Eli Faskha (Security+, Check Point Certified Master Architect, CCSI, CCSE, CCSE+, MCP). Based in Panama City, Panama, Eli is founder and president of Soluciones Seguras, a company that specializes in network security and is a Check Point Gold Partner and Nokia Authorized Partner. He was assistant technical editor for Syngress’s Configuring Check Point NGX VPN-1/Firewall-1 (ISBN: 1597490318) book and contributing author for Syngress’s Building DMZs for the Enterprise (ISBN: 1597491004). Eli is the most experienced Check Point Certified Security Instructor and Nokia Instructor in the region, and he has taught participants from over 20 different countries, in both English and Spanish. A 1993 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Moore School of Engineering, he also received an MBA from Georgetown University in 1995. He has more than eight years of Internet development and networking experience, starting with Web development of the largest Internet portal in Panama in 1999 and 2000, managing a Verisign affiliate in 2001, and running his own company since then. Eli has written several articles for the local media and has been recognized for his contributions to Internet development in Panama.
Rajeev Gupta (CCMA—Check Point Certified Master Architect, #13, CCMSE NGX Plus VSX, CCSI with CompTIA’s CTT+, ITIL, CISSP) is a Check Point subject matter expert, currently working as the principal engineer in the Managed Security Services division of a leading provider of advanced communications and security services across the globe. With eight years of intense experience working with Check Point products, he is a highly respected resource at his company for strategizing clients’ security solutions. He also is a key contributor toward product engineering, product marketing, and product management. During his more than four years of working at Check Point’s worldwide support center, he became known as a Provider-1 expert extraordinaire, having impressed customers with his deep understanding of the product’s underlying architecture.
Today, one of his major responsibilities includes managing day-to-day maintenance and operations of one of the world’s largest fully redundant Provider-1 deployments. He is a keen contributor to Check Point usability testing, development and RnD support teams.
Brendan T Kearney (CCSA/CCSE, JNCIA-FWV, JNCIA-IDP, JNCIA-SSL, MCIA, ISS-TSS) is a senior help desk engineer for Surety Help Desk Inc., a 1-Step Check Point specialist IT security help desk provider with commercial and government clients throughout North America. Brendan served in the U.S. Marine Corps., where he worked in information technology. He has a 10-year background in security and IT infrastructure. He is an avid telemark skier in his spare time and lives with his better half, Tammy, in Bolton, CT.
Patryk Krolikowski (CCNA, CCNE, CNA, CNE, JNCIA, GIAC GCFW, SCSP) is a security consultant with CompFort Meridian Poland. His expertise includes Check Point, Juniper, Nokia, Symantec, and RSA design and implementations. Holding an MA in law and finishing a forensics PhD thesis on digital evidence seizure and handling, he is focused on computer forensics and incident response. Patryk is also a security publications author for NetWorld magazine and an active member of ISSA (Information Systems Security Association).
Craig Wright has personally conducted in excess of 1,200 IT security-related engagements for more than 120 Australian and international organizations in the private and government sectors and now works for BDO Kendall’s in Australia.
In addition to his consulting engagements, Craig has also authored numerous IT security-related articles. He also has been involved with designing the architecture for the world’s first online casino (Lasseter’s Online) in the Northern Territory. He has designed and managed the implementation of many of the systems that protected the Australian Stock Exchange. He also developed and implemented the security policies and procedural practices within Mahindra and Mahindra, India’s largest vehicle manufacturer.
He holds (among others) the following industry certifications: CISSP (ISSAP and ISSMP), CISA, CISM, CCE, GNSA, G7799, GWAS, GCFA, GLEG, GSEC, GREM, GPCI, MCSE, and GSPA. He has completed numerous degrees in a variety of fields and is currently completing both a master’s degree in statistics (at Newcastle) and a master’s degree in law (LLM) specializing in international commercial law (e-commerce law). Craig is planning to start his second doctorate, a PhD in economics and law in the digital age, in early 2008.