Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Spearheaded the role of Technical Product Owner for DHS/CISA, successfully establishing a roadmap that transitioned Crossfeed from a proof of concept to a robust production system, enabling support for a minimum of 6k concurrent users. 

Prepared FY2024H2 and FY2025 Crossfeed Technical Product Roadmap applying an Agile Quarterly Release Cycle.
>  Identified vital goals and objectives, established initiatives within budget requirements, and secured leadership buy-in.
>  Applied Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall project management methodologies according to the project needs.
>  Coordinated and led cross-functional teams of 10-12 engineers implementing new code, refactoring, and enhancing existing code, code standardization, performance improvement, and security enhancements.
>  Assisted DevOps and Engineering Leads in creating GitHub issues aligned with ServiceNow artifacts.

Designed a new application database and table schema to support new online, interactive reporting features to ensure responsiveness and long-lasting value.

Prepared a Crossfeed centralized product and project hub for collaboration and communication, meetings, and files for all internal communications related to the Crossfeed activities.
>  Crossfeed hub became the template for all new hubs for the ASM/ATC teams leveraging Microsoft Office 365.

An early adopter of ServiceNow Agile Management | Strategic Portfolio Management tracking system.
>  The Crossfeed project was the inaugural agile project managed in ServiceNow. 
>  Tested and implemented project tracking methodology. 
>  Prepared and documented standards for all to utilize moving forward.

Technical Product Owner | Automated Capabilities

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Cybersecurity Service appointment to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) | Attack Service Management (ASM) | Automated Testing Capabilities (ATC)

Cybersecurity Service

Proficio

Served as Qualys Enterprise subject matter expert for Proficio, the inventor of SOC-as-a-Service, automated threat response, and cybersecurity business intelligence. Reported to the Director of Risk-Based Vulnerability Management (RBVM). Liaised with Proficio vulnerability management support personnel in the US, Spain, and Singapore.

•	  Performed Proficio Risk-Based Vulnerability Management (RBVM) New Client Onboarding tasks and liaised with customers’ core Production Infrastructure, Data Platform, Information Technology, and Information Security teams.
•	  Supported Proof of Concept deployments and troubleshooting with vendor for Qualys Patch Management Automation and Qualys Container Security for GitHub Repositories, identifying critical design flaws.
•	  Performed in-depth analysis and troubleshooting on all Qualys trouble tickets for Proficio RBVM customers.
•	  Enhanced Proficio RBVM services with new dashboards for all clients, providing enriched asset insights.
•	  Focused on collaboration, innovation, creative problem-solving, building and maturing repeatable reporting and data visualization processes, and always advocating for our customers.

Senior Vulnerability Intelligence Engineer (Consultant) 

Qualys

⧫  Interim Technical Product Manager, Threat Research Unit (TRU), 05/2022 – 12/2022
⧫  Principal Business Analyst, Threat Research Unit (TRU),  03/2022 – 12/2022
⧫  SA/SME Dashboards & Reporting, 06/2019 – 05/2022
⧫  Product Manager, Reporting, 10/2017 – 05/2022

Provided global technical expertise in Security Engineering and Operations. Proposed and architected integrations and solutions to satisfy customer requirements based on Qualys Cloud Suite capabilities. Engaged with Product Management, Engineering, and User Experience teams to define and deliver customer use cases and feature requests. Translated feature requests into design and engineering requirements. Improved workflow to/from Qualys R&D Lab environment specifically for TRU.

•  Collaborated with Marketing and Web Teams to promote TRU initiatives: Workshop Wednesday, Threat Thursday, and Patch Tuesday webinars and blogs.
•  Orchestrated new Qualys Identifier (QID) title standards to improve consistency and enrich Unified Dashboard Framework (UDF) character string search results within Qualys Query Language (QQL).
•  Prepared 2023 Quarterly TRU Jira Epics/User Stories for Vulnerability/Signature Engineering teams. 
•  Advocated on behalf of my customers; Amplified customer feedback and worked closely with engineers to highlight high-priority issues frustrating users; The improved customer experience stimulated positive customer satisfaction feedback and a new, positive uptick in metrics.
•  Boosted customer satisfaction by reducing the backlog of customer cases/requests by 65%+ in 45 days. Instituted a standardized and repeatable triage process to maintain and measure the same.
•  Enabled department operations by performing technical analysis, defining roles, creating process frameworks, and improving departmental efficiencies.
•  Nurtured customer success by coaching customers in leveraging product data using external tools and documenting engineering difficulties. Ensured customers felt understood.

