About Silversmith Capital Partners
Silversmith Capital Partners is a growth equity firm. Their portfolio includes businesses with strong potential including technology and healthcare companies. Silversmith Capital Partners is committed to ensuring every investment is built on a secure and resilient foundation.
As the firm’s Operating Partner and CTO, Bryan Landerman leads the technology due diligence process, helping Silversmith identify and address any cybersecurity risks in their portfolio companies. For Bryan and his team, having a trusted cybersecurity partner is essential to making informed, confident investments.
The Challenge
Silversmith Capital Partners needed a way to evaluate the cybersecurity health of potential investments without overwhelming or alienating target companies. Bryan’s role was to ensure that Silversmith was making smart investment decisions, but he recognized the need for expertise in areas like cybersecurity.
“We knew cybersecurity was important, but we needed a partner who had deep expertise and could navigate the complexity of different industry standards like ISO 27001 and CISv8,” Bryan explained. “We also needed someone who could work with the companies in a way that wouldn’t disrupt the investment process.”
Silversmith needed a partner who could quickly assess cybersecurity risks without disrupting the investment process or placing too many demands on the target companies. They found this partner in Trava.
The Solution
Bryan quickly found that Trava offered exactly what Silversmith needed: a team of experts who could dive into each company’s security posture, evaluate the risks, and provide clear, actionable insights. And perhaps most importantly, Trava made the process seamless from start to finish.
Flexibility and Adaptability
One of the key reasons Bryan trusts Trava is the ability to adapt to each company’s specific situation without slowing the process down. For example, during one assessment, a portfolio company preferred not to fill out a traditional survey but offered their ISO 27001 documents instead. Rather than insisting on the standard process, Trava adjusted and used the provided documentation to deliver a complete and actionable report.
“The Trava team is really good at reading the situation,” Bryan explained. “If a company doesn’t want to follow the usual process, Trava adapts and still gives us exactly what we need. That kind of flexibility is huge for us.”
Streamlined and Repeatable Process
With Trava, Silversmith’s cybersecurity diligence became a smooth, rinse-and-repeat process. Each time Silversmith had a new deal, Bryan knew that all it took was a quick email to get things rolling. The team at Trava quickly engaged and provided the necessary insights to keep the investment process moving forward.
“It’s become second nature,” Bryan shared. “Once we have a new company, I just email Jim, and the process starts immediately. It’s rinse and repeat now. It’s easy going with Trava.”
Expertise in Cybersecurity Standards
Another valuable aspect of working with Trava was the team’s deep expertise in cybersecurity, particularly knowledge of frameworks like CISv8 and ISO 27001. Having a trusted partner who could navigate the nuances of these industry standards gave Silversmith confidence that they were making smart investment decisions based on sound cybersecurity assessments.
“Trava brings industry standards forward in a way that we don’t have internally,” Bryan said. “They know what matters and how to apply it, which allows us to make decisions with confidence.”
Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving field, and Trava’s knowledge of the latest standards is invaluable. They give us the confidence to move forward knowing we’ve covered all our bases.”
The Results
Silversmith’s partnership with Trava has delivered measurable benefits across multiple engagements:
- Accelerated Processes: With Trava’s support, Silversmith can conduct due diligence quickly and efficiently, without bogging down their internal team or the portfolio companies. “Trava handles everything and delivers what we need, when we need it. It’s become second nature,” Bryan said.
- Confidence in Every Deal: With Trava’s expertise, Silversmith now has an extra layer of confidence in their investment decisions. Trava’s detailed assessments and use of industry standards ensure that no stone is left unturned.
- Tailored Expertise: Trava’s ability to adapt to each situation has helped maintain positive relationships with the portfolio companies. Whether it’s reviewing compliance documents or providing hands-on support for remediation, Trava ensures that every company gets the attention it needs. “They don’t just hand us a report and walk away. They walk the companies through the findings and help them understand what’s important. That’s a huge value add for both us and the companies we invest in,” Bryan explained.
- Ongoing Support: In addition to the due diligence process, Trava’s team is available for ongoing consultations, helping portfolio companies address any issues that arise post-investment. In one case, Trava worked directly with a company to fix security vulnerabilities in their AWS environment—improving not just their security posture, but also their internal knowledge. “It’s not just about checking a box with Trava,” Bryan said. “They’re helping these companies learn and get better, which adds long-term value beyond the initial investment.”
Empowering Secure Investments Through Partnership
For Silversmith Capital Partners, Trava has become more than just a cybersecurity provider—it’s a trusted partner that helps them make smarter, more secure investments. By delivering flexible, expert-driven solutions, Trava enables Silversmith to confidently assess each portfolio company’s cybersecurity readiness and ensure that no detail is overlooked.
I’d 100% recommend them to anyone looking for a trusted partner in cybersecurity due diligence,” Bryan concluded. “Trava makes it easy, and their expertise gives us confidence in every decision we make.”