Ken Payton

About Ken Payton

SKILLS• Leadership and Coaching• Malware Analysis• Vulnerability Assessment• Cyber Threat Intelligence• Incident Investigation• Network Security• Detection Rule CreationTRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS• Dale Carnegie Skills for Success• SANS Advanced Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Gathering and Analysis• GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM)• GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA)• GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)• GIAC Network Forensic Analyst (GNFA)• Tanium Fundamentals• Tanium Advanced Content• Splunk Fundamentals (I & II)LANGUAGES AND TOOLS• Python (beginner)• Tanium• RSA Security Analytics• QRadar• Splunk• Cisco AMP• Azure DevOps• XSOAR

Experience

1. Senior Manager, Detection and Response

   Avalara

   Nov 2023 — Present

   Spearheaded the design and implementation of the Insider Threat Program, enhancing early detection and mitigation of internal risks.• Led the restructuring of the Detection and Response team, optimizing workflows and processes, which resulted in improved SLA performance, enhanced detection capabilities, and a significant reduction in false positive rates, while boosting team morale and productivity.• Fostered a high-performance team culture by providing mentorship and career development support to analysts at all levels, contributing to one of the highest Gallup survey scores company-wide.• Increased cross-functional visibility of Detection and Response operations by delivering strategic presentations to key stakeholders, facilitating learning sessions for internal teams, and producing monthly awareness communications.• Conducted comprehensive vendor assessments and successfully identified and onboarded new solutions that addressed critical gaps and aligned with the team’s evolving needs and functional maturity.

Education

• Penn State World Campus

  Master’s Degree, Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security – Information Security and Forensics Option

  2016 — 2017

• SANS Technology Institute

  Post-baccalaureate Certificate, Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking

• SANS Technology Institute

  Post-baccalaureate Certificate, Incident Response

• Syracuse University

  Bachelor's Degree, Information Technology

  2012 — 2015

• Penn State World Campus

  Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, Information Systems Cybersecurity Certificate

  2016 — 2017

Skills

• Software Installation
• Malware Analysis
• Networking
• Microsoft Office
• Computer Security
• Information Assurance
• Visio
• Team Leadership
• Leadership
• Technical Support
• Comptia a+ Certification
• Windows 7
• Splunk
• Security+
• Arcsight
• Active Directory
• Information Security
• Ccent
• Information Technology
• Cabling
• Security Clearance
• Project Management
• Network Administration
• Security Analysis
• Dod
• Troubleshooting
• Vulnerability Management
• Network Security
• Comptia Network+ Certified
• Switches
• Routers
• Management