Meet ISC2 Instructor Ross Everett

Ross Everett, CISSP-ISSEP/AP/MP, CSSLP, SSCP

I am a four-dimensional resource. I bring together extensive knowledge, skills, and experience in the fields of cybersecurity, project management, communications, and system development.

Cybersecurity

In the world of cybersecurity, the gold standard certification is the CISSP. There are three advanced CISSP certifications for Architecture (CISSP-ISSAP), Engineering (CISSP-ISSEP) and Management (CISSP-ISSMP). I am one of 46 people in the world who has all three advanced certs. In cybersecurity, the goal should be to provide adequate security for the business to achieve its goals. With my education in accounting and my entrepreneurial history, I never lose sight of the business’s mission and goals. Security supports the business, not vice versa.

Project Management

From waterfall to Agile, I have managed using all the methodologies. I have overseen a program with $50M in annual project budgets, I was the Scrum of Scrums Master on a project with 23 different Scrum teams from four different continents. Additionally, I have a history of being the person called into a project if it’s having problems. Projects that were over budget, behind schedule and full of scope creep to projects where SCRUM was being used for the first time, I have a history of getting things back on track.

Communication

I have spent the last decade as a part-time cybersecurity and project management trainer. Training has allowed me to hone my skills at communicating something that is highly technical to technology novices, such as business process owners. Communicating about cybersecurity and technology to non-IT people is a skill in short supply. The bridge between technology-speak and business-speak is wide and I can bridge that gap with the best of them.

System Development

Currently, I am serving as the CISO for an artificial intelligence software development firm. I provide a security perspective on items like architecture, planning, and requirements. I am always looking at how does security improve the ability of the business to meets it’s mission.