CompTIA forms Cybersecurity Advisory Council, led by 16 security execs

CompTIA has today announced its formation of the Cybersecurity Advisory Council, a body comprising 16 industry experts that will provide guidance on how tech organisations can tackle the most significant cybersecurity challenges and threats posed by attackers in 2021 and beyond.

The council will also research, analyse and implement new practices and protocols to keep their customers safe, says CompTIA.

The new body will be co-chaired by Tech Data director of security solutions Tracy Holtz, and Alvaka Networks chief operating officer and chief information security officer Kevin McDonald. XeneX CEO Kevin Nikkhoo will serve as vice-chair.

"Recent events have underscored the dangerous cyber environment that all of us are operating in," says CompTIA senior vice president for industry outreach and relations Annette Taber.

"Combatting these threats requires a collaborative effort that brings together expertise from across the cybersecurity spectrum. We're pleased to announce today that a number of leading cyber authorities have joined our Cybersecurity Advisory Council.

Other council members comprise executives from Vectra AI, Axcient, SOCSoter, Check Point, Sophos, Kroll, Netskope, ADT Cybersecurity, Huntress Labs, The Privacy Professor, Eden Data and SecurityCurve.

CompTIA says the council will begin its work by analysing the most pressing cybersecurity events and trends, as well as future developments likely to impact the market in the next three to five years.

They will also assess the factors that affect the adoption of new cybersecurity practices and technologies, and how to overcome barriers and obstacles to broader adoption.

"We recognise the real need to make industry-wide improvements if we are going to defend our companies, customers and industry reputations," co-chair Tracy Holtz says.

"The council will greatly expand outreach with the primary goal of changing collective behavior to reduce attacks and their associated negative impacts on the channel and their clients.

Holtz's counterpart, co-chair Kevin McDonald, says the formation of the council was timely.

"There is no more critical time to bring together the new CompTIA Cyber Security Council," McDonald says.

"The nearly constant changes, growing number and sophistication of threats and threat actors call for a far more coordinated approach to cybersecurity. Our community and customers deserve better, and we aim to help in making it better."

The Cybersecurity Advisory Council will also work with other groups at CompTIA, including the IT Security Community and the CompTIA Information Sharing and Analysis Organisation (ISAO).

"With the growing cybersecurity threats it is imperative to develop tools, policies, guidelines and roadmaps to help the IT industry as well as customers protect their organisations and critical assets," vice-chair Kevin Nikkhoo says.

"This is a unique opportunity for CompTIA and cybersecurity industry leaders to bridge the gap across different industries and disciplines and address the much-needed cooperation and communication to achieve these goals.