Abiola Aliu

About Abiola Aliu

Visionary Cybersecurity Leader and Founder of Cynoculist, specializing in architecting AI-driven security governance for global enterprises and emerging SMBs. Currently driving the mission of Cynoculist to deliver agile, AI-enhanced GRC solutions while leading enterprise security function for a global learning organization.I curate security and AI governance to be a strategic business enabler rather than a cost center by transforming compliance and reducing risk into a competitive advantage that accelerates sales cycles and fosters responsible innovation. By leveraging AI-powered automation to deliver an 80% reduction in MTTD/MTTR and a 60% reduction in security questionnaire turnaround, I ensure that security functions as a catalyst for organizational growth and customer trust.

Experience

1. Senior Cybersecurity Manager

   Macmillan Learning

   Apr 2026 — Present · US

   Key Pillars of ResponsibilityI. Security Engineering & Application Security (AppSec) Lead the enterprise “Shift Left” initiative by embedding security testing and vulnerability scanning directly into CI/CD workflows. Architect and deploy SecOps automations, including AI-driven alert triage and GuardDuty–Slack integrations, reducing mean time to detect and respond (MTTD/MTTR) by 80%. Oversee vulnerability management and continuous threat exposure reduction across AWS environments to strengthen cloud defenses and operational resilience.II. Security Architecture & AI Governance Define and enforce Architecturally Significant Requirements (ASRs) to ensure new features are resilient and compliant before development begins. Serve as the primary security SME during feature design, guiding architectural trade-offs and secure implementation patterns. Build responsible AI governance through RAG-based pipelines and human-in-the-loop workflows aligned with evolving risk and privacy standards. Own the strategic roadmap for Security Operations and AI Risk Management at Macmillan GRC, TPRM, & Enterprise Trust Oversee the full vendor risk lifecycle—from security assessments and SOC reviews to remediation—to protect the supply chain. Lead annual certification efforts (SOC 2 Type II, TX-RAMP, HECVAT, 1EdTech) with consistent zero findings. Designed and launched the Macmillan Learning Trust Center, reducing assurance response time by 30%. Support business growth by negotiating security terms in DPAs and contracts to accelerate deal closure.IV. Incident Command & Operational Leadership Act as Incident Commander for security events, directing triage, RCA, and remediation activities. Manage daily security operations within an Agile framework using Sprints, Stand-ups, and Retrospectives. Author and maintain policy architectures and control frameworks ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives and regulatory standards.

Education

• Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin

  Higher National Diploma, Public Administration

• New Jersey Institute of Technology

  Professional Certification in Cybersecurity, Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism

• University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Masters in Business Cybersecurity, Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism

• Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Software Engineering Institute

  Postgraduate Degree, Public Administration