Mr. Beams has more than fourteen years of experience in the cyber security industry, specializing in Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), firewall management, policy development, compliance efforts, and audit response. Mr. Beams has worked in both the planning and implementation aspects of the security measures that protect the network and computer assets of various clients.
Since joining NST in 2019, Mr. Beams has participated in numerous NERC CIP Cyber Vulnerability Assessments including as a project lead for several such engagements. He has also participated in NERC CIP Mock Audits, Audit support, and ASCC D2SI Security(FERC Dam Safety) Cybersecurity programs.
Prior to joining NST, Mr. Beams worked for more than five years with the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) as an Information Security Analyst. Mr. Beams served as a liaison between the technical staff and leadership for the Information Security Office and oversaw day-to-day operations. He assisted with the development standards-based Information Security Policies and Programs for the University of Wisconsin System. Additionally, Mr. Beams led an initiative to bring UW-Milwaukee into compliance with the newly developed program and responded to audit requests by the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau. Mr. Beams also served as an active member and contributor to the Research & Education Networks Information Sharing & Analysis Center (REN-ISAC).
Before specializing in Information Security roles, Mr. Beams spent time as a systems engineer deploying security solutions and hardware for enterprise clients. Mr. Beams’ passion in the industry is assisting clients in developing standards-based, comprehensive, scalable and repeatable solutions to improve overall Information Security posture and compliance.
Mr. Beams received his B.S in Information Technology Management from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and his B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. In addition to his degrees, he holds technical certifications from Juniper, Palo Alto, ADTRAN, and SANS Institute.
Mr. Beams loves being out on the water in any form, whether sailing his boat on Lake Michigan, or Hobie Cats on Arizona lakes during the winter. He holds his USCG Captain’s credential and enjoys offering weekend charters on Lake Michigan for those looking to explore the lake from the water. In addition, he enjoys hiking and amateur (ham) radio, particularly participating in Parks on the Air (POTA), where he sets up portable radio stations and connects with operators across the U.S. and around the world.
