Levi Gundert

Over the past decade, Levi Gundert has become an internationally recognized information security and risk management leader and trusted cyber security advisor to leading corporations. As a Technical Leader for Cisco's Threat Research, Analysis & Communications (TRAC) team, he works to identify and analyze threats, share cyber security information to industry, government and the public, and help to continually improve Cisco security technology. Gundert is also a thought leader in the practical application of big data analytics in threat intelligence programs, and is particularly focused on developing solutions to help Cisco efficiently manage, query, and analyze massive volumes of real-time threat data.

 Previous roles

Gundert always had a deep interest in technology and security, and was able to explore both areas in depth during his time as a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent assigned to the Los Angeles Electronic Crimes Task Force (ECTF). Before joining the U.S. Secret Service, Gundert worked as a senior network administrator for a West Coast-based financial institution and prior to that, was a systems administrator for a global consulting firm. He applied his knowledge from these technology roles in different cybercrime investigations that resulted in global arrests and prosecutions.

 As a special agent, Gundert developed new methodologies for proactively analyzing threat intelligence and producing actionable leads. Additionally, he helped gather criminal intelligence by covertly engaging hackers and fraudsters in the Underground. Gundert’s international assignments included embedding with the United Kingdom’s Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA), and collaborating with City of London police which resulted in the arrest of multiple threat actors. Additionally, Gundert performed worldwide presidential and diplomatic protection as assigned by the U.S. Secret Service.

Gundert left government service in 2007 so he could devote his time solely to cyber threat research. He joined Team Cymru, a specialized Internet security research firm where he led the Threat Intelligence Group, an international team responsible for proactive threat monitoring, research, and analysis in support of both government and enterprise clients. During his six years at the nonprofit, Gundert supervised and contributed to more than 100 extensive analysis reports, including malware and network forensics on over 30 federal law enforcement investigations.

In 2012 Gundert was recruited by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (FBI-LEEDA) to develop and deliver a comprehensive law enforcement program on identify theft, fraud, and cybercrime. The course was presented to more than 600 federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

 Gundert’s industry certifications include Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker, and Systems Security Certified Practitioner. Gundert is a frequent contributor to online information security magazines and is a regular lecturer at risk management conferences. Among the many organizations that have engaged Gundert as a guest speaker are INTERPOL, Kaspersky, the Australian Federal Police, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

To read Levi Gundert’s recent posts on security, visit http://blogs.cisco.com/author/levigundert/.