Cloud Ace SANS Institute

Nate Lee, CISO at Tradeshift, talks about creating cloud security capabilities, working with engineering, and how he built a GenAI security question answering bot.

About Nate:

Nate is currently CISO at Tradeshift, a B2B SaaS platform where he built the security program that has secured over $1 trillion in global business transactions. Previous to that, he led various technical teams including the company’s Platform Operations, Site Reliability Engineering and Corporate IT functions.

He got his start as an engineer doing consulting, building systems and networks before joining Target Corporation. At Target, he built and secured systems that ensure the smooth flow of goods at one of the largest retailers in the country.

In 2010, after relocating to the Bay Area, Nate joined the videoconferencing startup Fuze (later acquired by 8x8) as a Senior Architect before swiftly expanding his purview and leading the operations, security and escalated support teams.

Like most in tech, he’s currently spending an inordinate amount of time digging into AI and the practical implications it has to businesses, focusing on building secure-by-default systems and driving internal efficiencies.
SPONSER NOTE:
Support for Cloud Ace podcast comes from SANS Institute. If you like the topics covered in this podcast and would like to learn more about cloud security, SANS Cloud Security curriculum is here to support your journey into building, deploying, and managing secure cloud infrastructure, platforms, and applications. Whether you are on a technical flight plan, or a leadership one, SANS Cloud Security curriculum has resources, training, and certifications to fit your needs.
Focus on where the cloud is going, not where it is today. Your organization is going to need someone with hands-on technical experience and cloud security-specific knowledge. You will be prepared not only for your current role, but also for a cutting-edge future in cloud security.
Review and Download Cloud Security Resources: sans.org/cloud-security/
Join our growing and diverse community of cloud security professionals on your platform of choice:
Discord | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

Fred Bret-Mounet, CISO at Clarify Health Solutions, reminisces about negotiating a 25% salary increase and still being drastically underpaid, eating pasta every day, and learning that security can't just be focused on building Fort Knox.

About Fred:

"t all started with early e-commerce sites storing item prices client side!
 
A tinkerer from an early age and the constant need to feed my curiosity have been critical skills to my Information Security career.
 
With strong technical skills that I keep current and some amount of business acumen, I realized early that my role was not to build mini Fort Knox everywhere I went but instead teach people new skills: I am an evangelist helping organizations understand enough about the risk dimension associated to security and privacy - just as we understand financial, brand or contractual / legal dimensions in our daily activities.
 
I am also an enforcer! Not the one that carries a weapon - instead, I keep us honest by providing a platform for self policing.
SPONSER NOTE:
Support for Cloud Ace podcast comes from SANS Institute. If you like the topics covered in this podcast and would like to learn more about cloud security, SANS Cloud Security curriculum is here to support your journey into building, deploying, and managing secure cloud infrastructure, platforms, and applications. Whether you are on a technical flight plan, or a leadership one, SANS Cloud Security curriculum has resources, training, and certifications to fit your needs.
Focus on where the cloud is going, not where it is today. Your organization is going to need someone with hands-on technical experience and cloud security-specific knowledge. You will be prepared not only for your current role, but also for a cutting-edge future in cloud security.
Review and Download Cloud Security Resources: sans.org/cloud-security/
Join our growing and diverse community of cloud security professionals on your platform of choice:
Discord | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

Steve Tran, CISO at the Democratic National Committee (DNC), opens up about his personal challenges, finding his path through hacking and magic, and his passion for helping the next generation.

ABOUT STEVE: 

Steve is the Chief Security Officer for the Democratic National Committee, where he leads the organization's Information Technology, physical security, and cybersecurity strategies and programs. Prior to this, Steve was the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for MGM Studios. There, he played a pivotal role in several high-profile mergers and acquisitions, including the successful $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM Studios by Amazon. Steve has a diverse background. He has worked at Mattel, Target Corporation, Fox Studios, and Deloitte, and also served as a police officer.

