Andy Ellis

Andy Ellis, formerly the Chief Security Officer at Akamai, played a pivotal role in overseeing the security architecture and compliance of the company’s expansive, globally distributed network. Throughout his tenure, he significantly contributed to growing Akamai's security business, reaching over $1 billion in annual revenue. As a designer and patent holder, Ellis developed Akamai’s SSL acceleration network, DDoS defense offerings, and various critical technologies underpinning the company’s security solutions. His forward-thinking strategies facilitated Akamai’s IT transformation towards a zero-trust enterprise based on strong authentication and compliance with standards such as PCI and FedRamp.

Beyond his technical achievements, Ellis has been an influential voice in Internet policy, serving as a speaker, blogger, and member of advisory boards and councils including the FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability, and Interoperability Council (CSRIC). He has supported Akamai’s CEOs in roles on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) and the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). His commitment to diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity is notable; under his leadership, the representation of women in Akamai’s information security team grew to over 40%.

Ellis is a graduate of MIT and served as an officer in the United States Air Force within the 609th Information Warfare Squadron and the Electronic Systems Center. He has been recognized with several awards such as the CSO Compass Award, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, and the Spirit of Disneyland Award. In 2021, he was inducted into the IDG CSO Hall of Fame. Currently, Ellis serves as an operating partner at YL Ventures, a cybersecurity venture capital firm, and advises several cybersecurity startups like Orca, Vulcan, and Uptycs. He is also actively involved in leadership training as the CEO and principal of Duha Inc., and is writing a book on leadership while serving on Harvard University’s Visiting Committee to IT. His extensive experience and ongoing contributions to the field continue to make him a sought-after speaker and thought leader in cybersecurity.