Top US cable MSO Comcast has promoted Myrna Soto as its global chief information security officer—a symbol that broadband providers may be finally taking cybersecurity for their end users more seriously.
Soto is responsible for the alignment and development of cyber- and data-security strategies and policies across the entire Comcast enterprise, including Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal and Comcast Spectacor.
“Myrna is an outstanding leader both at Comcast and in the information security and technology community,” said Michael Cavanagh, senior executive vice president and CFO of Comcast. “We’re pleased to have someone with her expertise to oversee this critically important work.”
Soto was previously the chief infrastructure and information security officer (CIISO) within the Engineering & Platform Services division for Comcast Cable.
Soto, who joined Comcast in 2009, has more than 25 years of information security and technology leadership experience in a number of industries, including financial services, hospitality, insurance/risk management and gaming/entertainment. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University, a Master of Science degree in Industrial Psychology, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Nova Southeastern University. She also holds a Masters Certification in Project Management from George Washington University and is a Certified Project Management Professional.
Cybersecurity, and specifically internet-related attacks such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) is increasingly an important area of focus for service providers, given their bandwidth capacity and volume of customers—and the fact that they are now moving to a more expansive, all-IP network architecture, distributed to provide services targeted at specific subscribers.