Tony Vizza, CISSP, is the newest addition to the (ISC)² Cybersecurity Advocacy team! Based in Sydney, Australia, Tony works with corporations, government agencies and academic institutions to encourage collaboration across the industry, effective cybersecurity curriculums and strong legislation to attract and enable the workforce we need to manage the Asia-Pacific region’s most critical security issues. Tony has worked in the field for more than 25 years and has earned the CISSP certification, as well as the CRISC, CISM and is certified as an ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor. To get to know Tony a bit better, we asked him five questions …

• What brought you into the profession we now know as “cybersecurity?”

I started at a young age “discovering vulnerabilities” in my school’s network systems. From there, I went on to study computer science at university. IT has always been in my blood and over the past ten years, network security and cybersecurity have been the core of my professional career.

• What career accomplishment are you most proud of?

Far and beyond all else – even both of my university degrees – I am most proud of achieving my CISSP certification. It was a culmination of months of study and preparation, on top of years of experience, and it finally made me feel proven to work in the field of information security. I had fantastic mentors and supporters who helped me through the process and I felt both disbelief and on top of the world when I passed my exam!

• What is something about cybersecurity that you wish those outside of the field had a better understanding of?

Like many other industries portrayed in the media, our reality is much more mundane than the fictionalized version the rest of the world is presented with. The most effective protection against “hackers” isn’t what you see on CSI, but rather understanding the value of your own personal data. It’s important to understand how IT devices share information and remember to be mindful of what you post on social media. Human education is infinitely important. In fact, it is the most important factor in ensuring good cybersecurity.

• What are you most looking forward to in your role as a Director of Cybersecurity Advocacy at (ISC)²?

I am looking forward to making a difference in the lives of many people in the APAC region, by helping to empower our members. When our members are able to succeed in their own endeavors, that is the best way to magnify our message of creating a safe and secure cyber world.

• When not advocating for the cybersecurity professional – and the profession itself – where might our members find you?

You will most likely find me playing with my two toddler children, helping my partner with housework, studying law at university, or (hopefully) catching up on sleep! I also enjoy watching live stand-up comedy, taking a relaxing walk along the beautiful coastline of Sydney or attending a great music festival with my family.

Tony joins John McCumber , our director of cybersecurity advocacy for North America, in working for you, the cybersecurity professional. You’ll be hearing even more from Tony in this blog, our InfoSecurity Professional magazine and at cybersecurity events around the Asia-Pacific region.