Hackfest 2020

Making a High Performing Pentest Team From Scratch
2020-11-21, 10:00–10:50, Hackfest - Track 1

Starting with a single highly motivated co-op intern, Darren has spent the past number of years forming and developing the Cyber Security team for CDW’s Risk Advisory Services practice. He is passionate about Security and making the world a safer place, as well as, for those that he has had the privilege of working with while doing so. He will share some of the strategies and his insights used to develop a high performing team which now delivers on assessments ranging from traditional network and web application pentests to complex Red Team and Adversarial Simulation engagements.

Here’s a peek at his recipe for building a high performing pentest team:

Step 1. Start with a passion and singular vision to achieve something great.

Step 2. Hand-pick both fresh and seasoned, gifted individuals as the key ingredients

Step 3. Season with progressive training and experience with leading-edge tools, methodologies and effective processes.

Step 4. Blend carefully together in a challenging, innovative, collaborative environment

Step 5. Allow time for each ingredient to develop to their full potential. Check regularly; always reflecting on Step 1

Step 6. Refine by promoting leadership.

Step 7. Volia! Stop and enjoy the fruit of the labor!

Join Darren as he candidly shares on the process that went into building the Cyber Security team at CDW Canada from the ground up.


Are you releasing a tool? – no