Cybersecurity Strategist and Author: Meet Christopher Haller
In the digital battleground where one vulnerability can unleash catastrophic consequences, Christopher Haller is a sentinel against the rising tide of cyber threats sweeping across industries.
From financial services to healthcare, manufacturing to government, these threats transcend sectors, exposing weaknesses in systems that power critical operations, safeguard sensitive data, and ensure business continuity. The Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) underscores this urgency, highlighting a surge in data breaches fueled by ransomware and extortion, which now drive 32% of all incidents, alongside a staggering 180% increase in vulnerability exploitation in just one year. In this volatile landscape, the need for experts who can anticipate, counteract, and innovate is not just critical—it's essential.
As Offensive Security Practice Lead at Strong Crypto Innovations (SCI), Haller is a strategic warrior in the digital realm. One of only 500 worldwide to hold the elite GIAC Security Expert (GSE) certification, he has emerged as a pivotal force in transforming technological vulnerabilities into strongholds of digital defense. As an expert in cybersecurity for over a decade, Chris's expertise spans penetration testing, incident response, and industrial control systems security, positioning him as a leader in fortifying critical infrastructures against evolving threats.
His latest strategic weapon is The Hack is Back: Techniques to Beat Hackers at Their Own Game, co-written with Jesse Varsalone. This comprehensive battle manual redefines traditional cybersecurity guides. More than a book, The Hack is Back is a blueprint for digital survival. By blending real-world scenarios, immersive exercises, and cutting-edge insights, Haller and Varsalone equip readers with the tactical knowledge to understand and outmaneuver cyber adversaries.
The Hack is Back goes beyond technical tradecraft, delving into the human elements that often serve as the weakest link in cybersecurity. With 68% of breaches involving human errors or privilege misuse, Haller illuminates the psychological battlefield where most cyber wars are won or lost. The book offers a comprehensive roadmap for understanding, anticipating, and neutralizing cyber threats.
Haller's expertise is battle-tested and refined through leadership roles like coaching the US Cyber Team and triumphing in high-stakes competitions like the National Cyber League. Through his work and writing, he challenges readers to transform into digital warriors equipped to protect and defend themselves in an increasingly hostile technological landscape.
Co-author Jesse Varsalone is the Associate Professor of Cybersecurity Technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and Coach and Captain of the UMGC Cyber Competition Team. With 25 years specializing in cybersecurity education, his experience includes leading roles at prestigious institutions such as the Defense Cyber Investigations Training Academy (DCITA) and work as a DoD contractor. Varsalone’s expertise in network security, ethical hacking, and forensic investigations, combined with certifications like A+, Arduino, CASP+, CEH, CISSP, Cloud+, CYSA+, Linux+, Net+, Pentest+, Security+, and Server+, complements Christopher Haller’s, creating a dynamic duo whose combined knowledge equips readers with unparalleled tools to combat cyber threats.
The Hack is Back, available on Amazon, equips you with the tools to outmaneuver even the most advanced cyber adversaries.
