Michael Taylor
Remote,TX
Summary
Accomplished Cyber Security Senior Manager | Director with a robust background in Cyber Security Engineering and Management. Demonstrated ability to manage multi-million-dollar budgets and interface with C-level executives in Fortune 20 environments. Skilled in implementing complex security technologies, including SIEM/SOAR and endpoint security solutions, while ensuring alignment with industry regulations. Dedicated to developing security strategies that protect sensitive data and assets, while promoting a culture of excellence.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
5
5
Certificate
Work History
Senior Manager SOC Threat Detection Operations
AJG
Remote
10.2022 - Current
- Guided and mentored teams of analysts, engineers, and architects during project execution and incident response.
- Supported development of enterprise-wide information security technologies, establishing technical standards and procedures.
- Led projects enhancing incident response using unified use cases aligned with MITRE Framework.
- Recommended cyber security detection and monitoring strategies in line with CIO and CISO directives.
- Directed teams in reviewing and enhancing network security technologies and risk assessment methodologies.
- Formulated strategies for evaluating and responding to network attacks, mitigating infiltration risks.
- Served as subject matter expert for various security technologies, including SIEM QRadar and FireEye EDR.
- Managed 10 direct reports, overseeing $100M in equipment responsibility and a $5M annual budget.
Senior Manager DLP & Cyber Security
i4DM (Veterans Affairs)
Remote
10.2019 - 10.2022
- Guided and mentored Agile team managing four work streams, leading 12 senior engineers and analysts.
- Developed enterprise information security technologies and technical standards for DLP compliance.
- Recommended future state roadmap for strategic DLP data management: Data in motion, Data at rest, and Data in use.
- Led architects and engineers through DLP requirements and network security technology implementations.
- Executed risk assessment methodologies and developed system architecture for DLP security solutions.
- Formulated strategies to respond to network attacks and proposed enhancements to prevent data exfiltration.
- Served as Subject Matter Expert on various security technologies, including SIEM QRadar and FireEye EDR.
- Managed annual budget of $1 million with responsibility over $10 million in equipment/materials.
Manager/Engineer: Cyber Security
LaQuinta / Wyndham Hotels
Remote
06.2016 - 10.2019
- Spearheaded enhancements to Information Security Program, significantly improving overall security posture at La Quinta.
- Served as Subject Matter Expert on a range of security technologies, including SIEM QRadar and FireEye EDR.
- Assumed CISO responsibilities, assessing risk and executing executive decisions on security issues.
- Leveraged Alert Logic technology for risk mitigation in AWS Cloud environment, reducing cloud infrastructure vulnerabilities.
- Collaborated with third-party vendors to strengthen Security Architecture and enhance network protection.
- Selected by CISO post-merger to provide expertise for four Wyndham teams, supporting incident response and threat hunting efforts.
- Managed direct reports of four personnel while overseeing an annual budget of $1M and equipment responsibility of $10M.
Senior Architect / Engineer: Cyber Security
WIPRO L.L.C USA
Charlotte, NC
06.2015 - 06.2016
- Led security technology integrations, including large-scale IBM QRadar implementation for Family Dollar Inc.
- Developed and presented implementation architecture to Enterprise Architecture Board.
- Completed installation, configuration, upgrades, and patching of QRadar appliances.
- Created and configured over 10,000 log sources, building 550 WinCollect agents for 30,000 Windows server logs.
- Established governance for QRadar, reducing over 50,000 false positives through investigation and configuration reviews.
- Generated rules for use case implementations and developed event correlation building blocks.
- Contributed as key stakeholder in creating incident response plan and notification procedures.
- Managed offshore and onsite cybersecurity teams while engaging daily with IT and information security personnel.
Manager / Engineer: Info / Cyber Security
Sierra Nevada Corporation
Folsom, California
06.2013 - 06.2015
- Served as primary contact for security responsibilities across three sites.
- Developed and delivered security policies in partnership with government agencies and leadership.
- Monitored compliance of industrial security programs with established policies.
- Implemented technical modifications to ensure full accreditation of information security systems.
- Protected classified government information, managing personnel security clearances and processes.
- Facilitated successful government compliance audits through technical expertise.
- Oversaw direct reports of three, managing equipment valued at $10 million and an annual budget of $1 million.
