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Jim Dooling
President and CEO of Align
Jim Dooling
President and CEO of Align
Jim Dooling is the founder, president and Chief Executive Officer of Align. With more than 30 years of experience in the technology infrastructure industry, he has grown Align into the premier provider of technology solutions and services with a recognized center of excellence in IT Advisory, Infrastructure design and build services, and Managed Services. Many of the world's leading firms including Salesforce, Uber, Pfizer, JPMorgan, the NBA, Louis Vuitton and Barclays rely on the expertise and experience of Align to support their technology infrastructure needs.
Jim majored in architecture at Miami University of Ohio and is actively involved in a number of charitable associations, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, March of Dimes, NPower and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Jim has preserved a “can do” spirit and family-like atmosphere at Align, which have enabled Align to deliver unsurpassed client service.
Vinod Paul
Chief Operating Officer
Vinod Paul
Chief Operating Officer
Vinod Paul brings over 20 years of in-depth financial services and technology experience to his role as Align’s Chief Operating Officer. Widely known as a luminary in the financial services sector, Vinod led and innovated a leading Global Managed IT Service provider in its customer-facing engagements, including service delivery and business development on a global basis and, over his 13 years as Managing Director, Vinod helped establish this firm as a premier Managed Service provider in the financial services space.
Previously, Vinod has been a director of technical services for Martin Progressive where he supervised an engineering staff supporting 6,000 customers, as well as a management and engineering consultant to IBM Global Services, Lucent Technologies, Tyco Submarine Systems, and Penguin Putnam Publishing.
Vinod serves on the global board of directors for Help for Children/Hedge Funds Care, a global nonprofit dedicated to supporting efforts to prevent and treat child abuse. He attended Rutgers University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences.
John Araneo
General Counsel and Managing Director of Align Cybersecurity
John Araneo
General Counsel and Managing Director of Align Cybersecurity
John Araneo possesses a broad corporate legal background, encompassing investment management law, data privacy and cybersecurity law, corporate governance and employment law. Having published numerous articles on data privacy and data asset protection and other legal issues since 1996, John is an established author, cybersecurity expert and a well-known thought-leader on the legal, regulatory, governance and employment law issues related to cybersecurity. Previously, John practiced law in the investment management space, representing investment advisers and fund managers, most recently as a partner of Cole-Frieman & Mallon, LLP, a firm that represents over 600 asset management clients and launches approximately 70 private investment funds annually. John remains a practicing attorney with Cole-Frieman & Mallon, LLP in an ‘Of Counsel’ capacity.
John serves on the Committee of Hearts for Help For Children/Hedge Fund Cares, a global nonprofit dedicated to supporting efforts to prevent and treat child abuse. John received his Bachelors at Johnson & Wales University and his law degree from Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University.
Jim Johnson
Director of IT
Jim Johnson
Director of IT
Jim Johnson leads the Server, Storage and Security professionals with over 25 years of experience as an IT professional, mainly in the financial services industry. His long and distinguished career of aligning business goals with technology investments includes heading the LBHI migration from Barclays Capital, developing an Infrastructure as a Service concept for LBHI, and leading disaster recovery efforts to restore technology and business affected by 9/11 as the CIO of one of the largest brokers in the world. Jim received a bachelor's degree in Computer Science & Applied Mathematics, with a minor in Physics, from State University of New York at Albany.
Follow @alignitadvisorChris Zadrima
Director of Managed Services
Chris Zadrima
Director of Managed Services
Chris Zadrima brings over 13 years of experience architecting and leading successful Managed Service practices. He is a recognized leader in building customer management teams and a subject matter expert on leveraging cloud-based solutions to solve business and operational requirements.
At Align, Chris oversees all aspects of Align’s Global Managed Services practice which encompasses Client Support, Cloud Architecture and Strategy, Project Management, the Network Operations Center and IT Service Desk.
Prior to joining Align, Chris was part of the leadership team of Infoaxis, a technology solution provider, where over his nine-year tenure he successfully built a Managed Service offering which supported over 6000 endpoints. Chris earned a degree from Fordham University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a concentration in Management Information Systems.
Alex Bazay
Chief Information Security Officer
Alex Bazay
Chief Information Security Officer
With over 20+ years of experience in the information technology industry and expertise in cybersecurity, IT, compliance, business continuity and disaster recovery, Alex Bazay brings tremendous technological leadership and security expertise to the company.
