Ron Pazo

EXPERIENCE
Ron has worked in technology for over 20 years. A self-taught hacker and defender, he brings experience across the Non-Profit, Advertising, and FinTech industries. Ron’s career has included roles in Helpdesk, System Administration, and IT Operations, with a focus on system hardening that eventually expanded into Automation, Vulnerability Assessment, and Penetration Testing. After years of solving complex problems in technically challenging environments, he chose to pursue his true passion: Cybersecurity, with a focus on Security Operations and Incident Response.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

• GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA)
• CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
• Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
• Offensive Security Wireless Professional (OSWP)
• Kali Linux Certified Professional (KLCP)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• GIAC Advisory Board Member, Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)

INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTIONS

• BSides PR Presentation 2024 - Honeypot with Caution: Executing Malware and Learning from our Automated Adversaries.

PASSION FOR SECURITY
Ron’s passion for security began in the late '90s when he figured out how to reset the BIOS password on his home computer by clearing the CMOS, an early win that sparked a lifelong interest. In 1999, he connected to IRC for the first time, unlocking a world of scripting, customization, flame wars, and all-nighters. This experience inspired him to continually learn and share knowledge about systems, networks, architecture, and security best practices.

These days, Ron thrives on being proactive by helping organizations understand how attackers move through their systems, detect and respond to threats in real time, and improve their overall security posture. Through hands-on experience and continuous learning, Ron supports organizations in identifying, containing, and recovering from security incidents one breach at a time.