Innovations | Hunter Storm Technology Achievements

Welcome to the Hunter Storm Technology Achievements Page. Dive into the remarkable professional journey of Hunter Storm, The Metal Valkyrie, as we explore the vast landscape of technology innovations. Hunter is an award-winning visionary who has been at the forefront of groundbreaking advancements, steering enterprise-level projects and leaving an indelible mark on the technological realm. Join us on this immersive tour of achievements that define Hunter Storm’s unparalleled expertise and leadership in the ever-evolving world of technology. Explore the cutting-edge projects and contributions that redefine the boundaries of technological possibilities.

 

Technology Achievements

As a trailblazer in the realms of technology, innovation, and cybersecurity, Hunter Storm has left an indelible mark on the professional landscape. This section delves into the concrete accomplishments and milestones that have earned her a coveted spot as a listee in Marquis Who’s Who reference publications, as well as many other awards. Explore the dynamic journey of a tech luminary who has consistently pushed boundaries and set new standards in her field.

 

Originator of “Hacking Humans: The Ports and Services Model of Social Engineering” | Revolutionizing Social Engineering

As a visionary in the field of technology and innovation, Hunter’s influential talk, “Hacking Humans: The Ports and Services Model of Social Engineering,” delivered to cybersecurity professionals in 2007 at University of Advancing Technology in Phoenix, Arizona has left an indelible mark on the landscape of cybersecurity and information security, particularly in the realms of vulnerability assessment and social engineering.

This groundbreaking presentation introduced a novel framework and terminology, equating human emotions to computer ports, under the banner of “ports and services” hacks for humans.

The impact was immediate, resonating with cybersecurity professionals from esteemed Fortune 100 enterprises, academia, and more. Notably, even cybersecurity professionals from defense contractor companies also recognized the value in these pioneering concepts.

Fast forward to today, and the terminology and ideas Hunter created and introduced in that seminal talk have become commonplace in discussions and lectures about social engineering. Witnessing the widespread adoption of her concepts and terminology such as “hacking humans” underscores the enduring influence of her work, establishing her as the originator of a transformative approach that has become an integral part of cybersecurity discourse.

 

Elite Security Operations Center (SOC) Black Ops Team Member

As a key member of an exclusive group within the Enterprise SOC known as the “Black Ops Team,” Hunter served as the sole female expert among a team of five cybersecurity professionals. In this capacity, she played an integral role in the Elite SOC Special Projects Team—a select unit dedicated to addressing diverse and critical security challenges while upholding the highest standards of confidentiality and asset protection.

Leveraging advanced skills, this specialized team fortified the organization’s digital defenses, proactively addressing complex cybersecurity threats. They were at the forefront of cross-functional projects, ensuring digital security and resilience in the face of a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

In this role, Hunter led the implementation of cutting-edge cybersecurity measures and successfully executed strategic initiatives to fortify the digital infrastructure. As a Security Specialist and Crisis Response Leader, she collaborated with cross-functional teams to address emerging threats and enhance the organization’s cybersecurity posture.

In the internal realm of the enterprise, the team earned distinction despite operating discreetly, as their existence was only known to leadership, a select few key players, and higher-level SOC personnel. This exclusive unit, the Black Ops Team, was renowned internally for their proficiency, expertise and effectiveness in handling specialized projects, crisis response, and strategic initiatives within the enterprise.

Hunter’s contributions extended beyond technical expertise, as she played a key role in fostering collaboration through extensive relationship-building skills. Successfully resolving contentious situations, she facilitated a harmonious working environment within the team and across multiple enterprise teams.

 

Quantum-Resistant Cryptography

Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Working Group | Securing Tomorrow’s Data

Hunter is a member of the Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Working Group, contributing to Quantum-Resistant Cryptography Solutions. Provides input to an ongoing enterprise effort dedicated to evaluating solutions for the potential threat posed by quantum computers. Recognizing the urgency of securing data against advancements in quantum computing, their focus is on assessing cryptographic algorithms for their resilience.

