“Customer-focused strategic thinker with excellent communication skills, and ability to
influence.”
Bruce Heard is a highly accomplished cybersecurity executive whose 20+ year career reflects a relentless pursuit of excellence in cyber defense, incident response, and strategic security transformation. With a rare blend of technical depth, business acumen, and leadership agility, Bruce has consistently helped organizations—ranging from Fortune 100 companies to critical infrastructure sectors—build scalable, resilient security programs tailored to the modern threat landscape.
As Client Security Principal at ePlus Technology, Bruce brought forward-looking security thought leadership to clients across industries, identifying and advancing strategic opportunities that strengthen enterprise resilience. His consultative approach, anchored in risk-based thinking and technical fluency, enabled organizations to confidently mature their cyber posture in the face of evolving threats.
Previously, Bruce served as Director of Cyber Security Strategy & Governance at KPMG Advisory Services, advising on complex data protection issues and risk management challenges. In this role, he shaped high-impact cybersecurity strategies that harmonized compliance needs with business realities—particularly in areas like data privacy, regulatory alignment, and operational risk mitigation.
Bruce’s most transformative impact was perhaps seen during his seven-year tenure at Mandiant, where he was a Senior Manager overseeing a $9.3M cybersecurity consulting portfolio across banking, healthcare, telecom, and other sectors. Under his leadership, the regional practice grew from 3 to 12 consultants and expanded its offerings from 7 to 15 strategic services. Bruce led more than 60 customized incident response plan designs and over two dozen enterprise security assessments, helping clients shift from ad hoc security practices to optimized, proactive defense models. His ability to lead high-performing teams while translating technical strategy into boardroom value earned him recognition as both a builder and trusted advisor.
Before Mandiant, Bruce honed his strategic capabilities at IBM, where he advanced from Cyber Security Sales Black Belt to Global Security Architect. There, he developed multi-vendor security solutions and supported major deals exceeding $7 million in total value. Notably, he built a globally accessible Cybersecurity Use Case Library aligning with the MITRE ATT&CK and NIST frameworks—an invaluable resource for IBM’s Fortune 500 clients.
Bruce’s earlier leadership roles at Accenture and EDS (an HP company) underscore his long-standing expertise in SIEM, SOC development, and enterprise cybersecurity architecture. He notably improved the security posture of major financial institutions across North America and Europe by rapidly implementing threat intelligence platforms and vulnerability management systems.
His educational background includes a Master of Science in Information Assurance from Norwich University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from California State University, Sacramento. Bruce is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and has pursued advanced cybersecurity training through SANS and other globally recognized institutions.
In addition to his corporate leadership, Bruce is an engaged contributor to the cybersecurity community. He has served on the Advisory Committee for the Cybersecurity Symposium for Smart Cities, the Advisory Board for the Northern California Critical Infrastructure Security Forum and advised CSU Chico’s Cybersecurity for Executives program. His affiliations include the Information Systems Security Association (Senior Member), IEEE, ISACA, and (ISC)².
Through every chapter of his career, Bruce Heard has stood out not just for his technical excellence, but for his integrity, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to helping organizations and communities rise to meet cybersecurity challenges head-on.
Character
Bruce Heard exemplifies integrity, resilience, and a strong sense of accountability, consistently leading with purpose and empowering teams to build trustworthy and effective cybersecurity programs. His career reflects a deep commitment to public and private sector security, grounded in ethical leadership and a passion for protecting organizations from harm.
Knowledge
With over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, Bruce possesses a comprehensive understanding of risk management, incident response, security architecture, and regulatory compliance across multiple industries. His certifications and ongoing contributions to professional communities reflect a lifelong pursuit of learning and excellence in the evolving cyber landscape.
Strategic
Bruce brings a forward-thinking, business-aligned approach to cybersecurity, guiding organizations from reactive security practices to proactive, optimized defense strategies. He has successfully built and scaled service portfolios, managed multimillion-dollar client engagements, and aligned technical execution with enterprise goals.
Communication
Bruce is a compelling communicator known for bridging the gap between technical complexity and executive understanding, enabling clear decision-making and stakeholder alignment. Whether guiding board-level discussions or mentoring cybersecurity teams, he fosters collaboration through clarity, empathy, and influence.
