Cohesity strengthens security with new advisory additions

Cohesity has announced the additions of Dave DeWalt and Lieutenant General (ret.) H.R. McMaster to its Security Advisory Council, marking a significant enhancement to its advisory resources aimed at bolstering data security.

With an aim to strengthen the protection of critical data amid growing cyber threats, these appointments highlight the critical link between data security and national security. Both DeWalt and McMaster bring substantial expertise to the council, reflecting Cohesity's focus on safeguarding sensitive data on a global scale.

The Security Advisory Council, which already includes leading figures from various enterprise and governmental entities such as Netflix, Facebook, the NSA, and Microsoft, serves as a strategic advisory body for Cohesity. With the addition of DeWalt and McMaster, the council's remit in guiding customers against cyber threats is further widened.

Dave DeWalt, who will serve as the Chair of the Security Advisory Council, is a seasoned CEO, advisor, and investor. As the founder and CEO of NightDragon, DeWalt brings a wealth of experience in cyber, safety, security, and privacy markets, drawing from his previous roles as CEO of FireEye and McAfee. DeWalt emphasised the pressing nature of current global challenges, saying, "The global crises we face today are unprecedented and intensifying, fuelled by AI and affecting both physical and digital infrastructures in ways we previously thought impossible. Operational and cyber resilience have never been more critical to our nation's security than they are right now."

Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, who retired from the U.S. Army after thirty-four years of service, including his tenure as the 25th National Security Advisor of the United States, will also join the council. McMaster shared his views on the importance of data security by stating, "Data security is foundational to national security. Every day, we experience crippling ransomware attacks and acts of cyber espionage that threaten critical infrastructure, daily operations, and personal security."

According to Cohesity's CEO and President Sanjay Poonen, the expansion of the Security Advisory Council underscores the company's ongoing commitment to creating cyber resilience. Poonen noted, "The growth of our Security Advisory Council is a compelling testament to not only the dedication we have to our customers, but the strength we continue to build as a company in partnership with world-class innovators and leaders."

The council will continue to advise Cohesity, its customers, and partners on emerging security trends while coordinating with industry groups to counteract cyber threats. Paul Henaghan, Cohesity's Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, remarked on the council's impact, stating, "The Cohesity Security Advisory Council will bring world-leading knowledge and guidance to the local market, to address what is a worldwide threat."

In addition to DeWalt and McMaster, the Security Advisory Council includes notable industry figures such as Kevin Mandia of Ballistic Ventures, Alex Stamos of the Stanford Internet Observatory, and other prominent cybersecurity experts.