DataGravity, creator of the first data-aware storage platform, today announced that it has hired Andrew Hay as its chief information security officer (CISO). Hay is an expert and leading voice in the development and implementation of IT and data security programs, and comes to DataGravity after spending more than 15 years in prominent security roles. As CISO of DataGravity, Hay will be responsible for the development and delivery of the company’s comprehensive information security strategy, and will work with the DataGravity leadership team to provide visibility into customers’ data stores and protect sensitive data at the point of storage.

Hay previously served as the director of security research at OpenDNS, which was acquired by Cisco, and the director of applied security research and chief evangelist at CloudPassage, among other high-profile security and software engineering positions. Hay’s status as a thought leader in data security was evident in his faculty position at IANS Research and through his consulting and analyst work with The 451 Group and The Honest Analyst, which he founded in 2014.

“DataGravity is building our company in ways that directly drive our customers’ ability to define, detect and defend critical information,” said Paula Long, chief executive officer at DataGravity. “Bringing a security expert as respected and qualified as Andrew Hay on board marks our commitment to best serving this goal.”

“Data-aware solutions are the cutting edge of sensitive data management technology,” said Hay. “As traditional data security solutions prove increasingly ineffective, joining the DataGravity team allows me to support our customers and partners in protecting critical information from the rapidly evolving threat landscape while applying my industry experience to the forefront of the data security curve.”

Doug Cahill, senior cybersecurity analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group, said, “Andrew Hay brings critical firsthand security industry experience to DataGravity. With his support, we’re confident data-awareness will become the new norm for those looking to optimize their data security profiles."

Hay has contributed to a number of leading business and technology publications, including Forbes, Wired and the International Business Times, about topics such as cybersecurity, ransomware and sensitive data exposure. He has also shared commentary about the data security industry with USA Today, Bloomberg and other top news organizations. Additionally, Hay has published multiple books and reports related to data and IT security, including “OSSEC Host-based Intrusions Detection Guide” and “The Cyber-Security Playbook.”

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About DataGravity

DataGravity helps organizations unlock the value of their data. The DataGravity Discovery Series is a data-aware storage platform that allows IT professionals and line-of-business users to store, protect, search and govern their data. Its patented technology, powered by the DataGravity Engine, analyzes data as it is ingested without impacting performance, so administrators and users can quickly and easily explore and use data more effectively to derive insights that reduce risk, increase productivity, efficiency and organizational success. Headquartered in Nashua, N.H., DataGravity is led by visionaries in the fields of storage, business intelligence, data management and analytics and is funded by leading investors, including Accel Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, CRV and General Catalyst Partners. For more information, visit www.datagravity.com.