 

Cryptography and Data Security

Enterprise Cryptography Standards Evaluation | Strengthening Data Security

As a contributing member of the Enterprise Cryptography Project, played a vital role in evaluating and recommending enhancements to enterprise cryptography standards. This collaborative effort involved engineers and architects from diverse areas, including the head and chief engineers of the cryptography group. The objective was strengthening data security across the enterprise through comprehensive cryptography standards.

 

Pandemic Operational Resiliency Project (2006)

As the Security Operations Center representative, Hunter led a cross-functional team of experts enterprise-wide to create an operational resiliency and backup plan for business continuity and disaster preparedness in response to the looming threats of swine flu and bird flu pandemics in 2006.

Despite initial skepticism, she foresaw the need for an expanded infrastructure capable of supporting remote work without interruption for the entire enterprise.

To remove this threat, Hunter collaborated with infrastructure and network architecture experts to significantly enhance enterprise capabilities. We evaluated VPN concentrators, workstation VPN solutions, and enterprise infrastructure hardware specifications to plan for this contingency.

Key Contributions:
– Expanded infrastructure capability to enable seamless remote work for all personnel without interruption.
– Collaborated with infrastructure and network architecture experts to evaluate and enhance VPN concentrators, workstation VPN, and endpoint solutions.
– Addressed infrastructure hardware specifications, including memory, CPU, etc.

This forward-thinking approach aimed at remote work readiness and operational resiliency in crisis became crucial during the 2020 Covid pandemic. Unfortunately, subsequent leadership changes had led to the dismantling of the operational resilience measures Hunter planned and implemented. When the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic hit, the enterprise faced challenges due to the absence of the comprehensive capabilities she had strategically planned in 2006.

 

Virtual Collaboration Security

Virtual Collaboration Platform Security Assessment and Enhancement

Enhanced security in virtual collaboration for the enterprise by conducting the inaugural in-depth technical security and risk assessment of various virtual collaboration tools and video conferencing platforms. These included Cisco WebEx, Microsoft Live Meeting, GoToMeeting, GoToMyPC, Skype, and more.

Uncovered critical vulnerabilities, previously undocumented, and authored the security plan for WebEx, addressing the “enterprise hopping risk.” Hunter coined this term to describe the potential for an attacker to exploit one system and gain access to others through privilege escalation. The term gained widespread use across the enterprise and industry at large.

She shared findings and documentation with Cisco and Microsoft vendor engineers, contributing to subsequent releases. Emerged as the enterprise Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Cisco WebEx, Microsoft Live Meeting, and global video conferencing and virtual collaboration tools. Notably, evaluation revealed encryption issues. These issues included discrepancies in cipher strength across the network and the collection of sensitive information by vendors during sessions. Was the first to bring these concerns to light, even challenging vendor engineers and providing evidence through log files. This journey faced initial skepticism but gained validation and support from the lead enterprise security architect.

 

Network Transformation

Enterprise Virtual Private Network (VPN) Transformation | Wireless Replacement

Revolutionized enterprise VPN (Virtual Private Network) by orchestrating the technical transformation of the existing system. Crafted comprehensive technical requirements, collaborated on the VPN architectural design, and developed hardware sizing. Formulated performance and user usability requirements for the new VPN, ensuring a seamless and secure user experience. Unearthed novel approaches and ideas previously unprecedented in the field. Created comprehensive project documentation. Initiated Requests for Information (RFI) and Requests for Proposals (RFP), and played a key role in selecting the replacement VPN product. Addressed complexities of diverse endpoints, hardware types, and operating systems in this intricate network migration. This transformative contribution ensured heightened security from the SOC (Security Operations Center) perspective. Overcame challenges with encryption protocols, optimizing data transmission across diverse endpoints and operating systems in this intricate network landscape.

 

Enterprise Wireless Security Evaluation Group

As an integral member of the enterprise group, was designated to contribute to the comprehensive evaluation of wireless network security. The focus encompassed cryptographic controls and data transmission standards, ensuring a robust security in wireless networks.

 

Global Security Operations Center (SOC) Active Directory Redesign

Led the initiative to revamp the Security Operation Center’s global Active Directory Organizational Unit (OU) with groundbreaking Access Control Lists (ACLs), Global Groups, and Group Policy Objects (GPOs). Implemented strategic inheritance blocking, preventing interference with security monitoring systems. Acquired Enterprise Active Directory Administrator role, crafting tailored GPOs for precision control. Introduced dedicated privileged accounts, enhancing security protocols across distributed systems. This design and project strengthened global security operations.

