Kazakhstan has rapidly emerged as a cybersecurity leader in Central Asia, driven by national digitalisation initiatives, critical infrastructure modernisation, and a growing private-sector security ecosystem. From aviation and mining to national cyber defence and ethical hacking frameworks, the country’s cybersecurity leaders are building capability at scale while aligning with global standards.
The following CISOs and cybersecurity leaders are playing a defining role in Kazakhstan’s cyber maturity, combining offensive expertise, governance, and industrial security in one of the region’s most strategically important economies.
Olzhas Satiyev — Founder, TSARKA | Architect of Cyber Shield of Kazakhstan
Olzhas Satiyev is one of the most influential figures in Central Asian cybersecurity. He is the founder of TSARKA, the region’s first private CERT, as well as WebTotem, a SaaS platform protecting over 20,000 websites globally, and TumarOne, a leading bug bounty platform with 3,000 ethical hackers.
He was a key initiator of the “CyberShield of Kazakhstan” concept and played a central role in improving Kazakhstan’s UN Global Cybersecurity Index ranking from 118th to 31st within five years. Olzhas also helped legalise ethical hacking in Kazakhstan by integrating it into national legislation.
An OSCP-certified professional and organiser of the globally recognised KazHackStan conference, Olzhas is a frequent speaker at Forbes, TEDx, and OSCE events, combining technical credibility with national-level impact.
Amir Akhmetov — Co-Founder & Chief Information Security Officer, Cyber-Shield KZ/UZ
Amir Akhmetov brings deep expertise in offensive cybersecurity, crisis management, and government engagement. As Co-Founder and CISO of Cyber-Shield KZ/UZ, he leads SOC operations, ethical hacking, red teaming, DevSecOps, and a wide range of penetration testing services.
His work includes ISMS audits and consulting, as well as investigations into cybercrime, incidents, and IT/IS corruption cases. Amir is a trusted expert for government services, military, and law enforcement bodies, operating at the intersection of technical operations and national security requirements.
Yerzhan Yerbolatuly — Head of Cyber Security, Air Astana
Yerzhan Yerbolatuly leads cybersecurity for Air Astana, where he built the company’s cyber defence team supporting over 6,000 employees. A graduate of University College London, he brings more than 14 years of cybersecurity experience, including four years in leadership roles.
His career progression within Air Astana—from IT Security Administrator to Chief IT Security Administrator and now Head of Cyber Security—reflects deep institutional knowledge and operational continuity. Yerzhan also serves as a board member of the Bolashaq Alumni Association, contributing to leadership development beyond the enterprise.
David Mamedov — Head of Information Security, KAZ Minerals
David Mamedov is a cybersecurity and IT leader with over 23 years of experience, including five years as a CISO. He has built and led end-to-end ISMS programmes across large industrial environments, covering policy, architecture, audits, and steady-state operations.
At KAZ Minerals, David led the security function for a multinational workforce of approximately 15,000 employees and successfully passed audits conducted by EY, KPMG, and Deloitte. He has also led state audits for critical information infrastructure at major hydropower plants, translating regulatory requirements into pragmatic, operational controls.
His experience spans mining, energy, banking, and heavy industry—making him a key figure in Kazakhstan’s critical infrastructure security landscape.
Sergey Mashkov — Director of Cyber Security, Kazzinc
Sergey Mashkov leads cybersecurity at Kazzinc, aligning IT and OT environments with global standards across mining and metallurgy operations. With over 15 years of sector-specific experience, he focuses on governance, operational risk reduction, and infrastructure resilience in safety-critical environments.
His expertise includes IT/OT security, SOC and incident management, IAM, data privacy, and M&A integration. Sergey has led major initiatives in OT segmentation, secure vendor access, private LTE deployment, and cross-border data governance—ensuring security enables, rather than blocks, industrial operations.
Known for bridging the gap between executives and engineers, Sergey delivers outcomes quickly while maintaining control over risk and quality.
Kazakhstan’s Growing Cybersecurity Influence
Kazakhstan’s cybersecurity leaders are shaping a national and regional security posture that blends offensive capability, industrial resilience, and international alignment. From national cyber defence initiatives to mining, aviation, and digital platforms, the CISOs featured here are elevating Kazakhstan’s role as a cybersecurity leader in Central Asia, and influencing how security is built, governed, and sustained at scale.