David Prats

About David Prats

At Smith & Wesson, our focus is on fortifying the cybersecurity landscape and enhancing IT infrastructure. My tenure here, which extends just over 2 years, includes spearheading initiatives that bolster our technical support mechanisms and manufacturing process improvement. The goal is to drive security, reliability, and efficiency, ensuring seamless support for our manufacturing operations.Leading by example, we\'ve orchestrated significant infrastructure projects, such as the establishment of the Maryville factory. My approach emphasizes collaborative teamwork and innovation to maintain high standards of service and operational excellence. These endeavors reflect a steadfast dedication to safeguarding the backbone of our company\'s IT systems.

Experience

1. Director of Cyber Security and IT Infrastructure

   Smith & Wesson

   Apr 2023 — Present · Maryville, TN, US

   Achieved $1.5M in cost savings through IT initiatives, including transitioning to on-premises vaulted storage for offsite backups ($250K savings), negotiating new telecom contracts ($625K savings over 5 years), and optimizing wireless phone services ($400K savings over 5 years), while maintaining security and operational effectiveness.Expanded IT operations from 7 to 25 staff members and managed a $3.5M Capex and $22.5M Opex budget to meet organizational requirements and support technology upgrades.Developed a cybersecurity department at the Maryville facility, implemented SIEM, MDR, BEC, and EDR solutions, and aligned 85 SOPs with current industry standards.Led the design and implementation of a data center for the Maryville factory, integrated next-generation firewalls, and deployed CIS benchmark-compliant server images to support network security.Implemented agent-based network segmentation for all servers and ERP systems, sourced tools and policies for network segmentation, and conducted the company\'s first cybersecurity penetration test.Deployed a Business Email Compromise solution company-wide, and blocked an average of 250K unwanted and malicious emails per month.Managed the migration of SAP Basis infrastructure to new hardware at the HQ data center and DR site in Springfield, MA, overseeing the cutover process during scheduled downtime to reduce operational disruptions.Established an IT support team for the Maryville HQ, including deploying a company-wide ticketing system and creating a dedicated wireless phone support team to improve user support.Enhanced the organization\'s cybersecurity posture by deploying Microsoft Intune across the company, standardizing security protocols for all devices, and implementing network segmentation techniques.

Education

• ITT Inc.

  Bachelor of Applied Science, Electrical and Electronics Engineering