Rebecca Harness

VP, Chief Information Security Officer

Professional Overview
Rebecca Harness is an accomplished cybersecurity executive with over 20 years of experience driving information security strategies and solutions. As the VP and Chief Information Security Officer at Deltek, she is responsible for leading the company's comprehensive security program and ensuring the protection of critical assets and data. With a deep understanding of complex threat landscapes and a proven track record of successful security transformations, Rebecca is a respected industry leader focused on proactively mitigating risks and enabling business objectives through robust security practices.

Experience Summary

Current Role
As the VP and Chief Information Security Officer at Deltek, Rebecca is responsible for overseeing the company's information security strategy, governance, and implementation. She leads a team of security professionals in developing and executing security policies, controls, and processes to safeguard Deltek's global operations and data. Under her leadership, the organization has achieved significant security posture improvements, including a 35% reduction in security incidents and a 28% increase in employee security awareness.

Career Progression
Prior to her current role, Rebecca served as the VP and Chief Information Security Officer at Quickbase, where she was instrumental in strengthening the company's security posture and aligning security initiatives with business objectives. She has also held senior security roles at Saint Louis University, Pericuro LLC, Equifax Workforce Solutions, and Enterprise Holdings, where she led the transformation of information security programs to enhance overall organizational resilience. Throughout her career, Rebecca has demonstrated a strong ability to navigate complex security challenges, foster cross-functional collaboration, and deliver measurable security improvements.

Academic Background
Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Missouri and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Louis University. She is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and has completed executive leadership programs at Harvard Business School and Stanford University.

Areas of Expertise

• Cybersecurity strategy and program management

• Information risk assessment and mitigation

• Security architecture and technology implementation

• Compliance and regulatory frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO, PCI DSS)

• Security awareness and training program development

• Cross-functional leadership and stakeholder engagement

Professional Impact
During her tenure at Quickbase, Rebecca led the development and implementation of a comprehensive security roadmap that resulted in the company achieving ISO 27001 certification and a successful SOC 2 audit. At Saint Louis University, she spearheaded the implementation of a modern security operations center, which enabled the university to detect and respond to cyber threats more effectively. As a Cyber Risk Advisor at Pericuro LLC, Rebecca provided strategic guidance to clients, helping them enhance their security posture and achieve their business objectives.

Conclusion
With her extensive expertise in cybersecurity, information risk management, and strategic leadership, Rebecca Harness is a valuable asset to Deltek. Her ability to align security initiatives with business priorities, foster cross-functional collaboration, and deliver measurable security improvements positions her as a trusted advisor and respected industry leader. Rebecca is committed to driving continued innovation and ensuring the protection of Deltek's critical assets and data in an ever-evolving threat landscape.