Cybersecurity professionals are sometimes perceived as sole practitioners, plying their craft in dimly lit rooms. Nothing could possibly be farther from the reality, as one of many keys to being a profitable cybersecurity skilled is the power to collaborate and, extra importantly, to share information as far and extensive as doable.
At Cisco, we now have fashioned the Cisco Insider Advocacy program, which consists of a worldwide neighborhood of pros captivated with working and spreading their information with others. We have a good time these people’ efforts with annual awards in numerous disciplines and locales. In 2023, Cisco will acknowledge prime advocates by area for the World Advocate Awards. Our first occasion – highlighting Cisco clients from throughout the EMEA area – is across the nook. All of it occurs at Cisco Reside in Amsterdam, in a dwell ceremony on February 8!
I’m joined on the Advocate Awards judges’ panel by my colleagues, Cindy Valladares, Director of Model Technique and Buyer Advocacy at Cisco Safe, Caroline Surujpaul, EMEA and European Advertising and marketing Director at Cisco Safe and Sarah Stephens, Senior Safety Advertising and marketing Chief for EMEA at Cisco Safe. We’re happy to introduce the nominees for the Cybersecurity Defender of the Yr Award in EMEA.
We’ve got 5 distinguished nominees, and whereas we now have but to pick a winner, you will note how every of their contributions to Cisco’s cybersecurity neighborhood raised our consideration.
Nominees for 2023 EMEA Cybersecurity Defender of the Yr
Alessandro Braga – CDO, Expertise Backyard
Alessandro was featured in a latest profitable case examine about the Way forward for Work with Umbrella, in addition to an earlier piece about simplified safety utilizing Cisco Meraki in Expertise Backyard.
Alessandro additionally authored a guide about digital transformation lengthy earlier than it was a typical buzzword. That’s typical of Alessandro’s foresight, the power to be proactive to modifications earlier than they’re commonplace. He’s certainly on the innovative.
Alessandro considers his involvement within the Advocacy neighborhood as “an easy aim for me. First, as a result of I’m very captivated with cybersecurity, and second as a result of right here I can discover very helpful friends and professionals to share info with.” Alessandro’s talents are borne from ardour, drive, and adherence to a private code of excellence; he discovered safety in a strictly hands-on fashion. He’s additionally a member of Cisco’s “League of Cybersecurity Heroes.”
Christoffer Vargtass Hallstensen – Head of SOC, Norwegian College of Science and Know-how
Christoffer, the latest Cisco Insider Advocacy neighborhood member, has gotten off to a brisk involvement with the group. He was not too long ago featured within the case examine “NTNU Helps a Various Educational and Analysis Neighborhood with Proactive Safety,” which detailed how the Norwegian College of Science and Know-how tackled the administration of a dizzying 110,000 endpoints connecting to the college’s VPN.
Christoffer absolutely embraces the ideology of collaboration, mentioning that when he was looking for a safety resolution, “We didn’t need a vendor. We didn’t need a product. We needed a companion to assist us assault this huge downside of cybersecurity.” He additionally demonstrates a fervent dedication to sharing by authoring half a dozen works within the cybersecurity realm, starting from scientific to tutorial articles. His involvement within the Insider Advocacy neighborhood has earned him a spot in Cisco’s “League of Cybersecurity Heroes.”
Mark Healey – Senior Cyber Safety Engineer, South Yorkshire Police
Mark is likely one of the most erudite cybersecurity professionals one may meet. He has in depth academic credentials and enjoys sharing his information, making him one of many High 10 most engaged advocates of the Cybersecurity Channel inside the Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood.
Mark’s skilled involvement extends past his native precinct, providing his information of safety finest practices throughout the UK Policing neighborhood. In finishing his most up-to-date college diploma, he authored a dissertation that “has led to an initiative to enhance the safety posture of my office.” Mark’s assist to different Cisco clients has additionally led to his election as Vice-Chair of the Web Society Cybersecurity Particular Curiosity Group. He’s additionally a member of Cisco’s “League of Cybersecurity Heroes.”
Luigi Vassallo – COO & CTO, Sara Assicurazioni
Luigi is a helpful member of the Insider Advocacy group and was not too long ago featured in a video and written success story about Zero Belief and XDR.
Luigi is an agent of change who embraces the collaborative spirit of a real cybersecurity skilled, as exemplified in his total skilled strategy: “Because the infrastructure is now cloud-based, we needed to change our mindset concerning cybersecurity as nicely. It was vital to have the folks, the method, the organisation, and the know-how below the identical safety umbrella.”
When not working to make sure the safety of the Sara Assicurazioni surroundings, Luigi has devoted time to talking at occasions, such because the “Consultants Studying from Consultants” world digital session, a particular digital roundtable devoted to Zero Belief and, final however not least, his presentation at Cisco Reside Emea in Amsterdam about XDR and Zero Belief. His contributions to the Insider Advocacy platform mirror a tireless dedication to the cybersecurity neighborhood. Luigi can also be a member of Cisco’s “League of Cybersecurity Heroes.”
Diego Zengin – World CTO, Grupo Cosentino
Final 12 months, Diego participated as speaker on the Tech Discussion board: Convergencia entre redes y seguridad. He can even be featured in a future ThreatWise TV – Cisco episode
Diego recognised early on that distant work would place his organisation outdoors the scope of their safety and took proactive measures to satisfy the problem. A part of his proactive strategy is to freely talk his concepts, resulting in his involvement within the Insider Advocacy neighborhood. This has additionally earned him a spot inside Cisco’s “League of Cybersecurity Heroes.”
Diego’s view of working with Cisco’s merchandise is summed up in a catchy phrase: “If it’s related, it’s protected.” His involvement inside the Insider Advocacy neighborhood makes us echo that sentiment by stating that he’s related, serving to to maintain everybody protected.
Supporting Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion
One level of be aware is the absence of girls from the checklist of nominees. This was not the results of bias, as Cisco has a historical past of considerable range, fairness, and inclusion. As you’ll be able to see from the actions of the present nominees, the choice was based mostly strictly on contributions to the neighborhood. We might like to see extra engagement and membership within the Insider Advocacy program, not solely from girls however from a broader geographic space. This may improve the alternatives of doable nominees and add an excellent wider palette of inclusion to your entire nomination course of.
We all know that there’s a whole inhabitants of cybersecurity professionals who search extra reference to like-minded people, and we welcome you to hitch this cohesive neighborhood.
Be part of Cisco’s most strategic, forward-thinking buyer and companion advocates so
we will characteristic your story of ardour and dedication on our subsequent nomination checklist!
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