Michael Purdy

Business Disruption and Contingency Planning

Michael is leading expert in the implementation, operations, and business management of information technology. He specializes in:

• Developing and Designing Solutions to Mitigate and Reduce IT & Business Risk
• Crisis and Incident Management Planning and Concierge Services
• Mobile App Development for iOS
• Fractional CIO and CISO Services

As a former executive with IBM, plus tenures working in banking, aerospace, and at the National Security Agency, Michael has helped businesses improve the efficiency of their IT operations, reduce their IT operational costs, improve their contractual leverage with partners, and successfully mitigate business and IT operational hazards at time of disaster.

While at IBM, he ran multiple organizations in the United States and on a global scale with P&L responsibilities approaching $1B a year. He is also one of the original founders of IBM’s managed security services business. Before retiring from IBM, he led their global business continuity response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Michael is also a prolific and award-winning writer and speaker lecturing on topics focused on computer technologies, computer security and risk management, and surviving suicide. In addition, Michael has published 3 books including his latest, Himalaya Memories, a photographic essay of his spiritual and physical experiences trekking through Nepal and Bhutan.

His podcast Risk Stories! regularly features guest speaking on experiencing and surviving risk in their personal and professional lives.

Michael has the distinction of being named a Ponemon Fellow by the Ponemon Institute, and has two patents pending with the United States Trademark and Patent Office. He also has a BS degree in Computer Science from Clemson University, and a Master of Business Administration.

Michael volunteers on the Board of Directors for the Circumnavigators Club and the 356 Club of Southern California, and he helps those who have lost a loved one to suicide through Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services Survivors after Suicide program.

He lives in Redondo Beach, California.