Split your focus – engage with your employees while delighting your customers.
Sanjay Deo combines over 20 years of Cybersecurity and compliance experience.
At 24By7Security, the corporate mission is to assist clients with building a “defensible platform” in the face of rising Cybersecurity incidents and increased Regulations and Legal Action. Company clients include healthcare, financial services, media & entertainment, travel and cruise and industrial companies.
As President of 24By7Security, Sanjay is responsible for all aspects of corporate development, business development including execution of strategic business plans. The company focuses on Cybersecurity services – Risk Assessment, Policy & Procedures and Training including incident response across various industry lines.
He currently serves on the Board of the South Florida CIO Council, and also Co-Chairs the South Florida CISO Forum. Sanjay is part of the HIMSS’ Privacy and Security Committee focused on Risk Assessment in the Healthcare Industry. Sanjay is a frequent speaker on IT Governance and Cybersecurity at national conferences.
Sanjay is a member of the South Florida InfraGard Alliance and Sector Chief for the Information Technology track.
Sanjay holds a Masters degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M University, and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) accredited by ISACA, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Healthcare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP).
Where did the idea for your company come from?
24By7Security, Inc. began as my dream after observing that vital compliance and security needs remained unmet, even in heavily regulated industries. I recognized that hospitals and private practices may not have the resources and staff, and 24By7Security, Inc. fills this gap by providing well-documented policies, procedures, forms, incident response protocols, and security and compliance training that comply with applicable regulations. Our training modules include classroom, webinar and online options to meet the needs of busy offices.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
Every day I try to do three things:
1. Learn about the latest threats, innovations, mitigating technologies and things other people are doing because Cybersecurity is a rapidly changing landscape.
2. I also do business development, to connect with new customers and understand their requirements so I can help them.
3. The third thing is to assist existing customers with their questions and help our teams internally to deliver what the customers want.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I have a great team that I work with, we explore different ideas together and identify the ideas that are more relevant and work on a plan to implement those ideas.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The changing and challenging cybersecurity landscape excites me the most especially as I keep discovering the new depths to which cyber criminals can go. This forces me to keep expanding my knowledge and come up with innovative ways to defend my clients against these emerging threats.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
Listening to customers and responding with practical actionable information.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I should have started the company right after receiving my master’s degree.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
I am not sure.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Split your focus – engage with your employees while delighting your customers.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
I solve potential clients’ problems before they hire me in order to give clients the opportunity to see how my services are relevant prior to purchasing. By using this core strategy not to sell but to solve, the company has grown rapidly.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
In a hurry to grow the company, I ended up hiring salespeople who did not fit my core beliefs, I know that I need to take longer to hire the right people now.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Start a company that focuses on helping customers patch their outdated systems without burdening or hindering their day to day activities.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Keeping my dinner appointment with a customer who had just been laid off. I did this, knowing he would be my customer in his next position.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Google alerts, help me with all of the information I need on a daily basis to stay knowledgeable in the subjects where our company provides services to our customers.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
‘3 Cups of Tea’ by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Ralin, because it teaches you to believe in humanity, relationships and helping others in order to build a better world for our kids.
The author was relentless and unselfish in his journey as he built schools in Afghanistan.
What is your favorite quote?
“There is never a good time, nor is there a bad time; one should just act on the time they have.”
-Unknown
Key Learnings:
- If you have a belief, act on it! There is no better person to pursue your belief than you.
- As an entrepreneur, impatience is your enemy. Take the time to implement your own new ideas.
- Success is bitter-sweet because it comes from failure.
Connect:
www.24By7Security.com
www.HIPAAHappenings.com
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.