James Bender
About James Bender
James Bender serves as the Chief Security Officer at Mike Collins & Associates, where he leads a team in developing service strategies and revenue-generating support programs. He has extensive expertise in IT solutions, particularly in DataCenter and Cloud Delivery, and specializes in hardware design for x86/64 server systems.
Work at Mike Collins & Associates (MCA)
James Bender has been with Mike Collins & Associates (MCA) since 1998, serving as the Director of Technical Services. In this role, he has been instrumental in developing revenue-producing support programs and leads a team of engineers to create service strategies that drive business growth. His long tenure at MCA has allowed him to significantly contribute to the company's technical capabilities and service offerings.
Education and Expertise
James Bender studied Information Technology at Chattanooga State, where he earned an Associate of Science (AS) degree from 1997 to 2000. He also completed his education at Rosamond High School, focusing on Information Systems and achieving an AS from 1992 to 1997. His educational background supports his expertise in designing IT solutions, particularly in DataCenter and Cloud Delivery.
Technical Skills and Specializations
James Bender specializes in hardware design for x86/64 server systems, focusing on performance, redundancy, and storage optimization. He has a strong understanding of storage platforms, especially Dell/EMC, and is experienced in LAN/WAN design and cost-effective SDWAN solutions. His knowledge extends to server and datacenter architecture design, emphasizing usability, scalability, and aesthetic design.
Security and Risk Management
James Bender has authored and performed several Risk Assessments and security audits with an emphasis on IT security. He possesses exceptional knowledge of Watchguard UTM firewalls and application layer proxies. Additionally, he is knowledgeable in email and web security, focusing on encryption, IPSEC/SSL, DLP, and IDS/IPS, which enhances his contributions to the security posture of organizations.
Early Career Experience
Before joining Mike Collins & Associates, James Bender worked as an intern at CSC for three months in 1998 at Edwards AFB, California. This early experience provided him with foundational skills and insights into the IT industry, which he has built upon throughout his career.