 

Strategic Network Transformation Leader | Architecting Secure Data Transmission

Pioneering transformative changes in the network data transmission landscape, her role as a Systems Architect extended beyond organizational boundaries. While spearheading critical initiatives within the global enterprise, collaborated extensively with a secure data transmission vendor, Sterling. Through constructive feedback and interactions, influenced a revolutionary update to the code. This contribution set a new standard for network data transmissions not only within the enterprise, but also across the industry.

Simultaneously, within the internal enterprise team, played a pivotal role in bridging knowledge gaps and reshaping internal practices. Recognizing the need for comprehensive documentation and a paradigm shift in transmission setups, created foundational templates and authored technical documentation. This strategic overhaul went hand in hand with a significant application security transformation. Crucially, this transformative period saw the emergence of an internal leader within the department. Hunter trained this leader on these groundbreaking procedures. He not only mastered the new methodologies but also assumed a leadership role. This internal leader became a driving force in sustaining and advancing the initiatives Hunter had pioneered.

The combined impact of industry-wide code updates and the internal cultivation of leadership solidified the legacy of this transformative period. It not only elevated the efficiency and security of network data transmissions but also influenced the industry’s approach to similar systems. The collaborative efforts with the vendor and the internal leadership transition marked a significant chapter in reshaping practices and standards in the secure network data transmission domain.

 

Global Data Protection

Global Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Protection Task Force | Architectural Alignment and Security Assessment

As a contributing member of the enterprise task force, played a key role in determining optimal security controls and protection levels for Personally Identifiable Information (PII), including Social Security Numbers (SSN), Taxpayer ID Numbers (TIN), and country-specific identification numbers equivalent to the SSN globally. Their efforts extended to conducting a comprehensive architectural alignment assessment for global data security. These efforts ensured the team’s recommendations aligned seamlessly with enterprise standards, industry best practices, and legal and regulatory requirements on a global scale.

 

Innovation and Future Trends

Innovation Architecture Forum | Strategic Vision for Enterprise Advancements

As a contributing member of the Innovation Architecture Forum, actively participated in an enterprise group. This group was dedicated to evaluating innovation designs and driving strategic vision for enterprise advancements ahead of industry trends. The team’s comprehensive evaluations covered the entire enterprise. We evaluated platforms, technologies, vendor services, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics platforms, quantum technology, cryptography, networking protocols, operating systems, applications, and vendor relationships. This global enterprise group was comprised of members from enterprise architecture, infrastructure architecture, application architecture, line of business architecture, security architecture, and select high-level engineers.

 

Multiple innovations in architecture, process improvements, and technical documentation of complex enterprise systems.

 

Security Planning and Risk Management

Pioneer of Enterprise Security Plans

Initiated and developed groundbreaking security plan templates and risk assessment methodologies that have become the cornerstone of the current risk management system. These seminal works shaped enterprise risk management and security planning.

Recognizing the need for consistency and repeatability in risk assessments, Hunter created and introduced multiple risk assessment templates. These initial templates were to conduct risk assessments on infrastructure, application, vendor (third-party), data storage, data transmission, and access management. These templates, initially met with skepticism, have now evolved into the standard practice for risk assessment evaluations of enterprise systems. They address repeated risks and mitigating controls common throughout the enterprise, ensuring a comprehensive approach to risk management.

Additionally, Hunter devised a legal disclaimer, still present on every enterprise security plan since 2008, providing a vital layer of protection. Commitment to innovation extended to creating a list of questions and detailed documentation for training new team members in conducting risk assessments. While contributions were met with success, it’s the positive impact on the organization that matters most. These initiatives have not only shaped the risk management framework but have also contributed significantly to the success of the enterprise, setting a high standard in the industry.

