Mike Kannan is many things – he is a certified ethical hacker, an analytical cybersecurity expert, and (most importantly?) one of GraVoc’s many golf enthusiasts. He has been with us for over 10 years, outpacing cybercriminals and protecting our customers’ data!
Here is a Q&A to tell you more about Mike!
Tell us a little bit about yourself & what you do at GraVoc:
Currently, I am the Director of IT Assurance and Security Research at GraVoc. I am responsible for performing in-depth, technical analysis for many of our engagements, particularly in the areas of external penetration testing, internal network vulnerability assessment, web application testing, wireless assessment, and other IT assurance testing.
I have a B.S. in Computer Networking and Information Systems from Wentworth Institute of Technology and an M.S. in Information Assurance from Brandeis University.
Further, I hold the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) designation through (ISC) 2, the Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) version 7 certification through the EC Council, and Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification. I have also completed several courses in wireless security and web application testing.
Favorite projects you’ve worked on so far?
Years ago, as wireless was growing in popularity, I had the opportunity to perform a security test on a wireless network with a large antenna from a client’s parking lot.
I was able to see their wireless network from a distance, which helped me uncover a weak encryption setting. From there, I was able to crack the key, join the wireless network, see additional machines on the same network, exploit one of these machines, and ultimately gain full access to the entire network. The client was surprised to see that someone from a parking lot could compromise their entire network. This led us to further assisting with all the gaps we found to protect against malicious actors in the future.
To this date, we have performed various other types of exercises for this client, building an even stronger relationship over the years!
Where are we likely to find you outside of work?
Outside of work, which is actually a hobby, I am usually researching new topics that interest me, such as the upcoming AI scene. Other than that, you will find me on the golf course, always telling myself it’s a practice round!
What do you enjoy the most about working for GraVoc?
My team! First of all, I can’t do this job without my team. If one of us is stuck, we pool our minds together and bounce ideas off each other so we can provide the best value to our customers. Second thing I enjoy is working with clients across multiple industries and using a wide array of technologies.
Since you love to play golf, here’s a fun question for you: What would be your dream foursome (living or dead)?
I’d say my ideal foursome would be Tiger Woods, John Daly, and Michael Jordan!
What’s one piece of cybersecurity advice you would give to clients/individuals?
Use multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever possible because passwords aren’t enough these days.
learn more about our team
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