ISSA Los Angeles

4.9•213 ratings

Los Angeles, CA, US

1,201 members · Public group

What we’re about

Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) is a not-for-profit, international professional organization of information security professionals and practitioners. It was founded in 1984 by Sandra M. Lambert and Nancy King (albeit work on its establishment started in 1982). ISSA promotes the sharing of information security management practices through educational forums, publications and networking opportunities among security professionals. ISSA is present in more than one hundred countries, including Europe and Asia, with more than 10,000 members.

As the founding chapter of ISSA, ISSA Los Angeles (ISSA-LA) has become the premier catalyst and community resource in Southern California for improving the practice of information security. The Chapter provides various training classes and lectures for information Security and IT professionals throughout the year and at the annual Summit. We accomplish this by providing:

Education, networking and support to information security practitioners
IT practitioners with information security responsibilities
Information security vendors
Outreach, advocacy and education to the broader Los Angeles community

ISSA-LA meets monthly for lunch and dinner and regularly collaborates with other IT and InfoSec organizations, having joint meetings with ISACA, OWASP, the Cloud Security Alliance, HTCIA, and the Association of IT Professionals to name a few.

Upcoming events

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Wed, Nov 19 · 5:30 PM PST
Aligning Risk and Security to What the Business Really Wants
Hermosa Brewing Company Torrance, 1855 Del Amo Blvd, Torrance, CA, US
You must register and pay to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aligning-risk-and-security-to-what-the-business-really-wants-tickets-1764167184539

### Come and network with your friends, make new friends, and hear a great speaker. A buffet dinner will be served and drinks will be available.

Topic One: Beyond Checklists: Aligning Risk and Security to What the Business Really Wants

Security isn’t just about patching holes or passing audits, it’s about knowing where to aim your resources and when to stop. Too often, even well-funded programs stall because they’re chasing every vulnerability without a clear sense of what actually matters to the business.

This session will unpack what it really takes to align security with your organization’s risk appetite. We’ll talk about bridging the gap between security, IT, and the board, shifting from “we don’t want a breach” to defining a true north star that drives strategy, budget, and execution.

You’ll learn how to:
● Translate business risk appetite into actionable security priorities
● Recognize when “enough” risk mitigation is truly enough
● Build strategies that consider budget, IT readiness, and long-term maturity (not just frameworks)

When done right, risk alignment transforms security from a reactive cost center into a disciplined driver of resilience and growth. If you’ve ever wondered, “How do I know my security strategy is aligned, or if we even have one?” this talk is for you. Expect candid insights, real-world examples, and practical takeaways for security leaders at every stage.

Speaker One: Gus Anagnos

Gus Anagnos is the Chief Operations Officer and CISO at Cyber Defense Group (CDG), where he oversees corporate strategy, delivery operations, account management, and customer success. With over 25 years of transformative leadership experience, Gus has excelled in translating technology into business value.

Previously, Gus served as the CISO at USC, leading key security initiatives and implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity program. Gus has also held senior roles at Synack, Inc., eBay, PayPal, IndyMac Bancorp, Marsh & McLennan and General Motors Corporation, establishing transformative programs and working with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. He has a bachelor's degree in finance and an MBA.
6 attendees