Nasrin Rezai

Nasrin Rezai is senior director of Global Information Security, reporting to the Cisco Chief Security Officer.

Ms. Rezai is responsible for defining and maintaining the company’s global security vision, strategy and architecture to protect Cisco information and computing assets. She partners closely with the Cisco Chief Information Officer and business unit leaders to understand their business requirements and inherent risks, and to properly position the business value of security.

As Cisco is known as an early adopter of its own technologies, she must also integrate leading-edge technologies and solutions — including borderless networking, “any device,” virtualization and cloud computing — into the company’s security architecture. With responsibility for the security architectures of Cisco’s diverse businesses such as WebEx and Scientific Atlanta, Ms. Rezai oversees the development and management of the company’s Software as a Service (SaaS) security model.

Additionally, Ms. Rezai leads a global team of information security professionals who identify, develop and implement policies and processes across Cisco to reduce risks, respond to incidents, and establish appropriate standards and controls. Her team ensures information regulatory compliance.

Ms. Rezai’s broad business and technical experience at Cisco includes senior positions in the company’s service provider business, as chief architect for Customer Advocacy, and as senior strategist for the Global Government Solutions Group.

Prior to joining Cisco in 2000, Ms. Rezai held a series of executive-level positions at Hewlett Packard Corporation. She spearheaded the implementation of a multi-million dollar CRM program for the company’s commercial business. As a leader in HP’s Supply Chain Information Management Group, her team of business and technology analysts implemented a business-to-business solution for distributors and resellers.

Ms. Rezai is a frequent author and speaker, sharing her expertise on a variety of business and technical topics. Most recently, she has spoken at the Executive Women’s Forum, the World Economic Forum, SecureWorld, and The Information Security Conference. Ms. Rezai is also passionate about helping others develop their potential, and mentors many young men and women in the security field.

Ms. Rezai holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in information systems. She also holds an Executive Education Certification from Harvard and Cambridge.

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