Noam Birnbaum

Noam Birnbaum is the Founder and CEO of Ignition IT, a managed IT and cybersecurity firm he founded in San Francisco in 1998. Over the past three decades, Ignition has served more than 500 companies — from seed-stage startups to Fortune 500 clients — making it one of the oldest and most established Apple-specialist IT firms in the world.

Before founding Ignition, Birnbaum built his career inside the IT teams of Fortune 500 companies, major universities, and small businesses, starting his first consultancy, MacCentric Solutions, at age 23. He holds two master’s degrees and studied at Oberlin College.

Today, he focuses on managed IT, cybersecurity, SOC 2 compliance, mobile device management, and helping venture-backed companies scale their IT infrastructure without the overhead of an in-house team. He has spent more than three decades responding to cyber incidents — from the Blaster and MyDoom worms to modern ransomware and breach response — and regularly advises media on topics including small business cybersecurity, remote workforce security, MDM strategy, and IT for startups.

Birnbaum has served on the Board of Directors of Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland and the Entrepreneurs Organization.

How to Prepare for a Cyber Attack: 7 Steps for Businesses Investing in Cybersecurity

June 12, 2026
A survey from Splunk and Enterprise Strategy Group indicates that organizations tend to invest a significant amount of their capital into cybersecurity.

5 Benefits of Virtual Onboarding for Growing Companies

June 12, 2026
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of virtual onboarding with zero touch for growing companies.

What to Do After a Startup Risk Assessment

June 12, 2026
Startup risk assessment. Three little words that make you pee yourself a little. Cheer up by checking out Ignition’s no-bull gap remediation advice.

Stay SOC 2 Compliant With The Help Of MDM and Cloud SSO

May 29, 2026
If you have cloud access to any of Client Corp’s data, including its customers’ private data, SOC 2 certification proves that you can be trusted to secure, protect and manage that data to a high standard.

Safeguarding Enterprise Data: Unveiling the Power of Mobile Device Management Strategy

May 29, 2026
As a software solution, mobile device management essentially allows IT admins to secure, control and enforce security policies on smartphones, tablets, computers, and other endpoints.

Defend Against Phishing Attacks

May 29, 2026
Tired of phishers trying to steal your stuff? Here’s how to defend against phishing attacks, so you don’t get lost at sea.

How MDM Supports ISO 27001:2022 Access Control (Updated for 2026)

June 21, 2026
ISO 27001 was overhauled in 2022. Here’s how MDM maps to the updated access control requirements — and why it still does most of the heavy lifting.

Top Three Cybersecurity Best Practices For Small Businesses To Maximize ROI

May 29, 2026
If you have supersized cybersecurity ambitions, but don’t have a supersized budget to match, it’s time to prioritize. When money is tight, which strategy should you choose, in order to deliver maximum bang for your cybersecurity dollar?

How an IT Asset Inventory Management System Helps your Business Operations

May 29, 2026
Learn why your IT asset inventory management system is a must-have resource for your business toolbox.