Erika Gifford, an accomplished Associate Director at Verizon Business, brings over 30 years of extensive experience in cybersecurity, particularly within highly regulated environments. As a Navy Veteran, Erika's disciplined approach and strategic mindset have been pivotal in her career, where she has successfully led numerous...
Erika Gifford, an accomplished Associate Director at Verizon Business, brings over 30 years of extensive experience in cybersecurity, particularly within highly regulated environments. As a Navy Veteran, Erika's disciplined approach and strategic mindset have been pivotal in her career, where she has successfully led numerous high-stakes initiatives. At Verizon Business, she spearheads the VTRAC (Vulnerability Threat Response and Assessment Center) team, focusing on enhancing the organization's cybersecurity posture through innovative solutions and robust incident response strategies.
Under her leadership, VTRAC has become a cornerstone of Verizon's Cyber Security Consulting organization, which has conducted tens of thousands of engagements globally. Erika's expertise in creating and implementing comprehensive Identity and Access Management programs, such as the one she developed for Schwab, showcases her ability to address complex security challenges. Additionally, her role in establishing the GE Capital Cyber Incident Response Team (GECC-CIRT) and the foundational outline for the GE Capital Security Initiatives Program highlights her capability in building effective security frameworks from the ground up.
Erika's proficiency in industry standards such as NIST, ISO 27001, and DIACAP, combined with her skills in penetration testing and security architecture design, positions her as a thought leader in the cybersecurity domain. Her commitment to fostering a culture of security awareness and resilience within organizations is evident in her work, where she leverages real-time visibility into threat patterns and collaborates with deep and dark web hunters to preemptively address vulnerabilities. Through her strategic vision and hands-on approach, Erika continues to drive impactful cybersecurity initiatives that protect organizations against evolving threats.
