Jim Leone Technology Expert

About Me

Innovative IT Leader | Bridging Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, and Business Strategy

I’ve been working with computers since I was 12 years old, and nearly everything about my professional journey has been driven by a deep passion for technology, problem-solving, and pushing boundaries. With over 25 years in IT leadership, primarily within MSPs, enterprise infrastructure, and security operations, I’ve dedicated my career to building systems that are not just technically sound, but strategically aligned with business goals.

I specialize in translating complex technical needs into actionable outcomes that drive efficiency, security, and scalability. Whether it’s standing up a fully integrated monitoring pipeline with Grafana and Prometheus, automating threat detection and reporting with tools like FortiSIEM and BigPanda, or leading red team operations to validate security controls, I bring both hands-on experience and a leadership mindset to everything I do.

Over the years, I’ve worked across a range of industries, including pharmaceutical, medical, food and beverage, banking and finance, technology, and accounting. Each sector has sharpened my ability to navigate unique compliance frameworks, lead diverse teams, and deliver high-impact results in both regulated and fast-paced environments.

Today, I lead SOC and NOC operations at Spectrotel, managing a broad technology stack that includes FortiEDR, Varonis, Darktrace, Rapid7, and InfluxDB, as well as major cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP. My role spans security, observability, automation, and compliance across PCI, HIPAA, SOC2, and NIST frameworks.

Beyond the technical side, I’m a strong advocate for mentoring and building high-performing teams. I believe the best leaders create space for others to grow while still leading from the front, especially during complex migrations, security incidents, or transformation efforts.

My Story

I was introduced to computing early, and by the time I was 12, I was already writing software and participating in the BBS community. I taught structured Pascal to adults at 14, worked professionally as a CICS programmer at 16, and by 18, had turned my basement into a fully operational BBS platform with over 300 paying subscribers, running on a fractional T1 line.

At 20, I was working for DataComm Warehouse, supporting enterprise systems while earning certifications in Novell NetWare, Microsoft NT, and Lotus Notes. At 23, I joined McAfee as a virus reverse engineer, analyzing malicious code, diving into Slackware Linux and Unix systems, and further developing my passion for security and open-source technology.

That led to senior technical leadership roles at companies like Chock Full o’ Nuts (later Sara Lee), where I managed enterprise infrastructure across HP-UX systems, Novell networks, Cisco routers, and nationwide frame relay circuits. I led global deployment projects, supported Sybase and EDI systems, and managed ISO compliance.

Later roles included IT Manager at St. Barnabas Hospital, where I modernized network operations with SMDS and SONET, and Director of IT at Withum, where I oversaw internal and client-facing teams, built out business continuity frameworks, and transformed IT operations.

Throughout my career, I’ve remained focused on:

Aligning IT strategy with business goals

Building resilient, secure systems

Leading with integrity and curiosity

Beyond IT

I’m also deeply interested in quantum physics, AI, and consciousness, fascinated by the intersection of science, technology, and the unknown. Concepts like quantum entanglement, time dilation, Schrödinger’s cat, and "spooky action at a distance" influence how I think about systems, logic, and the potential future of human and machine intelligence. I follow and admire thought leaders like Brian Cox, Stuart Hameroff, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, and I’m actively exploring how emerging technologies like quantum computing and AI will reshape cybersecurity, data science, and innovation itself.

What I Bring

Whether I’m reverse-engineering malware, designing API-driven monitoring pipelines, or leading SOC operations for a national provider, I bring:

• 40+ years of hands-on experience and strategic leadership

• A builder’s mindset with a security-first approach

• Cross-industry insight across healthcare, pharma, finance, tech, and more

• Deep curiosity and lifelong learning, from Pascal to AI

• A commitment to delivering results while elevating others

Let’s connect... whether you're tackling a complex infrastructure challenge, looking to elevate your cybersecurity posture, or just want to talk tech, physics, or where IT is headed next.

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