Fractional CISO · Keynote Speaker · Threat Intelligence

Alex Heid

Fractional CISO and keynote speaker. I've spent my career studying how cybercriminals actually operate, and I help boards, executives and security teams turn that into decisions they can act on.

Former Chief Research Officer, SecurityScorecardCo-Founder, HackMiamiFounding Member, Prolexic PLXSERTSpoken at DEF CON, HOPE and more
Services

How I work with clients

Since 2024 I've worked independently as a security advisor and speaker, and I take on a limited number of clients at a time.

Keynotes and conference talks

Lessons from a career in threat research, told for any audience. Virtual keynotes, podcasts and webinars anywhere, and in-person events with travel covered.

  • Darknet economies and credential markets
  • Botnets and DDoS
  • Third-party risk
  • AI-era threats

Fractional CISO and board advisory

Senior security leadership without a full-time hire, delivered remotely.

  • Security strategy and roadmaps
  • Vendor and third-party risk
  • Program build-outs
  • Board and executive briefings
  • Crypto and smart contract security, including token launches

Investigations and incident response

For each case I bring in people I've worked with and trust, and I lead the work myself.

  • Threat intelligence
  • Darknet investigations
  • Incident response
About

Hacker by trade, executive by experience

I was SecurityScorecard's first Chief Research Officer and spent more than a decade there as Chief Research & Development Officer and Research Fellow. I helped build the company's threat reconnaissance capabilities and security ratings platform as third-party risk became a must-have for insurers, procurement and risk teams.

Before that, I was a founding member of Prolexic's PLXSERT team, which dissected the itsoknoproblembro toolkit behind the 2012-13 DDoS campaign against major U.S. banks. Earlier I hunted vulnerabilities in web applications at Citi.

Since 2009 I've co-founded and led HackMiami, one of Florida's longest-running hacker communities, with an annual conference since 2013.

1stChief Research Officer at SecurityScorecard
10 yrsat SecurityScorecard
2009co-founded HackMiami
2010Zeus botnet research in MIT Technology Review
Track record

Experience

On stage

Speaking

I've spoken at hacker conferences, industry events and webinars from Amsterdam to Colombia.

In the media

Press & writing

My work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Forbes, Business Insider, SC Media and Infosecurity Magazine.

Get in touch

Let's talk

For keynotes, fractional CISO work or investigations, email me directly. Based in the USA and working remotely with clients everywhere. Available to travel for in-person engagements when travel is covered.

[email protected]