Prior to joining Align, Alex was CTO/CISO at Gruss Capital Management, a boutique global financial company, where he was responsible for all day-to-day operations and strategic planning relating to information technology, business continuity and cybersecurity. Before that, Alex held various consulting positions during which he advised clients in cybersecurity defense, operational strategies/executions and overall IT strategies/executions.
Alex currently serves as a judge for Hedge Fund Magazine's (HFM) US Hedge Fund Technology Awards, which recognizes IT and software providers serving the hedge fund industry, as well as highlights technology innovation at hedge funds. He also sits on numerous advisory boards and holds several industry certifications, including the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
04.03.20
Client Alert: Zoom Security Issues
Client Alert: Zoom Security Issues We urge Align’s Managed Service clients to utilize cybersecurity best practices and proceed with the utmost caution when leveraging the Zoom video conferencing platform. Cybersecurity experts have discovered multiple vulnerabilities in the platform’s software,...
Client Alert: Zoom Security Issues
We urge Align’s Managed Service clients to utilize cybersecurity best practices and proceed with the utmost caution when leveraging the Zoom video conferencing platform. Cybersecurity experts have discovered multiple vulnerabilities in the platform’s software, and threat actors are actively targeting Zoom. More about these vulnerabilities can be found here:
https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/01/zoom-doom/
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/04/war-dialing-tool-exposes-zooms-password-problems/
With the increased demand of video conferencing and the exponential growth in Zoom’s user base due to the Coronavirus, we anticipate needs related to working from home will lead to continued exploits of known vulnerabilities on this platform.
What You Should Do:
To help safeguard corporate assets and prevent your investment firm from falling victim to cybercrime, we offer the following guidelines and resources:
Whenever possible, leverage Microsoft Teams for videoconferencing. For further assistance, reach out to your Align Account Manager.
If you must leverage the Zoom application, ensure that it is updated to the most current version.
Require passwords for all Zoom meetings
Require users to be logged in to Zoom accounts to join meetings
Enable waiting room for all Zoom meetings to control who enters the conference
Enable multi-factor authentication for meetings dealing with sensitive information; directions on how to set up and use two-factor authentication with Zoom meetings can be found here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360038247071-Setting-up-and-using-two-factor-authentication
Review other security recommendations from Zoom, which can be found here: https://zoom.us/docs/doc/Zoom-Security-White-Paper.pdf
When offering telecommuting to your workforce, make sure you leverage the proper tools, systems and protocols in place. Firms should also test remote capabilities before promoting them company-wide to identify any gaps and make improvements where necessary. Align’s clients are well suited to work from home (WFH) and work from anywhere (WFA).
To learn about how Align Managed Services leverages Microsoft Teams videoconference and how Microsoft Teams secures videoconferencing, see here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-security-guide
Additional Information and Cybersecurity Guidance:
Align Managed Services clients leveraging Managed Threat Protection will have continued 24x7x365 monitoring by our Security Operations Center (SOC) against known and unknown threats in real-time. This enables us to continuously monitor, detect and respond to suspicious activity in your network, safeguarding your critical infrastructure from malicious hackers.
Preventing cybercriminals from infiltrating your network starts with your first line of defense, your staff. Align's clients are better equipped at dealing with current and emerging risks because they have created a robust culture of security through leveraging our Security Awareness Training.
Familiarize your team with our Service Desk's contact information: Email: help@align.com
(US) Phone: 1-855-482-5446
Explore more information on Align's Cybersecurity Advisory Practice.
Do you have further questions about Microsoft Teams or other cybersecurity concerns?
If so, we advise you to contact the Align Managed Services team at help@align.com or via phone at +1 855-IT-ALIGN (1-855-482-5446).
Thank you,
The Align Team
help@align.com
www.align.com
www.align.com/support
03.18.20
How to Protect Your Business from Coronavirus Phishing & Cyber Scams
How to Protect Your Business from Coronavirus Phishing & Cyber Scams
In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, cybercriminals have taken heed of the opportunity to exploit the global health crisis for profit and fraud. Among the new collection of virus-themed scams are phishing campaigns, social engineering attacks, charity-focused emails, and more.
As more businesses seek out emerging news regarding the grave situation and exercise remote work procedures to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Align encourages them to practice vigilance with regard to suspicious emails and cyber activity.
