Biography

Juan Rios is an Operations Security Analyst at California State University Channel Islands, where he builds and operates security capabilities that improve visibility, detection, and response across the enterprise. He has led the design and implementation of integrated XDR, SIEM, and SOAR operations, developing detection use cases, correlation logic, and automated response playbooks to reduce risk and strengthen incident handling.

Before moving fully into security operations, Juan supported core infrastructure as a Linux System Administrator and Data Center Architect, managing CentOS and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) environments and helping deliver reliable virtualization and storage platforms, including VMware and vSAN. His background spans building resilient systems, hardening platforms, and translating real-world attacker techniques into practical defensive controls.

Juan holds GIAC certifications including GCIH, GCDA, and GPEN. His professional interests include detection engineering, incident response, identity-based threats, security automation, and operational excellence in resource-constrained environments. He values collaboration and knowledge sharing and enjoys connecting with peers to exchange strategies that make security programs more effective and sustainable in higher education.