David Wolf · Project Use Case
AI SECURITY · PRODUCT SECURITY · SPLUNK
Splunk
Product Security Program Buildout
Building a scalable, evidence-driven product security function for a global enterprise software platform.
Partnered with Splunk to build and scale the product security program, strengthen secure development practices, and create the evidence, process, and organizational alignment needed to support a global software platform and...
Client
Splunk Inc.
Engagement Type
Full-Time
Period
2014–2015
Role
Senior Product Security Engineer
Focus Areas
Product Security Program Buildout, Secure Software Development Lifecycle, Risk Management and Vulnerability Management, Security Testing and...
The Research Narrative
Strategic Problem
Product security efforts were distributed, inconsistent, and reactive. The organization needed stronger program foundations, clearer risk visibility, better engineering adoption, and enterprise-grade evidence...
What David Did
Built the product security function from the ground up and established the operating model, processes, tooling, and culture required to scale securely.
What Became Clearer
Transformed product security into a strategic, measurable, and trusted function that improved the security posture of Splunk's platform and enabled faster, safer delivery.
Consulting Proof
This is evidence of turning messy security telemetry into explainable dashboards, alert-quality improvements, and executive-ready operating views.
The Context
Splunk is a leading data platform that powers critical security, observability, and IT operations for global enterprises. As the product portfolio expanded and customer security expectations increased, Splunk needed a strong, measurable, and scalable product security function to reduce risk and accelerate secure innovation.
The Challenge
Product security efforts were distributed, inconsistent, and reactive. The organization needed stronger program foundations, clearer risk visibility, better engineering adoption, and enterprise-grade evidence to meet customer and regulatory expectations.
What I Did
Built the product security function from the ground up and established the operating model, processes, tooling, and culture required to scale securely.
- •Defined product security strategy and multi-year roadmap
- •Established secure SDLC, threat modeling, and risk management practices
- •Built vulnerability management and PSIRT-aligned processes
- •Implemented security testing and automation at scale
- •Established security metrics, KPIs, dashboards, and executive reporting
- •Drove security enablement for engineering teams
- •Partnered across GRC, IT, Product, Engineering, Legal, and Executive Leadership
- •Strengthened customer-facing security evidence and security answer capabilities
The Outcome
Transformed product security into a strategic, measurable, and trusted function that improved the security posture of Splunk's platform and enabled faster, safer delivery.
Research Outcomes
Alert Trust
Reduced noise and improved signal quality for IAM and access-control alerts
Operational Clarity
Translated complex security data into clearer operating views
Executive Visibility
Built dashboards leaders could trust for decision-making
Operational Impact
Turned raw telemetry into actionable security intelligence
Capabilities Demonstrated
SIEM Alert Debugging
Noise reduction and signal validation
Dashboard Development
Operational and executive views
Executive Reporting
Security data translated for leadership
Public-Safe Evidence
Shareable insights without sensitive data
Security Analytics
Signal investigation and event analysis
IAM / Access Control
Identity telemetry and access insights
Telemetry Normalization
Consistent and trusted data
Operational Reporting
Actionable views for security operations
Key Deliverables
- •Product security strategy and roadmap
- •Secure SDLC and threat modeling program
- •Vulnerability management and PSIRT process
- •Security testing program and automation
- •Security architecture review board
- •Security metrics, executive reporting, and KPI dashboards
- •Security enablement and engineering training
- •Risk management and exception process
Tools & Technologies
Consulting Translation
The reusable pattern is not Disney-specific: normalize fragmented security telemetry, debug low-signal alert behavior, build trusted operating views, and give leadership evidence they can act on without exposing sensitive systems.