For our latest spotlight, we're excited to feature Tom Ruff, a Technical Security Consultant who knows that "Defense wins championships, and a lack of defense empties your bank account." With a passion for defense that started on the playing field, Tom brings a unique perspective to the world of security operations.
Discover how he helps customers improve their security posture, why he gets excited about defending against novel threats like BlackMamba, and what resource he recommends for "herding professional cats."
Want to meet Tom in person and learn more? He'll be hosting a webinar on September 9th. Be sure to sign up for the webinar to secure your spot!
Tom Ruff
Technical Solutions Consultant
"Defense wins championships, and a lack of defense empties your bank account"
Questions and Answers
Q: What sparked your interest in Security Operations?
A: Growing up, I played basketball, volleyball and football. I always enjoyed defense more than offense. So once I moved past being a software developer, playing defense in the enterprise just came naturally.
Q: What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?
A: Seeing customers improve their security posture using tool(s) I help support.
Q: Which security content do you like sharing with others or appreciate that is shared with you?
A: I usually like to share something that is new or novel. Something like BlackMamba sends my mind spinning on how to defend against it.
Q: How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments?
A: Attending BSides at home and nearby cities. Reading industry updates on X, LinkedIn and various OSInt feeds.
Q: What’s one book, podcast, or resource you’d recommend to others in your field?
A: It's gonna sound weird, but "Herding Professional Cats". Security deals with so many different types of people. Each one could be the weak link that opens the door for an attacker. This book gives some great insight in how to get an organization moving together to be more secure.
Fun Fact: For fun, I have frozen discs shot at me for hours at a time.