Veritas Announces Public Sector Advisory Board

Executive forum with deep industry knowledge will help guide Veritas as it continues to solve for the public sector’s most pressing data protection challenges, including ransomware

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – October 5, 2021 – Veritas Technologies, the leader in enterprise data protection, today announced the Veritas Public Sector Advisory Board. The board consists of renowned public sector experts who will advise Veritas, already the leading provider of data protection for the public sector, on ongoing developments such as the recent Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity. Veritas is focused on solving the unique and complex challenges of government organizations who demand guaranteed and simplified recoverability in the face of the heightened global threat landscape.

Over the past year, the public sector has undergone an unprecedented digital transformation that brought many legacy processes into the digital era. With more sensitive information being transmitted over digital platforms than ever before combined with the growing threat of ransomware, there is an increasing demand for data protection and management strategies that safeguard sensitive constituent information. Alignment to National Institute of Standards and Technology guidelines for securing the nation’s critical software is paramount.

The advisory board will work closely with Veritas executives to help prioritize the most important programs and initiatives in addition to recommending actions and direction on strategic business opportunities and go-to-market, route-to-market, customer and operational strategies for the public sector. It will also help strengthen and elevate strategic partnerships in the cyber ecosystem.

“The significant Veritas public sector customer base will benefit greatly from the breadth and depth of public sector experience this elite group of leaders brings to the table,” said Kevin Youngquist, vice president of U.S. public sector sales at Veritas. “I’m very excited for the strategic advice and guidance they will provide to help us ensure closer alignment with public sector customer cybersecurity and data protection needs. In this era of nation-state and ransomware attacks, it’s imperative to gain early insights into emerging and changing trends. This team will help build stronger customer relationships and enhance strategic partnerships.”

The members of the Veritas Public Sector Advisory Board are:

• Karen S. Evans, former CIO, U.S. Department of Homeland Security: As the former CIO for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Ms. Evans strategically aligned the Department’s technology personnel resources and assets, including security, infrastructure and delivery, and supply chain risk management to support core DHS missions and activities. Ms. Evans previously served as the first assistant secretary for cybersecurity, energy security and emergency response for the U.S. Department of Energy and administrator for the Office of Electronic Government and Information Technology at the Office of Management and Budget.
• Frank Finelli, managing director, Carlyle: A retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. Finelli has worked at Carlyle for more than 20 years on investments in the defense and aerospace sector, as well as developing the portfolio’s value creation, purchasing and risk reduction platform. He brings a wealth of experience on the requirements of the information technology marketplace. He has been repeatedly selected for the Defense News 100 Most Influential and Executive Mosaic WASH100 distinctions. Previously, Mr. Finelli served as legislative assistant for then-Senator Dan Coats (R-IN), a member of the Armed Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence.
• Vice Admiral Nancy Norton, U.S. Navy, Ret.: Vice Adm. Norton served as the director, Command, Control, Communications and Cyber Directorate, U.S. Pacific Command; director of Warfare Integration for Information Warfare; vice director, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA); and from February 2018 to February 2021 as director, DISA, and commander, Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network. She is the recipient of various personal and campaign awards, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. She is also a recipient of a Navy League Award, Young AFCEAN Award, Copernicus Award and the National Security Agency’s Frank B. Rowlett Award for Individual Achievement in Information Security.
• Dr. Barry West, founder/CEO, West Wing Advisory Services, LLC: Dr. West previously served as the senior advisor and senior accountable official for risk management at the DHS, including spearheading the Cybersecurity Executive Order. In addition, he has served as CIO of six different federal government agencies. He is also the past president of two of the largest government IT associations in the U.S.: the American Council for Technology (ACT) and the Association for Federal Information Resources Management (AFFIRM). Dr. West has also held positions in the private sector, including president of MicroTech, president of Mason Harriman Group and executive vice president of SE Solutions. He has represented the U.S. government IT community at four different worldwide gatherings of NATO countries.

About Veritas
Veritas Technologies is a global leader in data protection, availability and insights. Over 80,000 customers—including 87 percent of the Fortune Global 500—rely on us to abstract IT complexity and simplify data management. The Veritas Enterprise Data Services Platform automates the protection and orchestrates the recovery of data everywhere it lives, ensures 24/7 availability of business-critical applications, and provides enterprises with the insights they need to comply with evolving data regulations. With a reputation for reliability at scale and a deployment model to fit any need, Veritas Enterprise Data Services Platform supports more than 800 different data sources, over 100 different operating systems, more than 1,400 storage targets, and more than 60 different cloud platforms. Learn more at www.veritas.com. Follow us on Twitter at @veritastechllc.

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PR Contacts
Aaron Searle
Aaron.Searle@veritas.com