Tim Otis, Head of Incident Response (IR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR), brings 28 years of cyber security expertise to Check Point, where he has dedicated the past 17 years. His extensive experience spans roles in help desk, systems administration, field engineering, software development, and incident response. Outside of work, Tim enjoys playing guitar and drums and spending time with dogs. 

Tell us about yourself and your role at Check Point. What are your core responsibilities?

My journey in information security and cyber security began in 1996 when I worked at a help desk that supported a popular proxy-based firewall. I moved on to became a systems administrator managing security products at a security startup, which led me to scripting and eventually programming at another startup.

I joined Check Point in 2007 as an IPS protection developer. That team grew into a team that did a few experimental code projects involving gathering and correlating security events from customers.

In 2014, I joined the Incident Response team and have been a part of it ever since. We’ve grown from a team of two to over 50 global analysts, developers, systems admins, and customer support/success teammates. My primary responsibilities now involve managing all operations related to service delivery for MDR and IR.

What do you consider your biggest achievements and lessons?

One of my biggest lessons has been understanding that while there may be an ideal way to run a security operation, reality rarely reflects that ideal. While we aim for perfection, embracing “good enough” helps us move faster and have more empathy toward customers and folks facing less-than-perfect situations.

As for achievements, I’m proud of my work in systems administration, software development, and Incident Response investigations. Solving a systems challenge, fixing a complex bug, or identifying the initial point of entry and lateral movement path of a threat actor during an IR case are the successes I value the most.

What motivated you to join the US Navy? 

My grandfather served as a US Marine in World War II, and my father served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. Their strong example motivated me to follow in their footsteps.

Have the skills you learned in the military helped you succeed in your current role?

As an Interior Communications Electrician in the Navy, I enjoyed learning about telephony and communications electronics. Learning how to troubleshoot, repair, and solder was the most fun.

However, the most valuable skill I learned in the Navy was attention to detail. This skill was crucial when I worked as an incident response analyst handling stressful IR cases/situations, and continues to be essential in my role as I manage a team of analysts. 

How do you enjoy spending your time outside of work? 

Outside of work, my biggest passion is making music. Drumming and playing guitar help me think more creatively and approach work challenges with a fresh perspective.

What career advice would you give to those transitioning from service life to civilian life?

Transitioning to civilian life can seem stressful or chaotic, but it’s often much simpler than the military situations we’ve faced. My advice is to stay humble and not sweat the small stuff.

Interested in joining Check Point? Check out our open roles here and learn more about our US Active Military, Veterans and Allies Employee Resource Group here!

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