Getting to Know: Kim Forsthuber

Kim Forsthuber is a Channel Specialist for at Check Point Software Technologies. As a Channel Specialist, Kim works closely with Check Point’s partners to develop and execute strategic marketing and sales plans for the Harmony portfolio. Prior to Check Point, Kim worked at the United Foundation for China’s Health, Siemens, Autotask Corporation and Draper House, among others. She holds a MBA in International Management from Munich Business School and a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications from the University of London.

Kim, you’ve worked in healthcare, logistics, and public relations. How did you get into cybersecurity?

My journey into cybersecurity actually began during my time in healthcare. I was volunteering at the United Foundation for China’s Health and noticed a growing need for robust security measures to protect patient data and sensitive medical information. This piqued my interest, and I started attending cybersecurity seminars online, reading articles and automatically my network of people suddenly started changing. The transition into cybersecurity was a challenging shift, but I found it incredibly rewarding to be on the front lines of defending against cyber threats. It sort of gave me this superhero feeling deep inside.

You’ve said that since joining Check Point, you’ve felt like you’re part of a family. Can you explain what you mean?

Joining Check Point has been a unique experience for me. My onboarding consisted of almost three months at our headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel. Fast forward to today and I’ve been at Check Point for five years! The company culture here emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, and support. Of course there are hurdles, but that’s part of life. It truly feels like a close-knit family where everyone is committed to the same mission of securing the digital world and everyone has fun while working … but everyone is also honest enough when they are having a not so good day. There’s a strong sense of teamwork, and we all work together to overcome challenges, support our partners and protect our customers. This sense of belonging and unity makes Check Point a special place to work.

What does a day in the life of a Channel Specialist look like?

As a Harmony Partner Development Specialist, my typical day involves working closely with our channel partners and channel managers to develop and execute strategic plans for selling our new technologies. In my case, it’s our Harmony Portfolio – everything to secure the remote worker. This includes identifying potential customers, upselling into existing accounts, conducting training sessions for partners, and providing ongoing support to ensure they have the tools and knowledge they need to succeed, and are speaking to the right people internally to reach their goals. Which means that a lot of time also goes into internal networking, which is for me the most rewarding part. I must add at this point that I have two amazing managers, Miki Hakak and Cristiano Voschion, who always support me in finding the right person to turn to.

What is your proudest work achievement?

There have been many achievements and milestones along the way (five years is a long time!!). One of my proudest accomplishments during my time here with Check Point was in my role as Channel Manager in 2020. I successfully supported a partner who had been performing sub-optimally in the past, helping them achieve a revenue turnover of over $1 million in less than a year. This achievement allowed them to qualify for a new partner tier and provided them with the opportunity to test our Maestro Solution in their own labs. It was a significant success for both the partner and me.

Do you have any advice for someone who is considering a career in cybersecurity?

Here are some key pieces of advice that helped me along the way:

• Continuous Learning: Cybersecurity is a rapidly evolving field, so commit to ongoing learning to stay current with the latest threats and technologies.
• Hands-On Experience: Practical knowledge is invaluable -> Gain practical experience through internships or similar approaches to see if this is something for you!
• Networking: Build a strong professional network within the cybersecurity community. Attend conferences, join online forums, and connect with mentors who can provide guidance. This is by far the most important advice and is often underrated!
• Soft Skills: A strong second to networking. Soft skills are hard to learn but try to develop strong communication and problem-solving skills. Cybersecurity often involves working in teams and conveying complex information to non-technical people. On the other hand, it’s also important and a skill to assist highly technical people in conveying their information in a straightforward and understandable manner, without coming across completely clueless and getting lost in translation.
• Ethical Mindset: Small side note: Always approach cybersecurity with ethics and responsibility in mind. The goal is to protect, not exploit.

To learn more about working at Check Point and join Kim in securing the world, visit our Careers page.