Manager / Engineer: Info / Cyber Security
Excels / Harris Corp
Herndon, Virginia
06.2012 - 06.2013
- Ensured compliance during operations by delivering Information System Security support for classified environments.
- Protected three classified networks for 1,000 users and 500 systems through proactive anomaly detection.
- Provided technical expertise in daily management of security measures and incident response.
- Led training for two new security analysts on effective safeguarding of government classified assets.
- Developed best practice documentation for classified systems, achieving full accreditation and excellent audit results.
- Managed $10M in equipment responsibility with oversight of $1M annual budget.
MILITARY EXPERIENCE
- United States Military (US Navy) (Honorable Disabled Veteran)
- Served from July 1998 – June 2012 (14 Years experience in IT & Cyber)
Skills
- Endpoint security (EDR) includes McAfee, Symantec, and Microsoft Defender
- Cloud CASB (Netskope, Forcepoint, Palo Alto, MCAS)
- Network security (Gigamon, Iceberg, IXIA, Cisco, ESA)
- Vulnerability management (Qualys, Rapid7, Nexpose)
- Advanced Threat (FireEye EDR, Cylance)
- Email security (PhishMe, Proofpoint, MS Security Center)
- SIEM and SOAR (QRadar, Splunk, Google SecOps)
- Identity Access Manager (IAM), CyberArk, PAM, PAS, EPM
- Data identification and labeling (Varonis Microsoft)
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) (Varonis, McAfee, Microsoft)
- Threat hunting and detection (UEBA inline sensors)
- Risk assessment and management
- Incident response strategies
- Security architecture design
- Threat detection techniques
- Team leadership skills
- Talent development initiatives
- Budget oversight capabilities
- Cloud security solutions
- Network security management
- Vulnerability management practices
- Advanced threat protection measures
- Data identification and labeling
- Threat hunting methodologies
- Compliance frameworks expertise
- End user training programs
- NIST, RMF, CSF, HIPAA, SOX, PCI, TIC 30
- DevSecOps, ZeroTrust, TOGAF Risk Management
- Scrum Agile framework, Scrum coach, and Agile project management methodologies
- Technical project management
- Coaching, mentoring, training, education, development
- Partnerships, relationship building, team building, leadership, and motivation
- Organized, goal-oriented, focused
- Project planning, budget, and program management incident response and remediation
Career Highlights
- Produced board-level reports detailing budget impacts on security initiatives and future funding needs.
- Managed internal teams, consultants, and security vendors, enhancing security for over 900 hotels and 5,000 users.
- Achieved substantial savings in CAPEX and OPEX through strategic identification of security improvements.
- Led a team of seven engineers and 11 operations members, fostering a culture of teamwork and integrity.
- Promoted a high-performing environment within the Network Security division, prioritizing employee well-being.
- Influenced departmental goals to align with organizational missions through effective support strategies.
- Collaborated with IT Infrastructure teams to ensure comprehensive security oversight across systems.
- Executed technology risk management practices through assessments and incident response training.
Timeline
Senior Manager SOC Threat Detection Operations
AJG
10.2022 - Current
Senior Manager DLP & Cyber Security
i4DM (Veterans Affairs)
10.2019 - 10.2022
Manager/Engineer: Cyber Security
LaQuinta / Wyndham Hotels
06.2016 - 10.2019
Senior Architect / Engineer: Cyber Security
WIPRO L.L.C USA
06.2015 - 06.2016
Manager / Engineer: Info / Cyber Security
Sierra Nevada Corporation
06.2013 - 06.2015
Manager / Engineer: Info / Cyber Security
Excels / Harris Corp
06.2012 - 06.2013
Cyber Security And Information Assurance
WGU
Education
Cyber Security And Information Assurance
WGU
Remote05-2028
Certification
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- CompTIA Security + CE Certified
- CompTIA Linux + Certified
ENDORSEMENTS
"Showcased vital attributes necessary for next-generation Chief Information Security Officers. Maintained in-depth understanding of Cyber Security landscape and challenges. Participated in technical discussions across various organizational tiers comfortably. Supervised security operations while effectively managing diverse teams. Unified teams toward achieving strategic objectives through motivation." Commended by Andrew Albrecht, VP & CISO, for notable contributions to security efforts.
References
References available upon request.
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