When not defending against dedicated adversaries, you can watch his “off the cuffs” performances at the World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.

Follow Steve on these socials:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveishacking/
https://defcon.social/@stevetran
SPONSER NOTE:
Support for Cloud Ace podcast comes from SANS Institute. If you like the topics covered in this podcast and would like to learn more about cloud security, SANS Cloud Security curriculum is here to support your journey into building, deploying, and managing secure cloud infrastructure, platforms, and applications. Whether you are on a technical flight plan, or a leadership one, SANS Cloud Security curriculum has resources, training, and certifications to fit your needs.
Focus on where the cloud is going, not where it is today. Your organization is going to need someone with hands-on technical experience and cloud security-specific knowledge. You will be prepared not only for your current role, but also for a cutting-edge future in cloud security.
Review and Download Cloud Security Resources: sans.org/cloud-security/
Join our growing and diverse community of cloud security professionals on your platform of choice:
Discord | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

Deneen DeFiore, CISO at United Airlines, talks about how she got into security, taking a new CISO role at the start of COVID, what makes a mature business oriented security program, and what CISOs need to know before considering board level opportunities.

About Deneen: 

Deneen is an accomplished technology and risk management executive with experience across multiple critical infrastructure sectors.   She has expertise in advising global companies and their most senior executives on technology, cybersecurity, compliance, and digital risk decisions related to products, services, and ongoing operations.  

Deneen currently serves as Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at United Airlines.  She is responsible for leading the cybersecurity and digital risk organization to ensure the company is prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to evolving cyber threats.  She leads initiatives on commercial aviation cyber safety risk, improving cyber resilience, and represents United in working with international partners to reduce cyber safety risk world-wide across the aviation ecosystem.  

Deneen is the Chair of the board of the Aviation Information Sharing Analysis Center and the Chairperson of the Airlines for America (A4A) Cybersecurity Committee.  She is an independent director and member board of directors for Blackbaud software.    In 2022, she was appointed to serve on the President’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC), advising the White House on how to reduce physical and cyber risks and improve the security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure sectors.
She is passionate about diversity in the tech industry and promoting STEM education.
Follow her on Twitter @deneendefiore
SPONSER NOTE:
Support for Cloud Ace podcast comes from SANS Institute. If you like the topics covered in this podcast and would like to learn more about cloud security, SANS Cloud Security curriculum is here to support your journey into building, deploying, and managing secure cloud infrastructure, platforms, and applications. Whether you are on a technical flight plan, or a leadership one, SANS Cloud Security curriculum has resources, training, and certifications to fit your needs.
Focus on where the cloud is going, not where it is today. Your organization is going to need someone with hands-on technical experience and cloud security-specific knowledge. You will be prepared not only for your current role, but also for a cutting-edge future in cloud security.
Review and Download Cloud Security Resources: sans.org/cloud-security/
Join our growing and diverse community of cloud security professionals on your platform of choice:
Discord | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

Kapil Assudani, CISO at Edwards Lifesciences, shares how he was one payment away from getting kicked out of his Masters program, being resilient and resourceful, building credibility, and finding ways to reduce the attack surface.

About Kapil:

Kapil Assudani, with over 20 years of experience in information security, currently holds the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Edwards Lifesciences. His tenure at Edwards, spanning over six years, has responsibilities beyond the typical enterprise security scope of a CISO, as it includes IoT Medical Device Security and Manufacturing Plant security on a global scale.

Kapil’s leadership philosophy is built on three key principles. Firstly, he believes in building a team of passionate and good-hearted individuals, providing them with innovative tools, and then allowing them to operate independently. Secondly, he emphasizes presenting security problem statements backed by facts and data, simplifying them to a level where a business leader can independently make risk decisions. Lastly, he focuses on building trusted relationships across the entire employee base, fostering candid conversations and driving an execution-focused culture.

