UWEM ESSIEN
Bossier City
Summary
Experienced Cybersecurity Analyst and IT Auditor with over 6 years of expertise in IT security, risk management, and compliance. Specializing in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), control testing, access control, security & risk management, and network security. Adept at developing, executing, and enhancing security frameworks, conducting risk assessments, penetration testing, and ensuring compliance with industry standards such as NIST, PCI-DSS, SOX, CCPA, and GDPR. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), CompTIA Security+, and AWS Certified Solutions Architect (SAP CO2). Proven success in enhancing security postures, managing complex security projects, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure robust security measures.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Cybersecurity Risk Analyst
Gelson’s Corporation
06.2024 - Current
- Lead the execution and continuous evolution of the information security risk management program
- Conduct targeted risk assessments related to privacy, security, and compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST, GDPR)
- Perform risk-based operational audits, evaluating IT systems and controls to ensure adherence to security policies
- Manage and maintain the Enterprise GRC tool, collaborating with cross-functional teams to mitigate risks and enhance security posture
- Prepare and present risk posture reports to leadership, ensuring alignment with business objectives and compliance goals
- Lead IT audit activities, including planning, fieldwork, and reporting, ensuring compliance with COSO, COBIT, and NIST frameworks
Cybersecurity Analyst
Air Tech Solutions
05.2018 - 05.2024
- Conduct quantitative security risk analyses and recommend security improvements to management, ensuring compliance with GDPR, SOX, HIPAA, and other regulations
- Oversee the lifecycle of information security policies, working with senior analysts to create and manage security documentation
- Lead the Vendor Risk Management Program, assessing third-party vendor risks and ensuring secure data management practices
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure integration of security measures and compliance requirements into business processes
- Implement and monitor security controls across the organization, including firewalls, encryption, authentication processes, and backup protocols
Education
Associate of Science - Cyber Security
University of Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ10.2025
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology
Ogun State University
Ogun State, Nigeria01.2017
Skills
- GRC Platforms: Vanta
- GRC Platforms: Drata
- GRC Platforms: Secureframe
- GRC Platforms: HIPAA
- Security Tools: SIEM
- Security Tools: IDS
- Security Tools: Vulnerability Scanners
- Security Tools: Penetration Testing Tools
- Scripting: Python
- Scripting: PowerShell
- Security Frameworks: NIST
- Security Frameworks: ISO 27001
- Security Frameworks: PCI-DSS
- Security Frameworks: SOX
- Data Analytics: Microsoft Excel
- Data Analytics: SQL
- Cloud Security: AWS CloudTrail
- Cloud Security: Palo Alto Networks Prisma Cloud
- Incident Response & Forensics: EDR tools (CrowdStrike)
- Incident Response & Forensics: EDR tools (Carbon Black)
Websites
Certification
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect (SAP CO2)
- CompTIA Security+
- Microsoft Office Specialist – Excel Expert
Affiliations And Volunteering
- Actively engage in community technology advocacy, contributing to awareness initiatives around cybersecurity and data privacy.
- Volunteer as a mentor for aspiring cybersecurity professionals, providing guidance on risk management and GRC processes.
Personal Information
Title: Cybersecurity Risk Analyst
Languages
English, Fluent
Skills And Technologies
- GRC Platforms: Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, HIPAA
- Security Tools: SIEM, IDS, Vulnerability Scanners, Penetration Testing Tools
- Scripting: Python, PowerShell
- Security Frameworks: NIST, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, SOX
- Data Analytics: Microsoft Excel, SQL
- Cloud Security: AWS CloudTrail, Palo Alto Networks Prisma Cloud
- Incident Response & Forensics: EDR tools (CrowdStrike, Carbon Black)
Project Highlights
- SIEM Implementation: Successfully implemented and managed Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems (Splunk, IBM QRadar), reducing incident response time by 40%.
- Cloud Security Optimization: Deployed cloud security tools (AWS CloudTrail, Azure Security Center, Palo Alto Networks Prisma Cloud) to improve cloud security compliance by 35%.
- Incident Response: Utilized endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools such as CrowdStrike and Carbon Black, improving malware detection capabilities by 45%, and reducing successful cyber-attacks by over 50%.
Timeline
Cybersecurity Risk Analyst
Gelson’s Corporation
06.2024 - Current
Cybersecurity Analyst
Air Tech Solutions
05.2018 - 05.2024
Associate of Science - Cyber Security
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology
Ogun State University
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