Multiple Concurrent Remote Roles as Detailed in Description

Interim Technical Product Manager, Threat Research Unit (TRU)

Principal Business Analyst, Threat Research Unit (TRU)

Solutions Architect / Subject Matter Expert (SA/SME), Dashboards and Reporting

Product Manager, Reporting

PlayStation

Served as internal information security, regulatory compliance, and vulnerability management subject matter expert to an interactive and digital entertainment company, Sony Interactive Entertainment.  At Sony Interactive Entertainment, "we create the PlayStation family of products and services that drive your imagination and ignite your sense of adventure."

Reported to Security Governance, Risk, and Compliance department. Conducted all system-related security risk and vulnerability management projects and plans. Liaised with Core Production Infrastructure and Data Platform and Corporate Information Technology teams in the US, EU, India, and Japan. 

• Consistently achieved objectives by working closely with the executive team, proactively strategizing for and planning for forecasted needs. 
• Reduced total active vulnerabilities by 53% and reduced false positives by 28% by overseeing complex process improvement projects.
• Reduced fiscal active vulnerabilities by 58% and false positives by 21% thru a significant reporting project.
• Expanded internal and external inventory tracking of 100K+ assets by leading the Regional Transformation to Global Function project. 
• Completed Qualys/Splunk enterprise integration and first of four (4) development Potentially Shippable Increments (PSIs) toward Vulnerability Management/QlikView Extract Transform Load (ETL) Automation Project.

Senior Security Analyst, Vulnerability Mgmt

Dick's Sporting Goods

⧫ Lead Security Analyst: Cyber Security, Threat/Vulnerability Risk Mgmt., Compliance (05/2012 – 02/2014)
⧫ Lead Security Analyst Consultant (BEACON HILL STAFFING GROUP) (09/2011 – 05/2012)

Hired full-time following outstanding performance as Lead Security Analyst Consultant under Beacon Hill. Accountable to the department of Risk & Compliance; individual contributor and pragmatic technical professional in Information Security Compliance and Privacy Team. Internal information security consultant and vulnerability management subject matter expert. Reviewed system-related security projects and liaised with Information Technology Infrastructure, Application Development, and Web/Mobile Application Development teams. Managed vendor/user relationships. 

•	  Information Security Excellence Award, Inaugural Recipient, awarded by VP, Information Security
•	  Developed and spearheaded a formal Total Vulnerability Management Program (TVMP) enterprise charter.
•	  Identified and remediated vulnerabilities and tracked metrics reporting by engineering formal TVMP with multiple scanning technologies. 
•	  Engineered repeatable processes and metric methodologies for internal participants by creating a Risk Acceptance SharePoint repository and tracking solution. 
•	  Leveraged experiential knowledge to perform a high-level analysis of open issues and audit findings; developed and monitored appropriate metrics, identified trends, and measured progress.

Lead Security Analyst: Cyber Security, Threat & Vulnerability Risk Management and Compliance

CVS/Caremark

Senior Risk and Compliance Management Consultant

VOYAGER GROUP, LP

Director, Technology Services

•   PCI Compliance Project Team Award, awarded by Manager, Information Security Risk Management

Senior Project Manager, Risk, and Compliance Management Consultant

Del Monte Foods, Inc.

Senior Technical Infrastructure Architecture Analyst

Supervisor, Technical Infrastructure Computer Operations

At the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), I served as a Technical Product Owner, driving the transformation of the Crossfeed application from prototype to a scalable production platform capable of supporting thousands of concurrent users. Partnering with a team of exceptional engineers and cloud developers, we leveraged Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall methodologies to deliver ambitious goals on aggressive timelines. This collaboration not only showcased our collective expertise but also underscored my strengths in strategic planning, cross-functional leadership, and technical acumen.

Previously, as a Senior Vulnerability Intelligence Engineer at Proficio, I specialized in leveraging Qualys Enterprise to strengthen client security postures through seamless onboarding and integration. My contributions were driven by a commitment to innovation and operational excellence, ensuring effective cybersecurity strategies that enhanced overall resilience.

𝙈𝙮 𝙄𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝘾𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚:

✅ 100% Remote & Trust-Based – I am seeking a role where results matter more than time spent at a desk.
✅ Collaborative, Yet Autonomous – A team-focused culture where I am empowered to contribute meaningfully while being an individual contributor.
✅ Clear Communication & Leadership – No corporate jargon, no fluff—just real conversations and decisions based on logic.
✅ Supportive & Mission-Driven – A place where advocacy for customers, peers, and the greater good is valued, not just words in a mission statement.
✅ High Standards, No Perfectionism Paralysis – A culture where doing great work is expected, but not at the cost of over-engineering or never delivering.

