About Mike Kiser

All you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask.

I am Mike Kiser, the Director of Strategy and Standards at SailPoint Technologies.

Ethical Standards and Identity

One area of current research is the consolidation and practical application of ethics in identity-driven algorithms, with an emphasis on open source tooling and assets. The complete summary of this can be found in this journal article. I have a Masters degree in Theology, so the intersection of Identity and ethics drives quite a bit of what I do. (Yes, that's kind of a unique combination.)

Spartacus as a Service

Another ongoing project is how to provide privacy via obscurity, and this open source tool was presented at Black Hat / DEF CON and the Crypto and Privacy Village. The concept is centered around the final scene in the movie "Spartacus," starring Kirk Douglas and a cast of . . . well, thousands.

Writing / Speaking

I write and speak quite often, both locally (BSides Austin in December of 2020) and internationally (various) and there are dedicated sections to each here on this site if you'd like to know more about those.

Industry Background

I have a long history in technology and security, and have worn many, many hats during my career; I've held a panoply of industry positions over the past 20 years—from Security Strategist to Security Analyst to Security Architect. This has given me the opportunity to design, direct, and advise on large-scale security deployments for a global clientele.

Location

I'm located in glorious Austin, Texas, and be reached via the methods outlined on the contacts page. I'm happy to be emailed about technical queries, press inquiries, or suggestions for material.