In today's blog, we're proffering readers a look into the most malicious and sophisticated scams we're witnessing from the front lines, including the following campaigns listed below:
Coronavirus: Secrets for Surviving a Pandemic
Do you want access to the secrets for surviving a pandemic?
Criminals are luring in victims with missives such as the above example, dangling the opportunity to access secret knowledge for ensuring survival during the outbreak of COVID-19. A key element to these sales pitches is that recipients must perform an action, such as purchasing a book or watching a video. Fraudsters leverage the former device as a means to empty your wallet and steal your credit card details. Sensitive banking information is then recycled future-forward to make fraudulent purchases on your behalf, risking draining your personal or corporate assets.
Other malevolent social engineering attacks send persuasive emails that contain a hyperlink to an article on new developments regarding COVID-19. Upon clicking the article's link, recipients are directed to a fake website or login page where they can enter a username and password. Unbeknownst to the victim, they have immersed themselves in a phishing scam, during which bad actors aim to uncover your account credentials.
Click Here to Donate
Firms should be wary of charity-focused emails that are impersonating reputable organizations such as UNICEF, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and GlobalGiving. In this scenario, criminals are preying on people's empathy, suggesting that your charitable donation can help expedite the design of vaccines and support emergency response efforts. While some of these manipulative messages request payments in Bitcoin cryptocurrency, others even contain a QR code to simplify the process of stealing your money.
Virus-Themed Emails
An entirely new collection of virus-themed emails has surfaced, and they are targeting hedge funds and the broader investment community. Many of these communications exploit fear while promoting their products and solutions.
For example, malicious actors may target survivalists and anxious users to offer discounts or access to hand sanitizer, face masks and other resources growing scarce during a health crisis. These communications heighten paranoia in an attempt to evoke action and access your business' mission-critical network.
Speaking of critical systems and networks, let's switch gears to discuss work from home (WFH) and the sound measures businesses can employ to operate securely and smoothly.
Remote Access & Risky Business
Empowering employees to work remotely or work from anywhere (WFA) with access to critical infrastructure has numerous benefits for businesses. To name a few:
Significant cost-savings
Enhanced communication
Increased flexibility
Modernized collaboration
Improved service levels
The industry has seen tectonic shifts in IT infrastructure innovation over the past few years. Primarily due to the explosive growth and sophistication of the public cloud, which has crossed the tipping point and is now largely considered the optimal construct upon which contemporary IT networks are built, expectations have changed. If you are operating in an inferior legacy environment, you undoubtedly lack the typical controls and functionality of a modern IT infrastructure. Furthermore, your firm is a step behind in safeguarding sensitive business assets and preventing data exfiltration and other cybersecurity risks.
If you're seeking information on remote work solutions that offers access to 24x7x365 support, we recommend reaching out to one of our Managed IT experts. Contact us today by clicking here.
Managing Coronavirus-Related Cybersecurity Risks
We urge organizations to employ cybersecurity best practices and proceed with the utmost caution in today's turbulent cyber climate. We anticipate these scams will increase in frequency and sophistication rapidly, so long as hackers can profit.
To help safeguard your corporate assets and prevent your investment firm from falling victim to cybercrime, we offer the following guidelines and resources:
If you haven't already, ensure your company has implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA). Deploying a multi-factor authentication solution bolsters account security across applications and adds an additional layer of identification.
Reach out to your Managed Service Provider (MSP) and ask what systems they have in place for proactive monitoring of suspicious activity. Alternatively, if you have an in-house IT department, ask the appropriate team member for those details.
Approach emails with extreme caution that make alarmingly extravagant claims or abrupt requests, convey urgency, ask you to download something, or request payment.
Never click on hyperlinks in electronic communications from an unknown source. If the sender is someone you're familiar with, contact that person directly to confirm they, in fact, sent you the email.
Preventing cybercriminals from infiltrating your network starts with your first line of defense, your staff. Align's clients are better equipped at dealing with current and emerging risks because they have created a robust culture of security through leveraging our Security Awareness Training.
When offering telecommuting to your workforce, make sure you have the proper tools, systems and protocols in place. Firms should also test remote capabilities before promoting them company-wide to identify any gaps and make improvements where necessary.
To help educate your network on the growing dangers and risks associated with scams related to COVID-19, consider sharing this article with your team, partners and clients.
The Federal Financial Institutions Supervisory Council (FFIEC) issued a news release on pandemic preparedness. Access it here.
