Clarity over noise
We make the work that matters visible, organized, and actionable.
Our story
The clarity security and compliance teams deserve.
NorthStar was created for teams asked to manage growing responsibilities with disconnected tools, unclear priorities, and too little time. Born from decades of being frustrated with disparaged, segregated, incomplete systems, we are building a more practical way to run a trusted enterprise program.
Our mission
Make trust operational.
Modern organizations need more than a list of requirements. They need a system that connects the work behind security, privacy, risk, and assurance—so teams can see what matters, act on it, and explain progress with confidence.
NorthStar starts with a NIST-aligned foundation, then helps teams adapt that foundation to their industry, operating footprint, customer expectations, and growth. Texas was our proving ground; a national, multi-industry platform is our mission.
Why Texas first
Texas complexity. National ambition.
Texas brings together a diverse economy, fast-growing organizations, and a complex mix of security, privacy, public-sector, and critical-infrastructure expectations. It was the right place to prove that a unified compliance model can make difficult work easier to run.
Principles
How we build
Evidence over assertion
A strong program is built on decisions and artifacts teams can stand behind.
Progress over perfection
We help teams create a credible path forward instead of waiting for an impossible finish line.
Context before automation
Technology is more useful when it understands the organization it is serving.
Practitioner-led
We design for the people doing the work, not just the reports about it.
Trust is shared
Security, privacy, governance, and leadership succeed when they operate from the same picture.
Leadership
Meet the founders
NorthStar Security is led by a team focused on making cybersecurity, risk, and compliance work more connected and actionable.
Nathan Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Nathan Smith is a transformational information security and IT threat executive with extensive experience enhancing organizational resilience, designing strategic security initiatives, and optimizing operational efficiency across both the public and private sectors. As the co-founder and Lead AI Developer of Northstar Security, he spearheads the creation of advanced web portals that integrate NIST control baselines with complex federal, industry, and state regulations. His leadership is grounded in a robust technical background, including managing security services delivery at Deloitte—where he safeguarded major client contracts and orchestrated critical engineering turnarounds—and driving multi-million dollar cost-savings and risk programs for the Texas Department of Transportation. Beyond his enterprise leadership, Nathan brings decades of foundational technology expertise, having previously co-founded and scaled an infrastructure support firm from a bootstrapped startup into a $14 million enterprise, led a massive domain consolidation project for General Dynamics managing a global environment of over 200,000 users, and contributed to the United Nations World Congress on IT. Holding key industry credentials such as the CISSP and PCIP, he combines visionary enterprise architecture with hands-on technical execution. At Northstar Security, he leverages this wealth of experience to translate complex cybersecurity frameworks into comprehensive, cutting-edge solutions that protect critical assets and ensure total regulatory compliance for modern businesses.
Zach Ward
Chief Operating Officer
Zach Ward is an accomplished IT professional with over 20 years of experience spanning enterprise, government, and high-growth startup environments, specializing in unified communications, cybersecurity, and AI-driven process optimization. As the Chief Operating Officer of NorthStar Security, he leverages his deep expertise in scaling global infrastructure and aligning complex technical architectures with executive-level business objectives to drive digital transformation. His background includes leading massive enterprise deployments across more than 160 locations at Sonic Healthcare USA, managing cloud migrations for Pathway Vet Alliance, and directing statewide cybersecurity and compliance implementations at the Texas Department of Transportation. An expert in bridging operational execution with regulatory frameworks such as NIST and HIPAA, Zach holds key industry credentials including the Google AI Professional certification, Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) from ISC2, and Certified Scrum Master (CSM). At NorthStar Security, he applies his extensive background in vendor governance, threat mitigation, and AI workflow integration to optimize operational efficiency and ensure robust infrastructure resilience. Zach leads operations and helps ensure the platform delivers a dependable, practical experience for every NorthStar customer.
Michael Brady
Chief Technology Officer
Michael Brady is an accomplished technology executive and security leader with decades of extensive experience spanning enterprise infrastructure, governance, and high-growth startups. As the Chief Technology Officer of Northstar Security, he brings together governance, risk, and cybersecurity compliance to deliver holistic, secure solutions for businesses. His robust background includes long-standing executive leadership, such as serving as Cybersecurity and IT Manager and Acting CISO at Retractable Technologies, Cybersecurity Architect at the Texas Department of Transportation, and VP of IT and CISO at ETAN Industries. Throughout his distinguished career, Michael has successfully led complex technical transformations and global IT initiatives, previously holding roles as CTO for DriveAds.com, Executive VP and COO at Vergent Communications, and co-founder of Brady-Liu Technologies. A United States Marine Corps veteran, he pairs disciplined leadership with deep technical expertise in network architecture, NIST frameworks, and regulatory compliance. At NorthStar Security, he leverages this extensive multi-industry background to help organizations find their true north in security, risk management, and digital resilience. Michael leads NorthStar’s technology strategy and the development of its connected compliance platform.