 

Secure Data Transmission and Network Efficiency

Strategic Evolution of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) Infrastructure Transformation for Enhanced Security and Future Adaptability

Pioneering changes in the network data transmission landscape. As the driving force behind the Global Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) to Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) Transformation Initiative, spearheaded a comprehensive evaluation and overhaul of the enterprise IDS infrastructure. This involved assessing Host-based IDS (HIDS), Network-based IDS (NIDS), and Wireless-based IDS (WIDS). This design paved the way for a transformative shift towards comprehensive Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) across enterprise Host (HIPS), Network (NIPS), and Wireless (WIPS). Role extended to defining technical requirements, architecting a robust IPS infrastructure, and meticulously drafting project documentation, including risk management, project charter, and business requirements. The global nature of this initiative aimed at fortifying the global security posture with active response capabilities, empowering the enterprise to proactively thwart cyber threats.

 

Hardware and Infrastructure

Innovative Hardware Sizing Model for Distributed Systems

Initiated and developed an avant-garde hardware sizing model for mixed network systems encompassing Windows, Linux, and more. The model introduced the unconventional “M-Value,” a Central Processing Unit (CPU) performance metric previously confined to mainframes, into the distributed systems landscape. This dynamic approach revolutionized traditional infrastructure utilization requirements. Collaborated closely with the lead systems engineer to refine intricate calculations, ensuring alignment with global enterprise standards. Additionally, instituted a user-driven testing framework, tasking the development team with executing comprehensive tests and test cases. The result was an unparalleled approach that accurately correlated user loads with infrastructure requirements, offering a transformative decision-making tool.

 

Nationwide Project Leadership

Nationwide Bank Merger Branch Migrations

Led on-site teams nationwide for bank merger hardware migration. Infused a dynamic and competitive spirit, fostering camaraderie and transforming the process into a sought-after assignment. Became a recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) within six months. Team members often requested to work on the project under her leadership.

 

Enterprise Security Dashboard

Original Enterprise Security Dashboard Design | ArcSight Implementation and Dashboard Evolution

As the innovator behind the Enterprise Security Operation Center Dashboard concept, proposed and designed the first-ever global enterprise security dashboard. This groundbreaking dashboard integrated event correlation and multiple data points within the enterprise. It featured a web front end for enhanced accessibility. Unaware of ArcSight at the time, presented the idea to Security Operation Center (SOC) leadership, only to discover an ongoing project to implement ArcSight—a product aligned with the initial vision. Was assigned to collaborate on the ArcSight implementation project, working closely with the lead, who later became a mentor. Conducted thorough evaluations, reverse-engineering. Authored installation and deployment documentation, facilitating geographically dispersed training sessions for the Host Intrusion Detection Systems (HIDS) team. Subsequently, authored the inaugural enterprise signature for ArcSight, tailored for the global enterprise Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS).

 

Policy Development and Compliance

Enterprise Policy Development Task Force | Shaping Baselines, Standards, and Best Practices

As a dedicated member of the enterprise policy development team, collaborated with cross-functional representatives. Contributed significantly to the creation and refinement of policies, baselines, standards, and best practices. The team’s collective efforts aimed to establish a robust framework that aligns with industry excellence. This initiative fostered a culture of compliance and innovation within the enterprise.

 

Board Memberships

Hunter Storm was honored to accept an invitation to join the Industry Advisory Board of the Computer Science Department at Texas A&M University-Commerce. This prestigious appointment reflects Hunter’s expertise and contributions to the field. It is also recognition of the valuable insights and guidance Hunter can provide to the university’s Computer Science initiatives. As a dedicated member of the advisory board, Hunter looks forward to contributing to the growth and success of the department and fostering collaboration between academia and industry.

As a forward-thinking tech innovator and seasoned professional, Hunter Storm has contributed expertise as an advisory board member to other educational institutions and endeavors. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of academic initiatives, demonstrating a commitment to advancing education within the field.

 

Innovate with Impact | Explore Hunter Storm’s Technology Achievements

Embark on a journey through Hunter’s remarkable technological achievements, artistic achievements, and even athletic achievements. From groundbreaking projects to industry-shaping innovations, the Hunter Storm Technology Achievements Page delves into the impactful realm of technology. This page showcases her prowess as a leading figure in the field. Join the exploration and witness the evolution of technology through the lens of The Metal Valkyrie.

 

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