Let’s connect! #Looking4FullTimeWFH

Seeking 100% Remote Work • Senior Information Technology BA • Senior Technical BA • Senior Technical Professional • Senior Information Technology Security Analyst • Senior Software Reference Solutions Architect

Hi everyone! I’m seeking a new role and would appreciate your support. If you hear of any opportunities or just want to catch up, please send me a message or comment below. I’d love to reconnect. #OpenToWork

About me & what I’m looking for:

💼 I’m looking for Senior Information Security Analyst, Senior Security Analyst, Data Security Analyst, Senior Product Security Analyst, and System Security Analyst roles.

⭐ My experience includes impactful roles at Qualys, PlayStation, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

⏲️ Available Now. 100% Remote. No Travel. No Relocation.

🌎 Based in Southern California | Supporting East/West Coast Hours | Global Collaboration Ready

⚠️ Kindly note: I am not interested in resume or cover letter writing services. Please respect that this post is about career opportunities and professional reconnection.

Debra M. Fezza Reed

View the open to work details of Debra M.

Looking for Senior Information Security Analyst, Senior Security Analyst, Data Security Analyst, Senior Product Security Analyst and System Security Analyst roles

I hear you, Michael Reichstein. I have had similar experiences and the same gut feeling about this bias, only to be brushed off as “paranoid” or accused of making excuses. Reading your story confirms I was not imagining it.

The irony is hard to miss: the very qualities companies say they want—resilience, wisdom, mentorship, and the depth that only comes with decades in the field—are the ones quietly dismissed the moment age enters the conversation.

Cybersecurity is not a TikTok popularity contest. Attackers do not care about follower counts or shiny award lists. What matters is whether you can build trust, reduce risk, and protect the business. That judgment comes from lived experience and proven execution, not from staying under some arbitrary cutoff.

Thank you for putting this out there. More of us need to call out how ageism undermines the very resilience organizations claim to value most.

#CyberSecurity #Leadership #Ageism #WorkplaceCulture #DigitalTrust #DFRSignals #2025September

A headhunter called me today about a high-profile CISO role.
One-year-old startup. Growth stage.

They sought a highly experienced and dynamic leader with global exposure. Hands-on skills. Someone who could scale teams, deal with boards, and still roll up their sleeves.

Check. Check. Check.

We talked about salary, equity, and expectations. Everything lined up. 

And then came the question: “How old are you?”

Technically, they’re not supposed to ask. But I didn’t mind. I knew already where this would end. I told them I’m in my early 50s.

The call wrapped up with: “You might not be the right fit after all.”

Why?

Let’s recap.

✔️ 25 years in IT (longer, when you count my C64 times). Built networks since NT 4.0. Still programming myself today.

✔️ Former forensics specialist, trained others in networking, databases, and development.

✔️ Program Manager for one of the Big Five. Multiple projects, multiple industries.

✔️ Fluent in several languages.

✔️ 10+ years of board and leadership experience.

✔️ Built and scaled high-performing teams. Worked across finance, manufacturing, and software.

✔️ Served as CISO for a global company. Strategy, execution, resilience, the whole spectrum.

✔️ Deep experience with AI and modern technologies, always pushing myself to stay current.

But apparently, the problem is age.

What exactly do people think “experience” is? Something you order overnight, or by taking the red pill and a cup of coffee?

This is what’s broken in cybersecurity: unrealistic expectations. We talk about resilience, maturity, and leadership, and then throw it all away because someone has a few more candles on their birthday cake.

Okay, I don’t run a LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, or whatever channel with 250k followers. Maybe that’s the real problem. And no, I didn’t buy my way onto the latest “Top 100 CISO” award list. But last time I checked, attackers don’t care about follower counts or fake trophies. They care about whether you actually know how to defend a business.

I go and touch some grass now.

🔔 Follow Michael Reichstein for blunt cybersecurity, leadership, and board-level reality checks
♻️ Useful? Share to highlight what really matters in this field: substance over style

#CyberSecurity #CISO #Leadership #Career hashtag #ExecutiveSearch #BoardGovernance #RiskManagement #DigitalTrust #WorkplaceCulture #AI

BBC Reports: HMRC using AI to scour suspected tax cheats' social media by 

It said the tech would not replace "human decision-making" and was subject to legal oversight.

 https://bbc.in/411LUna

DEBRA M. FEZZA REED

Remote | Risk-Based Vulnerability Management Leader | Data Transformation, Executive Reporting & Metrics Visualization Expert | Multi-Practitioner Cybersecurity Strategist at Scale | Looking for New Opportunities

▶️ BBC Technology Reports:

Children hacking their own schools for 'fun', watchdog warns 

The Information Commissioner's Office says schools face an "insider threat" from children as young as seven. 