Familiarize your team with our Service Desk's contact information:
Email: help@align.com
(US) Phone: 1-855-482-5446
Explore more information on Align's Cybersecurity Advisory Practice.
Access daily updates from the World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
CDC Guidance to Plan and Respond to COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html
Have you been a victim of a cyber scam or phishing email related to COVID-19?
If so, we advise you to contact the Align Cybersecurity team at help@align.com or via phone at +1 855-IT-ALIGN (1-855-482-5446).
02.14.20
Scam Alert: Criminals Cloning Hedge Fund Websites
Rogue online operators have found their next big lucrative scheme, and it involves impersonating...
07.01.19
What Managers Need to Know Seminar: The SEC’s Evolving Policy on Cybersecurity
In this installment of the “What Managers Need to Know” series, hear from experts and investors...
05.14.19
Align Wins Best Global Cybersecurity Services Provider in 2019 Hedgeweek Global Awards
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions and managed IT services,...
02.26.19
Align Wins Best Cybersecurity Solution in CTA Intelligence US Services Awards
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today announced that it...
02.26.19
Align Ranks as Top Provider of IT Managed Services, Cybersecurity, Public Cloud Services and More in Award Shortlists
Align, the premier global provider of infrastructure technology solutions, today announced that it...
09.04.18
Cybersecurity and Operational Due Diligence Seminar
During this breakfast briefing, Navigating ODD Headwinds: Cybersecurity and Operational Due...
08.08.18
ALIGN FEATURED IN FUNDFIRE: STATE STREET CEO SCOLDED BY PENSION OVER DATA BREACHES
The following article originally appeared in FundFire and was written by Mariana Lemann. In this...
08.01.18
Align featured in Berdon Accountants and Advisor Industry Insider Cybersecurity Video
Align featured by Berdon Accountants and Advisors Industry Insider Video - Steps to Mitigate Cyber...
03.12.18
Align Wins Best Global Cloud Services Provider in The Hedgeweek Global Awards
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today announced that it...
02.28.18
Align Wins Best Cloud Computing Provider in CTA Intelligence US Services Awards
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today announced that it...
02.21.18
Align Earns Managed Security 100 Honor on 2018 CRN MSP 500
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today announced it has...
01.30.18
Align Expands Presence in Dallas, Lands Multi-Million Dollar Data Center Projects
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today announced it is...
01.10.18
Align Announced as a Finalist in FStech, HFM US Technology and CTA Intelligence Awards
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today announced it has...
12.19.17
Align Wins Best Cybersecurity Service Provider in Mutual Fund Service And Technology Awards 2017
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions and cybersecurity...
12.06.17
Align Strengthens Managed Services, Cybersecurity Offerings and Technology Solutions Through SOC 1 Type II Attestation and HIPAA Security Rule Compliance Report
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today announced that it...
10.12.17
Align National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) Series
Why Should Registered Investment Advisors Buy Cyber Coverage? The following article was written and...
09.27.17
Align Honored with 2017 Channel Partners 360⁰ Award
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today announced it has...
09.26.17
SEC Announces Enforcement Initiatives to Combat Cyber-Based Threats and Protect Retail Investors
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced two new initiatives that will build on its...
09.12.17
Financial Firms’ Worst Mistakes With Cybersecurity
Law360, New York (August 21, 2017, 10:55 PM EDT) -- Although the U.S. Securities and Exchange...
09.08.17
The Equifax Credit Data Breach: A New High-Water Mark in Cybersecurity Risk Management. What You Should Do Now.
Equifax is one the largest consumer credit agencies in America. It is the Fort Knox in the financial...
09.06.17
Align Wins Best Tech Infrastructure Provider 2017 and Best New Cybersecurity Product: Align Cybersecurity in 2017 FinTech Awards
Align Wins Best Tech Infrastructure Provider 2017 and Best New Cybersecurity Product: Align...
08.09.17
SEC National Exam Program RISK ALERT - Observations from Cybersecurity Examinations
In OCIE’s Cybersecurity 2 Initiative, National Examination Program staff examined 75 firms,...
07.12.17
Cybersecurity challenges for investment managers
The following article originally appeared in Hedgeweek’s special report: Cybersecurity in Europe...
