NAME: Adam Bixby
NEW JOB TITLE: New York-based proactive practice leader, Aon PLCs Cyber Solutions
PREVIOUS POSITION: New York-based proactive practice leader, Aon PLCs Cyber Solutions
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: The outlook for the security industry can be good or bad, depending on whom you are asking. For the bad guys right now, they are making a killing with ransomware and other attacks that have crippled our nations businesses and key infrastructure. For the good guys, I think a lot of folks are starting to wake up to this very real and very expensive threat and hopefully more organizations will start to invest more in proactive security (risk assessments, penetration testing, incident response preparedness, cyber insurance, threat intelligence, etc.) vs. waiting until an incident occurs and they having to pay orders of magnitude more to respond and remediate.
GOALS FOR NEW POSITION: Im really looking forward to working with the security advisory, intelligence and testing teams together now and moving the proactive practice through the next evolution within Aons Cyber Solutions.
CHALLENGES FACING THE INDUSTRY: Getting in front of a cyberattack and adapting to the ever-evolving and creative ways cybercriminals and malicious hackers are targeting businesses and other organizations. When you feel like youve plugged up one hole, a new technique or vulnerability rears its head, and you may feel like you are back at square one. Our folks on the ethical testing side of things have to adopt these new techniques, too, so that we can mimic the TTPs of our adversaries. Its an ever-evolving business.
FIRST EXPERIENCE IN THE INDUSTRY JOB MARKET: In my last semester of graduate school, I was hired by Gotham Digital Science as an intern. I was able to work on some amazing projects and learned a ton from the three owners who started the company. It set the stage for where I am today. Eventually, Gotham was acquired by Stroz Friedberg Inc. and then Aon PLC, and that is where I am today.
ADVICE: The security industry is immensely growing at the moment, and we are in a very competitive market right now. A lot of businesses and organizations are realizing they need to invest in their security and need smart and capable individuals immediately. I would encourage all newcomers to try to get as much knowledge on the different types of jobs and skill sets that exist out there, pick which field interests you the most, and then try to hone the specific hands-on skills that would be required within that job. Employers are looking for practitioners with existing skills rather than having to fully train on the job as the demand is immediate. If you have some of the hands-on basic skills already developed, rather than just a degree that gave you the knowledge without the practical skills, your resume will rise to the top.
OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY, A DREAM JOB: Id love to do something in the music industry, such as working as a professional mixer.
COLLEGE MAJOR: I studied psychology and criminology at Rutgers University. I then got my masters in computer forensic investigations at The University of New Haven.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Im looking forward to growing and advancing the capabilities of the three teams Im in charge of now. There are so many amazing possibilities and opportunities to make them the best in the world.
FAVOURITE MEAL: Definitely would be a nice medium-rare ribeye steak.
BOOK: I love the entire Dark Tower series by Stephen King.
HOBBIES: I love to make and mix music.
TV SHOW: Its a toss-up between Breaking Bad and The Wire.
ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON: During the winter, it would definitely be skiing in Vermont. During the summer, hanging out at the beach near where I live.
