Ted Wagner: Get that hands on experience. [CISO] [Career Notes]
Oct 1, 2023
auto_awesome
Guest Ted Wagner, Chief Information Security Officer at SAP National Security Services, shares his career journey from the Army to IT projects. He emphasizes the importance of teaching technical terms in non-technical ways and gaining hands-on experience for newcomers in the field.
Ted Wagner gained valuable experience in both military and cyber security operations before transitioning to the business sector, giving him unique insights into network security in government and commercial settings.
Ted emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, hands-on experience, and mentorship for individuals pursuing a career in cybersecurity.
Deep dives
The true cost of a single cybersecurity incident
Cybersecurity incidents can have a significant financial impact on organizations, with the cost of a single incident averaging $4.3 million. This cost is even higher in the United States. Each organization faces over 1,200 cyber attacks per year, resulting in substantial losses. To effectively mitigate these threats, organizations need technology that can link cyber risk to business impact, providing context for risk decisions, prioritizing remediation efforts, and reporting to key stakeholders. Logicgate's RiskCloud Cyber Risk and Controls Compliance Solution offers the necessary capabilities for managing cyber risks effectively.
The career journey of Ted Wagner, CISO at SAP National Security Services
Ted Wagner, the Chief Information Security Officer at SAP National Security Services (SAP NS2), shares insights into his career journey. He initially had an interest in technology and majored in economics. Starting his professional life in the Army, Ted participated in Operation Desert Storm and gained valuable experience in both military and cyber security operations. Transitioning to the business sector, he worked on IT projects in the defense industry and gained unique insights into the differences between government and commercial sector network security. As a CISO, Ted faced the challenge of bridging the gap between technical cybersecurity expertise and the business objectives of profit and success. He emphasizes the need for effective communication and collaboration to navigate the tension between project advancement and security requirements. Ted also highlights the importance of continuous learning, hands-on experience, and mentorship for individuals pursuing a career in cybersecurity.
This week, we are joined by Ted Wagner, Chief Information Security Officer at SAP National Security Services, or SAP NS2. Ted sits down to share his story on how he got introduced into the industry and why he chose this as a career path. He went straight into the Armyas a second lieutenant in the artillery field after high school, which after his time was up he decided to move on and started working for a company that allowed him to do a management training program. After that he found himself working on IT projects which got him interested in the field. Ted shares that one thing that has helped him throughout his career is teaching about very technical terms and turning it into more operational or business like terms for his students at MIT. He shares that people getting into this field should get as much hands on experience as they can, saying "I think those are all things that can really help someone who may not have all the experience, but this is a pathway to, to learn." We thank Ted for sharing his story with us.