06.06.17
June 20th – Webinar – “Sucker Punched” The Importance of Employee Training and The Proper Cyber Insurance Protection for The Hedge Fund Industry
Join Hedge Fund Insurance Specialist Lou D’Agostino of Iron Cove Partners, Security Training...
06.01.17
CTA Intelligence Special Report - Managed Futures 2017
Cyber-security for CTAs: The convergence of compliance, technology and governance John T. Araneo and...
05.31.17
Cyberattackers ‘Coming After You,’ FBI Tells Hedge Shops
The following article originally appeared in FundFire and was written by Lydia Tomkiw. It’s late...
05.25.17
Cybersecurity 101 For Fund Managers: Designing a Cybersecurity Program that will Satisfy Regulators, Empower Employees and Encourage Investors
Cybersecurity has become an unlikely top-line priority for managers of pooled investment vehicles...
05.19.17
SEC highlights lack of pen testing in latest cyber-alert
More than half (57%) of the investment management firms examined by the SEC do not conduct...
05.18.17
SEC’s OCIE Releases Risk Alert in Response to Recent Ransomware Attacks
SEC’s OCIE Releases Risk Alert in Response to Recent Ransomware Attacks
05.02.17
MASTERCLASS: Cybersecurity
In this edition of MASTERCLASS, four cybersecurity experts take on the growing challenge of...
04.11.17
Align Launches First-Ever, Comprehensive Cybersecurity Risk Management Solution
Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today expanded its...
NEW YORK, NY – April 11, 2017– Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions, today expanded its cybersecurity consulting practice, offering an unparalleled suite of Cybersecurity Risk Management services. Combining solutions around technology, governance and education, Align CybersecurityTM is the only end-to-end solution in the world that creates a triple threat to hackers.
The challenge of managing advancing risks and heightened regulatory requirements surrounding increasingly complex and extended networks affects both asset managers and the larger financial services industry. From monetary loss, to compromised proprietary and/or client information to reputational damage, the impact of one breach can be devastating. Align’s Cybersecurity Risk Management platform now helps solve this growing challenge.
Align’s multidisciplinary team of experts will design policies, procedures and sophisticated controls satisfying legal, compliance and fiduciary requirements. Creating a culture of security, Align offers customizable, on-demand training to make employees the greatest line of defense. Managed by Align’s team of security analysts, the Align Client Portal centralizes all Cybersecurity Risk Management controls in one dashboard including policies, third party communications and key security metrics.
“We’ve reached a point where the necessity of cybersecurity is ethically and legally absolute, and the implications of ignoring that would be catastrophic for firms,” said John Araneo, managing director, Align Cybersecurity, and general counsel of Align.
“We identified a critical gap in current cybersecurity offerings and a key opportunity to build a unique, comprehensive risk management service,” said Vinod Paul, chief operating officer of Align. “Align Cybersecurity redefines the future of Cybersecurity Risk Management, offering a truly holistic, white glove service, while providing unprecedented protection for the future.”
“On behalf of Align, we’re excited to announce the expansion and formalization of Align Cybersecurity,” said Jim Dooling, chief executive officer and president of Align. “The company’s latest solutions are second to none, arming firms with technology, governance and education – all critical to the life of a business.”
03.07.17
Align Becomes the First Aerohive HiveCare Authorized Partner
Align, a global provider of technology solutions, and Aerohive Networks®, the fastest growing...
02.16.17
GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES FIRST-IN-THE-NATION CYBERSECURITY REGULATION
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the first-in-the-nation cybersecurity regulation to protect...
02.14.17
John T. Araneo joins Align as General Counsel & Managing Director
Align, the premier global provider of IT infrastructure and cyber security advisory services, today...
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New York
55 Broad Street
6th Floor
New York, NY 10004
212 844-4030
New Jersey
Woodbridge Corporate Plaza
485 Route 1 South
Suite 210C
Iselin, NJ 08830
212 844-4030
Virginia
43791 Devin Shafron Drive
Building D
Ashburn, VA, 20147
800 877-9980
Chicago
130 S Canal St,
Chicago, IL 60606
800 877-9980
Texas
4571 Siena Dr
Frisco, TX 75033
800 877-9980
Arizona
2335 S Ellis St, Suite 229
Chandler, AZ 85286
800 877-9980
San Francisco
2820 Northwestern Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95051
800 877-9980
London
Office 437, 4th Floor
22 Upper Ground
London SE1 9PD
+44 (0) 20 7553-8770