Cybersecurity Support Specialist · GCIH · Tampa, FL

Chrissy Ford

GIAC Advisory Board · WiCyS Member

I'm a cybersecurity support specialist in Tampa. I work at an MSSP, where I run the phishing simulation and security awareness program for 350+ client organizations, handle monthly vISO calls, and helped launch a new Dark Web Monitoring service.

  • 350+Client organizations
  • 20KEnd users covered
  • 3GIAC certifications
  • Top 3%TryHackMe globally
Working across

01 About

Cooking something up

Check back soon.

  • NowCybersecurity Support Specialist · All Covered (Konica Minolta)
  • CertGCIH · GSEC · GFACT · GIAC Advisory Board
  • FocusPhishing simulation · security awareness · vISO advisory
  • NextOSCP and CISM, in progress
  • BaseTampa, FL

02 What I Do

  • Phishing Simulation

    Run the program across 350+ organizations and roughly 20,000 users: building campaigns, tailoring them to each client, and using the results to shape what comes next.

  • Security Awareness Training

    Annual information security training for mixed groups of end users and executives, based on what the simulation results show people are actually missing.

  • vISO Advisory

    Monthly Virtual Information Security Officer review calls for a financial-vertical client, translating technical and regulatory requirements into plain guidance.

  • Dark Web Monitoring

    Launched a new service (Flare) from concept to go-live: six-vendor evaluation, proof-of-concept testing, pricing and labor model, and delivery lead at launch.

  • Incident Handling & Triage

    GCIH-certified incident handling, log review and analysis, Wireshark, and phishing analysis, plus vulnerability management through Tenable and SureShield.

  • Identity & Email Security

    SSO configuration in Google Workspace and Azure AD, Entra ID provisioning and directory sync troubleshooting, Microsoft 365 threat policy and Proofpoint allowlisting.

03 Experience

  1. Cybersecurity Support Specialist

    All Covered (Konica Minolta) · Tampa, FL

    Jul 2024 – Present

    • Launched a new Dark Web Monitoring service (Flare) from concept to go-live: evaluated six vendors, ran proof-of-concept testing, partnered cross-functionally on pricing, labor model, and service functionality, and was selected to lead delivery at launch.
    • Deliver monthly vISO review calls for a financial-vertical client, plus annual information security training covering security best practices to a mixed audience of end users and executives.
    • Administer security awareness and phishing simulation programs across more than 350 client organizations covering roughly 18,000–20,000 end users; translate observed phishing and social-engineering trends into targeted training.
    • Investigate and resolve issues across the Managed Security Awareness Training and Dark Web Monitoring services: provisioning and directory sync failures, integration errors across KnowBe4, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and Proofpoint, and log review.
    • Configure identity and email security controls during client onboarding: SSO in Google Workspace and Azure AD, Microsoft 365 threat policy allowlisting, and Proofpoint allowlisting.

04 Technical Proficiencies

Identity & Access

  • Active Directory
  • Entra ID / Azure AD
  • Google Workspace Admin
  • Microsoft 365 Admin
  • SSO (Google & Azure)
  • Directory Sync

Phishing & Awareness

  • KnowBe4
  • Simulation Design
  • Proofpoint
  • M365 Threat Policy
  • Phishing Triage

Security Operations

  • Incident Handling
  • Log Review & Analysis
  • Wireshark
  • Tenable
  • SureShield
  • Flare

Cloud & Platforms

  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Microsoft Azure
  • ConnectWise Manage
  • ServiceNow

Scripting

  • PowerShell
  • Bash

Linux & Self-Hosting

  • Ubuntu
  • LAMP Stack
  • Kali
  • Parrot
  • Slingshot

05 Credentials

Certifications

  • GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) GIAC · Jan 2025
  • GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) GIAC · Aug 2024
  • GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies (GFACT) GIAC · May 2024
  • OSCP & CISM In progress

Training & Education

  • SANS Institute Cyber Academy SEC275 · SEC401 · SEC504  ·  2025
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing 2022
  • B.S., Advertising University of Florida · 2016

Résumé

Download full résumé (PDF)

06 Projects & Community

  • Speaking

    TryHackMe Company Retreat, Italy 2024

    Invited to speak to the TryHackMe team about my path into cybersecurity, from an advertising degree through nursing to GIAC certification.

  • Labs

    Top 3% of TryHackMe Users Globally

    Offensive and defensive lab practice, plus Hack The Box and CTF events including SANS NetWars.

  • Homelab

    Self-Hosted Lab & Site

    Built and administer a LAMP stack on Ubuntu running WordPress; working knowledge of Kali, Parrot, and Slingshot Linux distributions.

  • Community

    GIAC Advisory Board & WiCyS

    GIAC Advisory Board member since 2024, contributing feedback on certification content and direction. Member of Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS).

07 Let's Connect

Always glad to hear from people about a role, a project, or just to compare notes. Email is the best way to reach me.

chrissyaford@gmail.com