Building Resilient Tech Environments: Lessons from Dennis Maldonado

In this episode, Aaron Crow engages in an insightful conversation with Dennis Maldonado, Director of Technology for Harris, Fort Bend ESD 100. The discussion emphasizes the importance of resiliency in technology environments and how strategic planning can safeguard against unforeseen disasters without necessitating a complete technological overhaul. From his extensive experience, Dennis shares how effective communication and collaboration were critical during events like Hurricane Harvey. He also provides his perspective on future trends and concerns in cybersecurity, including the rise of ransomware and nation-state attacks targeting critical infrastructure. The episode illuminates the significance of networking, with Aaron and Dennis underscoring its value in career advancement and sharing personal stories to illustrate how being well-known and trusted can open doors to unexpected opportunities.  Additionally, Dennis discusses the zero trust model and the intricate balance between maintaining cybersecurity and ensuring system availability in critical infrastructure.Listeners will gain practical insights into building resilient tech environments through real-world examples and expert advice.  The episode is a treasure trove of learnings on keeping organizations secure, responsive, and prepared for any eventuality. Join as "Protect It All" dives deep into building resilient tech environments with Dennis Maldonado's invaluable lessons.   Key Moments:  09:15 Networking is crucial for success in cybersecurity. 13:46 Volunteer firefighter boosted dispatch center through IT. 18:52 Transfers emergency calls to fire and EMS. 22:06 Quick response with information saves lives effectively. 26:22 Implemented lessons for resilient project development. 42:14 Sharing lessons learned from threat modeling experiences. 48:04 Zero trust model effectively mitigates cybersecurity incidents. 57:32 Public safety adapts by reverting to manual methods. 01:02:51 Cybersecurity's mainstream rise sparks widespread interest.   About the guest :  Dennis serves as Director of Technology for Harris Fort Bend ESD 100 (WESTCOM) managing and maintaining the technology needs of 911 call taking and emergency dispatch services for multiple public safety agencies. With over 15 years of experience in information technology and over 12 years in cybersecurity enterprise environments and consulting, Dennis’s experience includes cyber resilience, network penetration testing, full-scope red team engagements, adversarial simulation, and physical security assessments. Dennis presented at multiple security industry conferences including DEF CON, InfoSec SouthWest, BSides conferences, Houston Security Conference, Houston OWASP, SANS HackFest, and several local meetups and organizations around the United States. As an active leader in the Houston cyber security community, Dennis is responsible for founding two cyber security meetups in the Houston area: Houston Locksport, founded in 2014 and Houston Area Hackers An...