KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- John McNeely, president and CEO of Sword & Shield Enterprise Security, a leading national cybersecurity firm based in Knoxville, Tennessee, was recently appointed to the board of the Cyber & Information Security Consortium (CISC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to enabling its members to effectively operate and protect their enterprises amid the reality of growing and persistent cyberattacks.

CISC grew out of an April 2016 event held at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with the goal of improving cybersecurity through a broad partnership of government, private sector and academia entities. Its four areas of strategic focus are cybersecurity workforce development, informing and educating the public and policy makers on cybersecurity issues, supporting and expanding research, development, and entrepreneurship in cybersecurity, and peer-to-peer information sharing among cybersecurity executives.

"CISC is fortunate to have John continue to contribute his valuable service to our efforts," said Dennis Corley, director of CISC. "John has been involved from our early discussions and now, as a board member, he brings great experience and insight from two primary groups of our target audience: the cybersecurity executive suite and the cybersecurity practitioners."

The consortium is led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee, Cisco Systems, Consolidated Nuclear Security, East Tennessee Economic Council, Sword & Shield Enterprise Security, and other private entities.

"The challenges we've faced in cyberspace over the years are ultimately challenges that every industry is now facing," said John McNeely, president and CEO of Sword & Shield Enterprise Security. "There is a lot of practical information and technologies out there that we all need to be aware of, both at the executive and practitioner level. East Tennessee has a growing cybersecurity ecosystem, and I hope to continue the initiatives that CISC has started and further our efforts to be a catalyst for innovation, as well as a resource that helps businesses in our region thrive."

About the Cyber & Information Security Consortium (CISC)
With the mission of enabling its members to effectively operate and protect their enterprises amid the reality of growing and persistent cyberattacks, the Cyber & Information Security Consortium, Inc. (CISC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation formed by two of America's leading research entities, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee, along with Cisco Systems, Consolidated Nuclear Security Y-12, Sword & Shield Enterprise Security, the East Tennessee Economic Council and other private corporations to position the region as a national leader in the development and deployment of cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies.

All industries are welcome to join CISC, with membership motivated by "enlightened self-interest." To learn more information about CISC and how you can become a member, visit https://www.cyberinfosec.org/.

About Sword & Shield Enterprise Security
Protecting critical data for 20 years, Sword & Shield Enterprise Security, Inc. is a nationally recognized cybersecurity provider with solutions designed to meet the needs of a dynamic security and compliance landscape. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Sword & Shield specializes in security, risk and compliance assessment, managed security services, enterprise security consulting, security incident response and forensics, and technical solutions. Sword & Shield services a broad spectrum of industries, including healthcare, retail, legal, banking and finance, manufacturing, and the public sector.

In 2016, Sword & Shield hosted the inaugural Edge Security Conference, EDGE2016, a world-class cybersecurity conference where complex business problems meet real world solutions. The second annual Edge Security Conference, EDGE2017, will take place on Oct. 17-18, 2017 at the Knoxville Convention Center. Early registration is available now through March 31, 2017. To learn more about EDGE2017 and to sign up, visit https://edgesecurityconference.com/.

For more information about Sword & Shield Enterprise Security, visit https://www.swordshield.com/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
hripley@ripleypr.com

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SOURCE Sword & Shield Enterprise Security