CyberWire Daily Ed Amoroso: Security shouldn't be the main dish. [Computer Science] [Career Notes]
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Aug 10, 2025 In this discussion, Ed Amoroso shares his journey from childhood fascination with ARPANET to becoming the CEO of TAG Cyber. He emphasizes the importance of foundational skills in networking and databases before diving into security, which he believes should be a natural progression. Ed reflects on impactful mentorships during his career and the evolution of cybersecurity, highlighting how experiences at places like Bell Labs helped shape his path. His insights provide a refreshing perspective on how to navigate a successful career in tech.
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Born Into Early Computing
- Ed grew up with an ARPANET connection and learned Pascal at age 12.
- He earned a computer science PhD and joined Bell Labs' Unix security group.
How He Became A CISO
- At AT&T, Ed was asked to create a security group and spotted the 'chief information security officer' title on another executive's card.
- He kept the card, used the title, and committed two decades to making the role viable.
First Security Ops Lessons
- Ed deployed NetRanger IDS and watched operators drown in false positives.
- He learned to tier analysts and evolved the work into one of the first managed security services.