EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Michael Gibbons
Michael Gibbons Earns Prestigious Offensive Security Instructor Authorization
Offensive Security (OffSec) authorized The Mako Group’s Michael Gibbons as an instructor for the PWK-200 course.
Gibbons earned this prestigious achievement in May 2023 and is one of only a select few instructors in the country.
“We are ecstatic for Michael and this achievement,” Director of Security Services Brandyn Fisher said, continuing, “Obtaining the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification is a difficult feat for many but to have a member of our team be one of the few in the country to understand the material well enough to teach a course is amazing and speaks to Michael’s deep understanding of concepts and practical knowledge.”
Michael received his OSCP certification in January of 2021 after three months of dedicated study.
Students must pass a 24 hour practical exam to be certified by OffSec as an OSCP. This exam consists of a realistic corporate network which students must hack their way through. Students have another 24 hours to write a comprehensive report of the simulated engagement. To pass, students must successfully exploit and elevate their privileges on a certain percentage of systems in the network, and their report must accurately detail their process. The OSCP exam report must meet quality standards which are similar to real penetration testing reporting standards.
“My practical experience performing cybersecurity research, and my university education in cyber operations, helped me get through the course content and pass the exam on my first attempt.” said Gibbons. The OSCP has an incredibly high failure rate, with most students failing at least once.
As an instructor, Gibbons will teach students the skills to be an effective penetration tester and pass the rigorous OSCP certification exam. He is excited to be teaching this content to help students succeed and build their careers in offensive security.
“My success is a result of help I've received from more experienced professionals over the past five years,” said Gibbons. “I'd like to be able to provide guidance and mentorship to pay back that debt and promote a culture of mentorship in the field of cybersecurity.”
Senior Penetration Tester
MORE EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS
Jon Schillinger
Security Services Team Lead
WHAT MAKES JON AWESOME
"Jon is very personable and brings a friendly touch to every engagement he works on. Working with Jon is like working with an old friend you have not seen in a long time, but it feels like no time has passed. He gets along with everyone."
Brandyn Fisher
Director of Security Services
Jon Schillinger is a Security Services Team Lead working in our Indianapolis office. He is experienced in penetration testing, social engineering, risk assessments and IT audits. In his time at The Mako Group, Jonathan has conducted testing in multiple domains to expose and remediate vulnerabilities in employee training, applications and enterprise network infrastructure.
Initiatives/Mastery
Application Assessments
Network Penetration Testing
OWASP Assessments
Risk and Maturity Assessments
SCADA Network Testing
SCADA Risk Assessments
Threat Modeling
Wireless Penetration Testing
Professional Certifications
eLearn Security PTSv4 (eJPT)
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Network+
Education
Jon received his Bachelor of Science in informatics, and a cognate in small business management and entrepreneurship, from Indiana University. He obtained cybersecurity certification from Eleven Fifty Academy.
Personal Interests
Jon is a motorsport enthusiast. If he is not at a track watching any sort of motorsport, you can find him at the local kart track or competing in karting events across the United States. Outside of racing, he enjoys time outside vacationing anywhere from the mountain tops for ski trips to the beaches on Island time.
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Joe Gates
Senior Security and Controls Advisor
WHAT MAKES JOE AWESOME
"Joe is always up for a new challenge and is able to switch gears extremely quick. He is a client favorite and is always requested back."
Matt Kipp
Director of IT Risk
Joe Gates is a Senior Security and Controls Advisor working in our Indianapolis office. He brings 13 years of experience in project management and system and software integration and configuration. Prior to joining The Mako Group in 2015, Joe assisted Fortune 1000 companies around the country with tax technology. Joe’s experience spans a wide spectrum of industries, including financial, higher education, retail, food & beverage, government and manufacturing.
Initiatives/Mastery
Control Framework Alignment (including ISO, NIST, PCI and CCM)
Critical Data and Process Mapping
Internal Control Testing (including SOX, ITGC and MAR)
Process Improvement Identification (including IAM, BCP and ERM)
Regulatory Compliance Assessments (including FISMA and MARS-E)
Risk and Maturity Assessments (including GDPR, HIPAA and CIS)
Security Program Development (including IR, GRC and Waivers)
Third-Party Risk Management Evaluations
Professional Certifications
Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
Education
Joe received his Bachelor of Science in marketing from Indiana University’s Kelley
School of Business.
White Papers
Incident Response – Being Prepared for the Worst-Case Scenario
Presentations
Cybersecurity Footprint Analysis
Effective Approaches to Addressing Cybersecurity Topics
Panelist for Various Cybersecurity Discussions and Roundtables
Personal Interests
Joe enjoys playing golf, taking in live music and traveling with his wife and two children.
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