Alan Paller

Alan Terry Paller was born on September 17, 1945, in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1967, he graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He received his master's degree in 1968 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His father, Benjamin Paller, was an engineer, while his mother, Ruth Pearl Paller, taught English at a high school.

Early career

After graduation, he worked for the Institute for Defense Analyses where he learned of security risks in computer systems for missile-defense needs. Paller co-founded the SANS Institute in 1989 with his wife to promote efficient system management and secure operations. Earlier in his career, Paller worked for the United States Navy, using computers to assist in ship design, before co-founding a computer timesharing company in Hawaii and later establishing a consultancy specializing in applied computer graphics technology. The SANS Institute was established in 1988 as a cooperative for information security professionals to exchange technical information and receive training. During this period, the institute expanded its training, certification and research activities.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Paller worked as a consultant on the application of computer technology for government and private-sector organizations. His experience across engineering, software development and systems management later influenced the practical approach adopted by the SANS Institute toward cybersecurity education and professional training.

Paller co-founded the SANS Institute in 1988 with his wife as a cooperative for information security professionals to exchange technical knowledge and operational experience. Under his leadership, it expanded into a provider of cybersecurity training, professional certifications, conferences and research, becoming one of the best-known organizations in the field.

In 2005, Paller founded the SANS Technology Institute, an accredited graduate institution specializing in cybersecurity education, and served as its president before becoming president emeritus. He remained involved with the institute after stepping down from its leadership.