Alethe Denis is a well-recognized leader in cybersecurity. Her lauded work and expertise influence how organizations approach risk, resilience, and deception in the digital space. As a senior security consultant at Bishop Fox, Ms. Denis plays a central role in advancing red team services, helping clients prepare for and respond to sophisticated cyber threats. She leads the development of red team tabletop exercises, collaborating with leadership teams to craft immersive, scenario-based simulations that test security readiness and decision-making under pressure.
Before immigrating to the United States, Ms. Denis completed coursework toward a bachelor’s degree in chemical and molecular sciences with a minor in computer science at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Her studies laid the groundwork for her analytical approach and interdisciplinary thinking in cybersecurity.
At Bishop Fox, Ms. Denis designed and leads the Tabletop Exercise service line, including the development of the Cyber Incident Response (IR) Resilience Scorecard, an evaluative framework used to measure organizational performance during facilitated tabletop exercises. She also chairs the Tabletop Service Line Advisory Board, guiding continuous service improvement and innovation. Additionally, she adapted a social engineering and pretexting training she originally developed for U.S. Army Special Operations to suit private sector clients, integrating it into the Red Team Program Build Workshop as part of Bishop Fox’s Red Team Program Build service line.
A pioneer in using synthetic media for security testing, Ms. Denis was among the first at Bishop Fox to integrate deepfake technology into red team operations. Her work in this space helped create a new service line focused on the use of deepfakes in social engineering engagements, pushing the boundaries of what organizations must defend against in today’s threat landscape.
Prior to her role at Bishop Fox, Ms. Denis was a senior consultant and cybersecurity consultant at Critical Insight. In these roles, she provided strategic guidance, performed security assessments, and supported organizations in strengthening their cyber defenses. Her consulting work deepened her expertise in enterprise security and client engagement. Earlier in her career, Ms. Denis co-founded Dragonfly Security and was its principal consultant. Along with helping to launch the company and guide its early services, she took on both technical responsibilities and business leadership. This experience underscored her entrepreneurial mindset and ability to drive innovation in security services.
Ms. Denis’s professional journey also includes leadership roles beyond cybersecurity. She worked as a market intelligence manager at ManpowerGroup Talent Solutions, a title officer and lead at Fidelity National Financial, title officer at Yosemite Title Company, and held the position of chief financial officer at PENGUIN. At iMagicLab, she gained experience in social media, search engine marketing, online community management, and technical support. She also held operational and sales roles at AT&T, building skills in quality assurance, compliance and customer relations.
Outside of her professional work, Ms. Denis is an active member of the cybersecurity community. She serves as a goon in the Global DEF CON Groups department and has been involved with InfraGard as a member and presenter. Her contributions have earned her honors such as a DEF CON Black Badge and a place in the DEF CON Black Badge Hall of Fame for winning first place in the 2019 Social Engineering Capture the Flag competition at DEF CON. She, along with her team, also placed first and second in the TraceLabs global open-source intelligence competitions, then going on to win the coveted most valuable OSINT Award.
Ms. Denis is working on a book about social engineering as it relates to red teaming and regularly mentors individuals entering the field. She lives with her husband, four children, their German shepherd, and a flock of chickens. She finds balance and motivation through her family life, which inspires and grounds her work in the fast-paced world of cybersecurity.