📖 Read the complete article at https://bbc.in/47ziBwk

BBC Reports: Firm apologises for saying it would not process LGBTQ+ payments by 

Stripe said the information given by its support staff to some customers was "totally wrong."

 https://bbc.in/45fUOzY

BBC Technology Reports: 'Cryptocrash king' Do Kwon pleads guilty to fraud 

The South Korean former tech executive co-founded Singapore-based cryptocurrency firm Terraform Labs. 

 https://bbc.in/4mDoCwb

📖 Read the complete article at  https://bit.ly/45QjcbE

BBC Technology Reports: Intel shares jump after report of possible US stake in chipmaker 

Experts suggest the reported deal could give the US an edge in the chipmaking sector. 

 https://bbc.in/4owHxKR

📖 Read the complete article at  https://bit.ly/4oDAro2

BBC Technology Reports:

US in talks over 10% Intel stake, White House confirms 

The potential deal could involve swapping government grants for shares in the chip making giant. 

📖 Read the complete article at https://bbc.in/3V8mukl

📌 New 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 post on WIRED:
  
This Is the Group That's Been Swatting US Universities 

WIRED spoke to a self-proclaimed leader of an online group called Purgatory, which charged as little as $20 to call in fake threats against schools. 

📖 Read the complete article at https://bit.ly/41r84Q5

NY Times Article Nvidia Sales Jump 56%, a Sign the A.I. Boom Isn’t Slowing Down: 

The chipmaker, now the most valuable public company in the world, said strong demand for its chips should continue this quarter.

Read the complete article in the NYTs Technology section at https://nyti.ms/4lKmhil

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Standard & Poor's 500-Stock Index, Computers and the Internet, Data Centers, Computer Chips, Company Reports

BBC Technology Reports:

Kpop Demon Hunters becomes Netflix's most viewed film ever 

It is the latest in a series of chart-topping achievements by the animated musical. 

📖 Read the complete article at https://bbc.in/4n02zjt

BBC Technology Reports:

Taco Bell rethinks AI drive-through after man orders 18,000 waters 

The fast food chain is reassessing its use of the tech after a number of errors were shared widely online.  

📖 Read the complete article at https://bbc.in/4mZYFak

Available Immediately & 100% Remote | Risk-Based Vulnerability Management Leader | Data Transformation, Executive Reporting & Metrics Visualization Expert | Multi-Practitioner Cybersecurity Strategist at Scale

BBC Technology Reports:

M&S hackers claim to be behind Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack 

The hack has caused severe disruption at manufacturing plants globally, with some staff told not to come into work. 

📖 Read the complete article at https://bbc.in/4lWNO00

NPR Technology News:

Lab results confusing? Some patients use AI to interpret them, for better or worse

While patients wait to hear back from their doctors about test results, many turn to AI assistants for answers. There are issues with privacy and accuracy.

📰 Read more on NPR at  https://n.pr/46E0O5d

▶️ BBC Technology Reports:

Gamers frustrated as Hollow Knight: Silksong crashes stores on launch 

Social media users also struggle to grab the game on the Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox game stores. 

📖 Read the complete article at https://bbc.in/47Zm6w3

▶️ BBC Technology Reports:

Ban social media for under-15s, says French report warning of TikTok risks 

The six-month inquiry also proposes an overnight "digital curfew" for 15-18 year olds from 22:00 to 08:00. 

📖 Read the complete article at https://bbc.in/45ZQEwt

NY Times Technology Article Published:
Regulators Are Digging Into A.I. Chatbots and Child Safety

The Federal Trade Commission said it was starting an inquiry of how six major tech companies monitor activity that could harm minors.

📖 Read the complete article in the NYTs Technology section at https://nyti.ms/3JZkI2U

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Regulation and Deregulation of Industry, Computers and the Internet, ChatGPT, Suicides and Suicide Attempts, Children and Childhood, Youth

NY Times Technology Article Published:
OpenAI Takes Big Steps Toward Its Long-Planned Reorganization

The start-up OpenAI reached a tentative deal with Microsoft, its biggest investor, and said it would give a $100 billion stake to the nonprofit that manages it.

📖 Read the complete article in the NYTs Technology section at https://nyti.ms/4meEo06

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Nonprofit Organizations, Start-ups, Finances, Corporate Social Responsibility

NPR Technology News:

Trump is tightening the screws on corporate America — and CEOs are staying mum

Critics warn that Trump's demands for business leaders to step down, and for the government to take a cut of sales, threaten American-style capitalism.

📖 Read more on NPR at  https://n.pr/4lqJXrO

New "Security" post on WIRED:  
The First Federal Cybersecurity Disaster of Trump 2.0 Has Arrived 

The breach of the US Courts records system came to light more than a month after the attack was discovered. Details about what was exposed—and who’s responsible—remain unclear. 

https://bit.ly/4mB48nM

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