Robert Olsen, Co-Founder and CEO of North Star Group LLC and its affiliate, Comprehensive Applied Security Solutions (COMPASS), with offices in both Baltimore and DC, recommend that following a data breach, “it is best to tell it all, tell it fast, and tell the truth” to minimize damage to both reputation and to customers.
Olsen is a U.S. Army veteran who brings over 20 years of prior business experience to North Star and COMPASS. He has a B.A. from Towson University in liberal arts and both an M.S. in information and telecommunication systems and an M.B.A. from the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), (ISC2).
What inspired you to enter cyber security and to start North Star/COMPASS?
“First of all, a passion for working with technology, a desire to build my own business and to work with a diverse set of clients. I also saw a business opportunity to work with organizations interested in protecting their data. Finally, I have a desire to raise awareness about data privacy and protection.”
How does your educational background relate to your current role?
“My combination of business and technical education has given me perspective because technology and business need to coexist and support each other, particularly when it comes to data protection. We are hosting our 2nd Annual Cyber Security Conference on September 10, 2015 in Baltimore with our co-sponsor, the JHU Information Security Institute, to educate executives about how they can strengthen their organization’s cyber defenses. This has developed from the contacts I have made at Hopkins over the years.”
How has your education helped to further your career and contributed to your success?
“The well-rounded and broad nature of my education has exposed me to a range of subjects that are all relevant to my position as CEO of my company because as a company, we have a broad focus. NSG focuses on providing program management and technical engineering services to the US Government; and COMPASS provides cyber security services to commercial, nonprofit and government organizations.”
What is some advice you can offer others looking to go into one of your fields of endeavor?
“Listen to your customers. Invest in hiring highly competent and passionate employees who will help grow the business. A business cannot succeed without a strong employee base. Learn as much as you can through education and hands-on experience. Build a network of trusted advisors and partners.”
This article was originally published by CBS Baltimore.
