Olli-Pekka Niemi is the Head of Forcepoint X-Labs, the company’s global cybersecurity research and innovation arm. He leads international teams advancing threat detection, behavioral analytics, and secure connectivity across Forcepoint’s data and network security portfolio.
With over two decades of experience in cybersecurity R&D, Olli-Pekka began his career at Stonesoft, where he helped pioneer early next-generation firewall technologies. After Stonesoft’s acquisition, he held senior roles at McAfee and Intel, advancing innovations in software-defined networking and threat detection. His expertise spans secure software architecture, advanced threat research, and leading cloud-based security transformations. A recognized innovator and inventor, Olli-Pekka holds multiple U.S. patents in network security and continues to contribute to advancing cybersecurity technologies.

Forcepoint is a global leader in data-first cybersecurity, providing integrated solutions that protect users, data, and networks across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. Forcepoint’s portfolio spans data security and network security, offering unified visibility and control to reduce complexity and strengthen protection across distributed infrastructures. Forcepoint Data Security provides comprehensive protection for sensitive information across endpoints, networks, cloud applications, and email. Using adaptive risk-based policies and behavioral analytics, it prevents data loss, insider threats, and accidental exposure—empowering organizations to control how data is accessed, moved, and shared without disrupting productivity. Forcepoint SD-WAN delivers secure, high-performance connectivity for distributed enterprises by integrating next-generation firewall protection with intelligent traffic steering and centralized management. It simplifies branch networking, optimizes cloud and SaaS access, and ensures consistent security policies across all sites—reducing complexity while improving reliability, visibility, and overall network performance.