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William Cole
CTO at Attivo Networks - Board Director - Advisor - Strategist
William (Tony) Cole is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Attivo Networks, Inc., a company recognized as a leader in the Cyber Deception space, which focuses on deceiving, detecting, and defending enterprises from cyber-attacks. He has a rich background in cybersecurity, having held executive positions at notable companies such as FireEye, McAfee, and Symantec prior to his current role at Attivo Networks.12
Career Background
Tony Cole has an extensive career in the field of cybersecurity and technology:
- Military Service: He retired from the U.S. Army after a 20-year career where he specialized in intelligence, communications, and cryptography. His military experience includes building out Network Security Services at the Pentagon.13
- Advisory Roles: Cole has served on various advisory boards, including for Secure Elements (prior to its acquisition by Fortinet) and the U.S. President’s National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee's IoT security subcommittee. He has also been involved with the Federal Communications Commission’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council.12
- Board Memberships: He has held positions on the Board of Directors for Silent Circle and currently serves on the advisory board for Bayshore Networks. Additionally, he was elected to the Board of Directors for (ISC)² and appointed to the NASA Advisory Council.12
Contributions and Recognition
Cole is an active speaker at global security conferences such as the RSA Conference and the World Economic Forum. He has contributed to various publications related to cybersecurity and has been featured in media outlets like CNN and BBC.12 His accolades include:
- Awards: In 2014, he was named Government Computer News Industry IT Executive of the Year and was inducted into the Wash 100 by Executive Mosaic in 2015. He received the Reboot Leadership Influencer Award in 2018.12
- Certifications: Cole holds a bachelor’s degree in computer networking and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).1
Current Focus
At Attivo Networks, Tony Cole is responsible for shaping the company's strategy and vision within the cybersecurity landscape. His work emphasizes innovative approaches to threat detection and response through deception technology, which aims to enhance security measures for enterprises facing increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.12
