Russell David Nomer
About Candidate
I am a Long Island-based Chief Information Security Officer (CISSP) with over 20 years of enterprise cybersecurity experience, including more than 5 years in executive CISO, Vice President, and Board Advisor roles. Residing in Plainview, NY, I specialize in building and leading robust security and compliance programs for highly regulated industries including healthcare, financial services, and insurance.
As Founding CISO at Apaly Health, I established the security function from the ground up for a nationwide platform, implemented a Zero Trust architecture that reduced incidents by 76%, and successfully achieved SOC 2 Type 2 certification through automated monitoring and evidence collection. I provided direct strategic guidance to the Board on cyber risk quantification and governance.
At Cantor Fitzgerald, I served as VP of the Global Cyber Fusion Center, overseeing security operations, vulnerability management, and incident response across 50+ global locations protecting multi-billion-dollar transaction flows. I led technical due diligence and integration for M&A activities and delivered $1.3 million in savings through strategic vendor contract negotiations while strengthening third-party cyber risk management.
My core expertise includes CMMC Level 2 readiness and NIST 800-171 compliance, System Security Plans (SSPs) and POA&M management, enterprise risk management, DevSecOps integration, MITRE ATT&CK tabletop exercises, and translating complex technical risk into clear boardroom strategy. I am also the author of “A Step-by-Step Guide to SOC 2 Type 1 Attestation and Type 2 Certification” and “The CISO’s Guide to Securing Artificial Intelligence.”
Currently serving as Principal Security Engineer & Virtual CISO at Dark Rock Cybersecurity, I am actively seeking senior CISO, Director of Information Security, or VP Cybersecurity leadership roles on Long Island. With deep roots in the Nassau County community and a local education from Farmingdale State University, I bring immediate value, proven results, and a collaborative leadership style to organizations committed to strong security postures and regulatory compliance.
