Christopher Lis
Information Technology executive who makes complex security simple for growing businesses
My Story
I've spent my career helping companies grow without letting security become a roadblock. As a fractional CIO, CISO, and technology executive, I bridge the gap between complex cybersecurity requirements and practical business needs.
Over the past 3+ years as CISO and Head of Enterprise IT, I've built security programs that protect business growth rather than hinder it. From 250-person Fintechs to Fortune 50 enterprises, I focus on security that enables momentum.
Leadership Impact
- Led 500+ member teams through transformation
- Built nationally-recognized IT programs
- Reduced client IT costs by 1/3 weathering economic headwinds
- Built a sub-minute incident response security operations program
Bank Audit Expertise
- 100+ successful security audits completed
- Former Fortune 50 IT leader with bank partnerships
- Expert in SIG questionnaires & vendor security reviews
- Managed SOC1, SOC2, ISO, PCI, SOX, GLBA, NYDFS compliance efforts
My Philosophy
Security
Protect what matters most; your reputation, customers, and growth trajectory
Clarity
No jargon, no confusion; just clear strategies and actionable plans
Momentum
Security that accelerates growth rather than slowing it down
My Journey
Career progression from security engineer to fractional executive
Simply Defended Founded
Launched fractional CIO/CISO practice focused on helping SMBs and Fintechs build pragmatic security programs that align with business objectives.
Named Sunlight Financial (NYSE:SUNL) CISO
Named as the public company CISO for Sunlight Financial.
Agile Certified
Earned Agile Professional certification, deepening expertise in moving quickly at scale.
CISM Certified
Achieved CISM certification, validating comprehensive knowledge across all domains of information security.
Joined Lowe's Home Improvements Security Leadership
Drove a high growth phase at Lowe's. Employee count in security went from 50 to 500 over three years.
SC Awards - Best Security Team
Nationally recognized by SC Magazine for innovative approaches to cybersecurity leadership and program development.
Joined Bank of America's Global Information Security Program
Joining the leadership program at Bank of America's world class cyber security team.
CISSP Certified
Achieved CISSP certification, the gold standard for established knowledge across all domains of security.
Ready to Work Together?
Let's discuss how I can help strengthen your security posture and support your business goals.