Gabe Allard
Information Security Engineer Senior I
Polk City,IA
Summary
With 20+ years of experience in large enterprises, I have honed my skills in planning, designing, and implementing network and cyber defense solutions. Throughout my career, I consistently demonstrate a deep understanding of industry best practices and a commitment to staying ahead of the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. My expertise lies in developing comprehensive strategies that protect organizations from potential threats while ensuring seamless operations. Leveraging extensive knowledge and hands-on experience, I successfully mitigate risks and enhance the security posture of my current company.
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
2007
2007
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Information Security Engineer Senior I
Principal Financial Group
3 2020 - Current
- Provided cyber defense tools support for the Cyber Defense Investigations team
- SIEM support for security log ingest, detections and alerting (Qradar, SumoLogic, Splunk)
- Email security consulting and tools support (Proofpoint, Cofense)
- Implemented network detection and response capabilities in the AWS cloud environment
- Assisted in implementing new anti-virus and EDR monitoring software across the enterprise
- Research and assess new log sources that can benefit cyber defense investigations and incident response
- Plan and organize projects and initiatives for the Cyber Defense Engineering team
- Assessment of new cyber security products to improve detection and alerting for incident response
Cyber Security Analyst III
Principal Financial Group
08.2016 - 03.2020
- Investigated and responded to security incidents, including malware infections, phishing attempts, and unauthorized access attempts
- Conducted security log analysis using SIEM tools (Qradar, SumoLogic CSE)
- Performed root cause analysis and implemented incident remediation strategies
- Created processes, procedures, and playbooks for cyber defense investigations
Network Analyst - Lead
Principal Financial Group
06.2006 - 08.2016
- Monitoring, troubleshooting, and implementation of LAN and WAN infrastructure – including Cisco routers, switches, wireless LAN controllers and APs, load balancers, Fujitsu 7420 Mux, Riverbed optimizers, MPLS and VPN circuits
- Protocol analysis baselining and troubleshooting of applications using Wildpackets Omnipeek
- Performing Disaster Recovery testing and documentation
- Documenting network topology, procedures and standards
- Policy change management review and approvals for network changes
- Lead technical project collaboration and implementation
Network Engineer
Wells Fargo Financial
10.2004 - 06.2006
- Monitoring and troubleshooting of LAN and WAN infrastructure – including Cisco routers, switches, frame-relay and ISDN circuits
- Installation of data center cabling – fiber optic and copper
Education
Associate of Applied Science Degree - LAN Management
Kirkwood Community College
Cedar Rapids, IACoursework in Computer Science and Business
Cornell College
Mt. Vernon, IA 09.1995 - 03.1998
Skills
Intrusion detection systems
Self motivation
Effective communication
Malware analysis
Network monitoring
Security logging
Organizational skills
Cloud security implementation
Digital forensics investigation
Security infrastructure design
Incident response planning
Security information and event management
References
Available upon request.
Certifications
- 08/24, AWS Certified Developer - Associate
- 05/24, AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
- 12/23, GIAC Cloud Threat Detection (GCTD)
- 07/22, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- 06/20, GIAC Certified Detection Analyst (GCDA)
- 08/19, GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM)
- 06/18, ISC2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
- 12/16, GIAC Certified Incident Handler
- 02/15, ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Timeline
Cyber Security Analyst III
Principal Financial Group
08.2016 - 03.2020
Network Analyst - Lead
Principal Financial Group
06.2006 - 08.2016
Network Engineer
Wells Fargo Financial
10.2004 - 06.2006
Coursework in Computer Science and Business
Cornell College
09.1995 - 03.1998
Information Security Engineer Senior I
Principal Financial Group
3 2020 - Current
Associate of Applied Science Degree - LAN Management
Kirkwood Community College
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