Greg Van Der Gaast

Security Advisor to CDW

As a teenager with a notorious reputation as a hacker, Greg was deemed one of the world’s Top 5 Most Infamous Hackers and one of the FBI’s Most Wanted. This early experience has resulted in a distinguished 25-year career as an expert in cyber security. Greg is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and leading voice on the security pillar at CDW.

About Greg

Few people are better suited to speak about security than those who have broken through some of the strongest security systems in the world. As a teenager, Greg built a notorious reputation by hacking into a nuclear weapons facility, finding himself a member of the FBI’s 'Most Wanted' and being deemed one of the world’s Top 5 Most Infamous Hackers. He then took a step to the other side as an undercover FBI and Department of Defence operative, helping those services crack down on hacker activity.

It’s this early experience that has led to a distinguished 25-year career as an expert in cyber security. Greg is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and leading voice on the security pillar as a Security Advisor to CDW. He’s passionate about proving that security can be done differently, in a way that brings tangible benefits to customers.

Over his years as a security expert, he’s seen fundamental problems with how security is practised and has made it his mission to see that security problems are treated as quality issues. He focuses on strategies where investment results in cumulative reductions in an organisation's vulnerability, rather than forever scaling-up imperfect protection around it.  

  • 25+ Years' Industry Experience

  • 3 Books Written

  • 100+ Number Of Breaches Responded To

"I'm passionate about proving that security can be done differently, in a way that tangibly benefits our customer." 

Greg Van Der Gaast

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Contributions

  • Security
May 22, 2024

Security Transformation: Part 4 – Business Process and Security 

Security Advisor to CDW, Greg Van Der Gaast, talks about how it’s important to increase the scope of your security beyond IT to your entire business. To be effective you should “do less cybersecurity, and do more business securely.”

  • Security
Apr 25, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 14 – Business Stubs & Closing

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW looks at how to build effective security programmes, and make your security programme accessible to other departments.

  • Security
Apr 23, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 13 – The Commercial Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to handle the commercials when building an effective security programme.

  • Security
Apr 18, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 12 – The Compliance Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW, looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to establish good compliance when building a strong security programme.

  • Security
Apr 15, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 11 – The Secops Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW, looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to establish good compliance when building a strong security programme.

  • Security
Apr 10, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 10 – The Human Factors Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW, looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to establish good compliance when building a strong security programme.

  • Security
Apr 09, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 9 – The Product & Engineering Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW, looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to ensure your Product and Engineering functions are effectively covered by your security framework.

  • Security
Apr 05, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 8 – The SaaS & Business Applications Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW, looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to ensure SaaS business applications are effectively covered by your security framework.

  • Security
Apr 02, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 7 – The IT Operations Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW, looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to ensure IT Operations complement an effective security programme.

  • Security
Mar 29, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 6 – The Interdepartmental Integration Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW, looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to implement effective interdepartmental integration in your security programme.

  • Security
Mar 27, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes: Part 5 – The Programme Management Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW, looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to structure and run an effective cybersecurity programme.

  • Security
Mar 20, 2024

Building Effective Security Programmes – Part 4 – the Executive Domain

Greg Van Der Gaast, Security Advisor to CDW, looks at how to build effective security programmes, and how to get buy-in from the executive and management teams when building an effective security programme.