Michael Cena

Michael is a cybersecurity executive specializing in build-outs and modernizations of security programs to enable and support digital transformations and meet regulatory and legal requirements. He is currently the head of cyber security for A+E Networks, where he built the department from scratch. He created and steers the security operations, identity management, and security engineering programs, and supports the company’s privacy, legal, and compliance efforts.

Before A+E, Michael spent ten years in the financial services space, most recently leading the US security program and the global consolidations of incident response, cloud security solutions, and threat and vulnerability management for ICAP Plc, a leading inter-dealer broker.

Michael started his career in the US Marine Corps and then as a defense contractor at the Marine Corps Network Operations and Security Command. He was a senior incident responder before managing the Marine Corps Red Team.

Michael believes that the best security programs have a laser focus on getting the basics right, putting people and processes in place to succeed, then implementing tools that support and enable a company’s technology and business strategy. He also believes that security is everyone’s job and that risk and security programs are only effective when all business lines have security partners and ambassadors, and when all technologists put digital security first.

Michael holds the CISSP, CISM, and GCIH, among other industry certifications, as well as executive certificates from Stanford and MIT.