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BY ALLISON POTTERMAN

When a moment arises that promises transformation, it can ignite an entrepreneurial spirit. For E. Marie Brierley, this moment appeared during her MBA program amid the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a discerning eye, she seized the opportunity to carve out a niche in the cybersecurity industry with Saatvik Advisors.

"Timing is everything," E. Marie recalls. "We found our footing in uncertainty by pivoting our focus to the intricacies of internet protocol transitions—specifically, the reluctance to adopt IPv6 as we face the depletion of IPv4 addresses."

Nestled in the burgeoning tech enclave of Nevada, Saatvik Advisors has grown in tandem with the state's evolution into a technology hub. Nevada has long stood as a beacon for the gaming industry and continues to draw companies at the cutting edge of technology. And yet, with growth comes vulnerability. "Cybersecurity attacks cast a long shadow over our tech-forward industries," E. Marie explains. "We've positioned ourselves as trusted advisors, emphasizing prevention over mere reaction."

But E. Marie's ambitions extend beyond securing Nevada's technological future. Her election to the Advisory Council of the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) is historic, marking the first time Nevada has been represented in such a capacity. It's not just a personal achievement; it's a pivotal development for Nevada's stakeholders in business, education, and industry. "The internet is the backbone of our economy," she asserts. "My role with ARIN provides Nevada with invaluable insights into Internet infrastructure policies and allows for a reciprocal exchange of ideas and concerns."

The proliferation of digital threats emphasizes the importance of evolving cybersecurity methods. Whilst many companies focus on in-fortress events, Saatvik takes a different approach. "Most cybersecurity strategies are reactive, even with AI's help," E. Marie explains. "We target proactive threat exclusion, addressing risks before they penetrate systems."

Her role with ARIN's Advisory Council further propels innovation within the state. "ARIN is deeply embedded in the internet community," E. Marie notes. "The policies we propose and review are informed by the dynamic challenges faced by those managing the digital realm. Nevada's stakeholders now have a direct channel to these evolving discussions, allowing their voices to shape future directions."

E. Marie values dialogue with local internet stakeholders to align policy impacts with regional and national needs. Her proactive approach in cybersecurity—partnering with existing providers to preemptively thwart threats—underscores her commitment to a safer digital ecosystem.

For those looking to engage further, E. Marie welcomes conversations with cybersecurity teams and their stakeholders. Contacting her is as simple as visiting the Saatvik Advisors website or reaching out via email. Together, with shared insight and collective action, a secure digital landscape for Nevada can transform from vision to reality.

Featured Interview

Empowering Nevada's Tech Future through Preventive Cyber & Internet Security

Article Type

FEATURING E. Marie Brierley

Below is our interview with E. Marie Brierley.

{Introduction}

Tell us about Saatvik Advisors, and what inspired you to launch the business?

Saatvik Advisors was started during our founder's MBA program. Timing is everything and COVID put a big wrinkle in ours. We kept the doors open by pivoting to research of the reluctance to transition to IPv6 with the reality of the global depletion of IPv4, the original IP addresses . This gave us time to critically evaluate our specific services and our position in the security industry. We realized that existing cybersecurity strategies and technologies were well developed. The gap is a truly proactive approach keeping the threats out.

How has your Nevada connection influenced Saatvik's direction in cybersecurity?

Nevada has developed into a tech center. We attract cutting edge technology companies and has long been a leader in gaming. These industries are attractive targets for cybersecurity attacks. Saatvik Advisors has established itself as a trusted advisor for closing the gap in securing systems through prevention rather than reaction.

Can your role on the Advisory Council directly influence local economic development?

Scalable and resilient internet infrastructure is critical for economic growth. The internet has grown from a nice-to-have into the global backbone of everything. We trust the internet to keep operating. In order to reliably achieve that goal, we need to evolve the critical elements of internet infrastructure in scale and complexity. Meeting the challenges of growth and resilience requires up-to-date knowledge of domestic and global policies, governance and standards. My new role on ARIN's Advisory Council gives Nevada reciprocal representation to these bodies to its business, education and industry stakeholders.

How can your work with ARIN drive innovation in Nevada's cybersecurity sector?

ARIN is at the forefront of developing policies and operational practices for securing the names, numbers and routes of the internet. ARIN's Advisory Council's role is to propose, review and shepherd policies. ARIN is very much a internet community led organization. This community focus provides unique insight into the security challenges faced by the internet and the community who manages it. Nevada stakeholders will benefit from getting first look at upcoming policies and an unprecedented opportunity to have their voices heard. I'm currently assigned to assist in shepherding policy for use of ARIN IP addresses in and out of ARIN's region. I've begun the conversations with key NV internet stakeholders to understand how this policy might impact them and their stakeholders.

What distinguishes Saatvik's product offerings from others in Nevada's tech ecosystem?

Cybersecurity providers invest their efforts in events which take place at or inside a firewall. We see this approach as primarily a reactive, even with the addition of AI. Cyber threats have almost unlimited power to execute their attack for extended periods of time. Current mean time to identify is 4-6 months. These time bombs are waiting to explode at the whim of the bad actor. The damage is not only limited to the attack itself, but the potential cost of ransomware and recovery.
We partner with these cybersecurity providers to work upstream and keep the threats from entering systems in the first place.

How can readers connect with you or learn more?

We'd appreciate the opportunity to chat with your cybersecurity teams and their key stakeholders to develop a breach prevention plan. We can be reached at www.saatvikadvisors.com or ebrierley@saatvikadvisors.com.