GO PHISH
WE GO PHISHING WITH TOM GORUP,
VICE PRESIDENT, SECURITY AND SUPPORT
OPERATIONS, ALERT LOGIC, WHO TELLS US
E.
ABOUT LIFE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE OFFIC
What would you describe as your
most memorable achievement in
the cybersecurity industry?
A forensic security investigation for
a very large restaurant chain. The
customer had been compromised
through a social engineering attack
during which the attacker called to
he
inform the restaurant manager that
of
one
at
g
eatin
r
afte
sick
had become
ument
doc
a
ired
requ
and
nts
aura
rest
the
rance.
to be signed for his work and insu
This document contained a macro
ork
which resulted in the entire netw
ding
inclu
and
to
up
,
being compromised
ain
dom
with
g
alon
DC
the primary
admin privileges.
After hours of reviewing logs and
reversing malware we cut off the
attacker’s access. We knew this
because shortly after other stores
had begun reporting similar social
engineering attempts. It was exciting
d.
how real-time all the events occurre
Spending time with
my kids really helps
me gain perspective
of it all.
www.intelligentciso.com
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Issue 13
omers
We were then able to get the cust
ugh
thro
d
vere
back while they reco
monitoring activities.
What first made you think of a
career in cybersecurity?
I have always had a passion for
e I
networking and communication. Sinc
net,
Inter
the
of
days
early
the
in
kid
was a
d
spee
I thought it was fascinating the
the
at which one could communicate to
d.
worl
the
other side of
After leaving the army
I realised the tactics I
used to build a battle
position in Afghanistan
and Iraq could be
used to protect a
computer network.
Only I would be using
network sensors and
anti-virus. I just had
to learn the tools as
well as I understood
my weapons.
What style of management
philosophy do you employ with
your current position?
Ownership and compassion. As
to
leaders, we have a responsibilit y
t
support our team members. We mus
ion
vers
t
bes
the
enable them to become
lity
tabi
oun
acc
ugh
thro
of themselves
and compassion. Pointing fingers
a
does not solve problems. Walking
ing
and
erst
und
in
mile goes a long way
in
s
help
ately
ultim
h
perspective whic
you
driving behaviour. The best friend
and
can have in life tells you how it is
helps
you through
it. I would
recommend
extreme
and below.
ers
ownership to all lead
What do you think is the current
hot cybersecurity talking point?
is
Unified solution. Of course, ever yone
hine
Mac
interested in talking about AI,
tion ;
Learning or the next hot point solu
ing
solv
are
e
thos
however, none of
y,
the security problems of today. Toda
wide
too
with
d
ente
pres
are
ies
pan
com
se
of a selection of point solutions. The
g,
wron
me
get
’t
don
solutions are great,
ness
busi
al
typic
a
help
but they don’t
achieve the security outcomes they
so desperately need. Piecemealing
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