His extensive experience covers all facets of information security, including leading security incident detection and response, ethical hacking teams, and security architecture and strategy programs. He has also been instrumental in building a global cybersecurity program at Edwards from the ground up. Kapil’s diverse industry experience spans consulting and corporate roles across Fortune 100 companies in accounting, finance, healthcare, and technology. Over the last decade, he has intentionally focused his career on healthcare companies, finding the work purposeful and passionately aligned with a noble mission. Kapil holds a Masters in Computer Science and has been a speaker at multiple conferences, further solidifying his expertise in the field
SPONSER NOTE:
Support for Cloud Ace podcast comes from SANS Institute. If you like the topics covered in this podcast and would like to learn more about cloud security, SANS Cloud Security curriculum is here to support your journey into building, deploying, and managing secure cloud infrastructure, platforms, and applications. Whether you are on a technical flight plan, or a leadership one, SANS Cloud Security curriculum has resources, training, and certifications to fit your needs.
Focus on where the cloud is going, not where it is today. Your organization is going to need someone with hands-on technical experience and cloud security-specific knowledge. You will be prepared not only for your current role, but also for a cutting-edge future in cloud security.
Review and Download Cloud Security Resources: sans.org/cloud-security/
Join our growing and diverse community of cloud security professionals on your platform of choice:
Discord | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

Mike Melo, CISO and head of technology at LifeLabs, talks about his approach to innovation and insights on leading cloud security tools.

About Mike Melo: 

"Heavily focused on people and integrity-led progression, Mike Melo is a Senior IT Executive and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with over 15+ years of experience advancing operational efficiencies, cyber indomitability, and overall organizational success. Currently serving as the CISO & VP IT Shared Services for LifeLabs in Canada, Mike holds an extensive background involving agile risk mitigation, post-breach transformation, security architecture, cross-functional technical leadership, regulatory compliance, and the art of developing high-performing team environments that are as positive as they are productive. In addition, he is passionate about not only helping industry leaders rectify security weaknesses while attaining sustainable protection, but doing so in such a way that ultimately propels their competitive capacities and growth initiatives forward. 

Prior to his most recent role overseeing multi-million cybersecurity programs and their implementation across organizational systems, Mike Initially worked as an International Information Security Officer, quickly scaling to hold several C-level roles under LifeLabs. Notably, this includes being an IT Security Lead, where Mike had the opportunity to support the tech team in rendering new security program development and overseeing the inception of the Incident Response program. More formerly, Mike became a CISO in December of 2019.

That said, Mike’s ambitions for security excellence were also done in conjunction with ongoing side affiliations supporting various professional engagements, keynote presentations/talking panels, and public contributions. Namely, this involves being a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Operations Committee for the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange, a CISO Co-Chair for Evanta, and an active Board Member of HUMINT Cybersecurity Recruitment. Furthermore, Mike's devotion to bridging security gaps and innate avocation for making cybersecurity knowledge accessible has not gone unnoticed.

Mike currently resides in Calgary with his wife and two children who inspire him to always become better than the day before, and enjoys spending his free time playing guitar - including attending Berklee College of Music in the evenings for guitar performance."
SPONSER NOTE:
Support for Cloud Ace podcast comes from SANS Institute. If you like the topics covered in this podcast and would like to learn more about cloud security, SANS Cloud Security curriculum is here to support your journey into building, deploying, and managing secure cloud infrastructure, platforms, and applications. Whether you are on a technical flight plan, or a leadership one, SANS Cloud Security curriculum has resources, training, and certifications to fit your needs.
Focus on where the cloud is going, not where it is today. Your organization is going to need someone with hands-on technical experience and cloud security-specific knowledge. You will be prepared not only for your current role, but also for a cutting-edge future in cloud security.
Review and Download Cloud Security Resources: sans.org/cloud-security/
Join our growing and diverse community of cloud security professionals on your platform of choice:
Discord | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube