91. Reinforcing Board Cybersecurity with Gary Evee

In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Gary Evee, cybersecurity leader and founder and CEO of Aprivé. His company is pioneering a concierge approach to cybersecurity protection, providing services that protect high-value individuals and families from the digital threat landscape. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience across IBM, cybersecurity leadership, and board service, Gary explains how breaches increasingly originate through individuals rather than systems.  He highlights how personal devices, home networks, and online data exposure create vulnerabilities for executives and board members, and why cybersecurity must extend beyond the corporate perimeter He currently serves as the board director of Aware Inc. and is a trustee of Dedham Savings Bank. Key takeaways People are the primary cybersecurity risk  Most breaches target individuals and start in simple ways with phishing emails, password reuse, or compromised personal devices.  In cybersecurity, people are the weakest links and organizations often lack in providing continued digital protection for executives once they step outside the company's firewalls Home networks and personal accounts often lack even basic security controls and so cybersecurity is a risk for anyone that works remotely, travels, or brings their work home from the organization. It can even impact your family.  Aprivé: Personal and enterprise-grade cybersecurity The company offers a white-glove services that protect individuals, their home network, devices and digital footprint Aprivé is unlike other cybersecurity companies and proactively helps people get the protection they need in places outside of the enterprise  Aprivé's services cover six pillars Password and credential security Home network hardening Mobile and personal device security Online identity and digital footprint management Financial and account monitoring 24/7 concierge support and incident response Boards and executives are high-value targets with outsized exposure Even the best board portals don't flag when a non-authorized user logs in with stolen credentials taken from a phishing malware or compromised device When an attacker gets access, they can gather information that could lead to reputational damage Aprivé's services ensure everyone within the enterprise is protected, assessing the vulnerability of each individual — especially the C-suite The company also serves high profile and public figures Quotes "People continue to remain the weakest link." " What we found was [people-C-suite leaders and High-value individuals] oftentimes have no one thinking about protecting them once they left the organization." "Even the best board portals assume that the person that's logging on is legitimate." "If I steal your credentials through a phishing malware, a compromised personal device, the system doesn't see me as an attacker, it sees me as a trusted user." Links Aprive  Guest Bio Gary Evee is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, and cybersecurity leader dedicated to redefining how the world's most influential people safeguard their digital lives. As the founder and CEO of Aprivé, he is pioneering the next frontier of personal cybersecurity, Executive & Lifestyle Defense, a model that blends technology, concierge service, and intelligence to protect executives, high-net-worth individuals, and families from the evolving digital threat landscape. With more than 25 years of experience spanning technology, cybersecurity, and business transformation, Gary is known for his rare ability to bridge innovation and trust. Before founding Aprivé, he served as an executive leader in IBM's Cybersecurity Business Unit, helping Fortune 500 CEO's and global enterprises navigate emerging threats while scaling IBM's security portfolio worldwide. In addition to his work with Aprivé, Gary founded Evee Security Consulting Group, advising corporations and public institutions on cyber risk management, identity protection, and incident response. He also founded CyberTrust Massachusetts, a pioneering public-private initiative that develops the next generation of cybersecurity professionals through education, workforce development, and real-work defense programs. Gary erves as a Board Director at Ware Inc. (NASDAW: AWRE), a leading biometrics and identity authentication company, and as a Trustee of Dedham Savings Bank and Charlesbridge Bank. He is also a Visiting Fellow at the National Security Institute at George Mason University, contributing to national discussions on cybersecurity, policy, and technology innovation.  A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Gary regularly shares insights on executive risk, digital identity, and the future of cybersecurity, empowering leaders to safeguard what matters most in an increasingly complex digital world.