Mikko Axelson
As a security evangelist As a security evangelist, I strive to make complex information easy to understand and advanced technology transparent to users. By visualizing and translating data into actionable insights, I provide businesses with intelligence that is easily comprehensible and can be used to make informed decisions.
My mission is to ensure that IT and related controls enable businesses and serve people, rather than disrupt or hinder them. One of my core principles is that it should be difficult to make mistakes and easy to do things correctly; otherwise, adjustments are necessary.
Successful and rapid decision-making relies on understanding whether the current situation is the same, better, or worse than it was yesterday.
Profile
I am an experienced principal information security advisor, architect, and consultant with a broad technical background in it-security, it- compliance, and risk management. I deliver my commitments efficiently and objectively with the highest quality.
Easy to work with and enjoy life, I live in Ekerö, Stockholm, with my beloved wife and son. To maintain work-life balance, I spend my free time with family, scuba diving (mostly with my son), and engaging in various construction activities, gardening, computers and home automation, photography, and video, although not all at once.
Since 1998, I have participated in and led several successful projects and roles in the field of information security, encompassing design, projects, and the implementation of infrastructure and security solutions.
Working in various roles as a leading security advisor, architect, creative manager, and mentor with a focus on security and compliance, I have gained broad knowledge in many areas and the ability to specialize when needed. I am accustomed to working both independently and in groups to achieve set goals and am appreciated by clients, teammates, and management.
My assignments have mostly been related to the financial sector and socially critical high-security solutions for the public sector, always with IT security and compliance in focus. This has given me a very good understanding of business requirements and how they affect IT and related risks and vice versa.
I always use a pragmatic approach to security and enjoy designing, implementing, and describing security solutions and related flows, as well as formulating criteria and evaluating solutions from a security perspective. I speak out and share my thoughts, whether positive or negative.
In summary, I am proficient in handling itsecurity-related assignments within strategy, architecture, design, risk and vulnerability assessments, visualization, cyber resilience, policies, and frameworks. I assess security and compliance for solutions, systems, and processes.
I have worked in the IT security field since 1998 and have been playing with computers since 1981..
Consultancy areas and expertise
Imagine... easily understanding whether your risk, security, and compliance levels are better, worse, or the same as yesterday. How would that impact your business decisions?
Informed business decisions are often based on gut feeling and the “it worked yesterday” principle. However, they become far more credible when grounded in comprehensible data and actual risk assessments.
With today’s tools, automation, and AI-driven Business Intelligence systems, this vision becomes reality. You no longer have to imagine.
If you are able to easily understand if your risk, security and compliance level are better, worse or the same as yesterday, how would that affect your business decisions?
Helping you in any area, from start to end or just between, click on the picture below to see how I can assist
Skills
- General computers 40+ years
- Information security 20+ years
- Security assessments 20+ years
- Documentation 20+years
- Risk and compliance 10+years
- PCI DSS, ISO2700x 15+ years
- Network and security tech 20+y
- Servers, virtualization and infrastructure 15+ years
Industry knowledge
- Managed Services 20+ years
- Financial Sector 10+ years
- Public Sector 7+ years
- National security 3+ years
Current certifications
- CISSP, since 2009
- CISM, since 2011
- CRISC, since 2012
Language
- Swedish, native
- English, fluent
Employments
Security Consultant Trafikförvaltningen, CGI
Security Manager, Public sector, CGI
Service architecht, Sweden RegTech, CGI
Lead Information Security Advisor, Tieto AB
Red team NISÖ 2018, Tieto
Lead Security Architect, Security services - Tieto
Lead Security Specialist, Tieto AB
Senior Security Consultant, TrueSec AB
Senior Security Specialist, Tieto Sverige AB
IT specialist, Abaris AB
Engagement and interests
Engagement and having fun is key elements in success as a security advisor and manager, or any other area. I’m not afraid taking decisions, and I have no prestige in those decisions, better to take a faulty decision that can be adjusted then no decision at all. But most of all I need to have fun and challanging environments to thrive.
I adjust as we go along.
Diving with my son is something I realy enjoy, mostly dive in sweden and the red sea. CMAS** / SSI Diveguide
Prima eSport
Involved in eSport as my son finds it interesting, it’s an another world, So between 2019-2022 I was chairman of the board for Prima eSport Ekerö. Involved in bootcamps, LAN party and related activities
Hockey youth skating coach
Beetween 2015-2019 I was leader in youth hockeyschool as volunteer, training youth to scate and have fun
Hockey coach / leader Team-06
Between 2012-2019 I was headcoach/assistantcoach for Ekerö IK / Skå IK Team-06
