Benazeer Daruwalla CISSP, TOGAF, SABSA

Benazeer Daruwalla CISSP, TOGAF, SABSA has a diverse and extensive work experience in the field of cybersecurity, architecture, and consulting. Benazeer is currently the Founder & CEO of CyberMinds Consulting, a management consulting boutique that specializes in cyber advisory services and solutions for mid-sized enterprises. In this role, Benazeer is responsible for strategy, execution, vendor alliances, cost management, talent management, customer outreach, and community outreach. Benazeer focuses on creating a stronger strategic-operational alignment and takes a business-first, risk-based perspective across various cybersecurity domains and use cases.

Prior to founding CyberMinds Consulting, Benazeer worked as the Chief Information Security Officer at Halen®, starting in 2022. Benazeer held the position of Managing Director at Visionary IT Architects and Consultants Ltd. from 2009 to the present.

Benazeer spent a significant portion of their career at IBM, where they held the role of Product Director, IBM Security Data Protection / Executive Cyber Advisor from 2013 to 2021. In this role, they managed the IBM Security Guardium Data Protection offerings and focused on renovating the strategic direction, execution, growth, and performance of the portfolio. Benazeer also worked as a cybersecurity architect, driving client engagements and developing strategies.

Earlier in their career, Benazeer worked at Shaw Communications as the Lead Enterprise Architect from 2012 to 2013. Benazeer also worked at SaskTel as a Senior Planner and Enterprise Architect from 2009 to 2012. In this role, they focused on creating future vision architectures, leading the design of an Identity and Access Management solution offering, and participating in various architecture and program governance functions.

Benazeer's work experience also includes roles at SITA as a Portal Architect from 2008 to 2009 and at CGI as a Senior Technical Consultant from 1998 to 2008.

Throughout their career, Benazeer has demonstrated thought leadership, published position papers, and exhibited expertise in areas such as fraud management, data security, SIEM, blockchain, and cyber response. Benazeer holds certifications in CISSP, TOGAF, and SABSA.

Benazeer Daruwalla's education history begins with their Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of Mumbai, which they obtained from 1994 to 1998. Benazeer then pursued a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree in Management from McGill University from 2006 to 2009.

In terms of certifications, Benazeer obtained the CISSP certification from (ISC)². Benazeer also completed the SABSA certification from Sherwood applied business security architecture and the TOGAF 9 certification from OpenGroup.

Moving on to their professional development, they participated in various programs and courses offered by IBM. These include the IBM Technical Sales Academy, the IBM Security Sales Academy/University, the Business and Industry Insight program, the Cloud and Cognitive Patterns course, the IBM Design Thinking course, and the IBM L3 Certification. Benazeer also holds the IBM Mentor and Intellectual Property Creator certifications.

Additionally, the education history notes that Benazeer is currently enrolled in the Management and Leadership program at the MIT Sloan School of Management.