancy founded by Anna Lezhikova, based in Wellington, New Zealand. Anna helps organisations see cybersecurity not as a technical burden, but as a strategic enabler of growth and resilience.
Whether you're a startup founder unsure where to begin, a small business owner worried about the basics, or a CTO looking to embed security across your engineering teams — Anna speaks your language.
Background
Anna's career spans both sides of the security divide. As a full-stack and DevSecOps engineer, she has built and secured the systems that organisations depend on. She understands the technical challenges security teams face — not from a textbook, but from the command line.
Her academic background is equally distinctive: a Master's degree in Sociology, an MBA, and a Diploma in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. This combination of technical depth and human science gives Anna a perspective that most security consultants simply don't have.
Anna has founded and run her own startups, giving her first-hand insight into the pressures founders face when balancing growth with risk.
Approach
Anna bridges boardrooms and server rooms. Her background in sociology, business management, and communications enables her to frame technical challenges in language that resonates with executives and stakeholders — while her engineering experience ensures that advice is grounded in practical reality.
CyberFern's work is practical, proportionate, and human-centred. Anna doesn't sell fear or push unnecessary complexity. She helps organisations understand their real risk picture and take sensible steps to address it.
Known for her engaging and practical teaching style, Anna helps participants walk away with tools they can use immediately — whether that's presenting to the board, building a security roadmap, or making smarter investment decisions.
How CyberFern Can Help
CyberFern works with organisations across three areas:
Free consultations for startups and small businesses. One hour to understand your real risk picture and get oriented — no sales pitch, just clarity.
Training workshops. Six focused sessions covering everything from quantifying cyber risk to presenting security to the board, for groups of 2–15.
Security Champions Programme. A structured, tailored programme that embeds security expertise directly in your engineering teams.