An Interview with Tina Gravel

Tina Gravel

SVP Global Channel at Appgate

Key Topics:Cyber security, IoT, blockchain, zero trust, SASE,AI, women in cyber security, women in IT

Location:Chicago, IL

Bio:

A cyber security executive, Tina Gravel is SVP Global Channels at Appgate, a secure access software, and services company. Tina has served as a Senior Executive in many IT firms for the past 20 years. Tina has also received countless awards for her work; Top Gun 51 Channel Chief by Channel Online (2019), CRN's Women of the Channel (7 years), CRN Top Executive of the Channel (3 years). In June 2020, Tina was named #58 on a Global list of IIOT influencers by Onalytica and in August of 2021 an honoree on the Channel Futures DE & I 101 list. Also in 2021, Tina was named to the 50 Top Tech Women Influencers by Award Magazine.

How did you get to become an expert in your key topics?

I have been in information technology for over 28 years. Over the last six years, I have been completely immersed in cyber security and related topics.

What sub-topics are you most passionate about?

I love anything regarding cyber security, women in cyber security, and women in technology in general. Subtopics such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, zero trust, facts about the current cyber pandemic we are experiencing are all quite interesting to me.

Who influences you within these topics?

Other influencer individuals, technology, and cyber security publications. Large software vendors that compliment my own technology. Organizations that set policies around cyber security issues such as NIST, CISA, etc.

What challenges are brands facing in this space?

The cyber security space gets more complex and noisier every year. I wonder how any b2b consumer can really discern what is going on because all vendors seem to choose the same words to describe their products and services. The broader issues of layered security defense in depth we like to call this, as well as concepts such as zero-trust help a great deal but every year the brands sound more and more similar.

What do you think the future holds in this space?

There is nothing more important in technology today than keeping businesses, organizations, and individuals safe. Ransomware and other exploits continue to be at an all-time high, organizations are racing to keep up. It won’t get any easier, the nefarious firms and individuals are also employing advanced tools and processes to exploit us just as we develop these things for good. It is another kind of arms race; the cyberwar and it won’t stop.

What brands are leading the way in this space?

Appgate is a software company with a tool that analysts have shared is the best in the world at what it does-so we should be on that list. I have a great deal of respect for Crowdstrike, Cylance, Cyberark, Ping, KnowB4, Cyberlitica, and Berkley Varitronics. Outside the cybersecurity space, I have always admired IBM, HP, Apple, Microsoft, SAP, Everbridge, and Reveal

If a brand wanted to work with you, which activities would you be most interested in collaborating on?

Podcasts, webinars, whitepapers, speaking opportunities. We look for ways to make our customers’ lives better by aligning with other brands that have adjacent product offerings.

What are your passions outside of work?

Dogs, I have two. Fashion is something I am interested in and intrigued with. I love to write and I am in the process of writing a book. Last year I published a chapter in a collection of essays with other executives called, “Leading through the Pandemic”. I caught the writing bug at that time. I love advocating for women’s rights, especially for young women, disadvantaged women, anyone that cannot adequately defend themselves due to circumstances outside their control.

What would be the best way for a brand to contact you?

By Email.

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