SECRET 01
The Glass
I'm not writing in the air. There's a sheet of glass between me and the camera, which zooms in until the edges crop out. That makes the writing appear to float in midair.
IBM DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER · MASTER INVENTOR · PROFESSOR
warming up the studio lights…
Cybersecurity and AI, explained in light.
Four decades of cybersecurity, taught on a sheet of glass to viewers around the world.
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Years in IT & security
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Views on the videos
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Keynote presentations
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Countries with clients
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Years as Adjunct Professor

ON THE SHELF
AUTHOR
Inside Internet Security
CONTRIBUTOR
Information Security Management Handbook
THE STORY
Hi I am Jeff, an IBM Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor with more than 40 years in the IT industry, a PhD in Cybersecurity, and an Adjunct Professor at NC State University. I also authored “Inside Internet Security: What Hackers Don't Want You To Know”, contributed to the Information Security Management Handbook, and serve on the editorial board of the Information and Computer Security research journal.
I architected some of the world's first secure e-commerce payment systems, lived in Beijing on assignment, and worked with clients in 50 countries. Then I picked up a neon marker and became one of the most-watched Cybersecurity and AI teachers on the planet, with YouTube videos viewed more than 30 million times.
“When I'm in my classroom, I can talk to about 25 students. When I'm here on YouTube, I get to talk to the world.”
HOW THE MAGIC WORKS
They say a magician should never reveal how the trick is done, but I'm a teacher, not a magician, so I want you to know. Here goes... The number one question from viewers: how do you write backwards? I don't. So here they are the four secrets behind every lightboard video.
SECRET 01
I'm not writing in the air. There's a sheet of glass between me and the camera, which zooms in until the edges crop out. That makes the writing appear to float in midair.
SECRET 02
A light ring around the glass illuminates me and a second ring of blacklight makes special neon dry-erase markers fluoresce. That's the glow physics.
SECRET 03
Sorry to say, but I can't write backwards. I can barely write forwards. The writing is normal. We just flip the video left to right during post-production. That's why I look left-handed on YouTube. I am not. Try the FLIP button on the lightboard above.
SECRET 04
A director-producer oversees the process while a professional videographer and sound tech do the recording. Sometimes they help with the drawings too (see angry dog).
“IT TAKES A VILLAGE” — DIRECTOR · PRODUCER · VIDEOGRAPHER · SOUND TECH · STUDIOS WORLDWIDE
THE CAREER
1982: I started as an entry-level programmer on IBM's flagship network management software while still in college. I worked my way up to senior programmer in subsequent years.
2026: I'm the Distinguished Engineer drawing AI security in glowing ink for millions. Here's every stop in between.
1982
IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC
IBM
Team leader, programmer and designer on NetView, IBM's flagship network management software. A four-decade story that starts at a terminal.
1984
EDUCATION
NC State University
The degree that started it all and decades later, an induction into the inaugural class of the NC State Computer Science Alumni Hall of Fame.
1989
IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC
IBM Tivoli
Led a team of senior technical subject matter experts supporting IBM Tivoli systems and network management products around the world.
1997
IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC
IBM
Architected secure IT infrastructures, including some of the world's first secure e-commerce payment systems plus identity & access management and mobile device security.
2006
IBM · BEIJING, CHINA
IBM
An international assignment architecting secure solutions for clients across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan part of a career spanning clients in 50 countries.
2007
IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC
IBM
Lead security architect for IBM security solutions worldwide, running client workshops and briefings, and mentoring colleagues across the globe.
2009
IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC
IBM
Sixteen years as cybersecurity architect for the Americas, identifying security needs, defining requirements and setting strategic direction based on industry best practice.
2019
EDUCATION
University of Plymouth
A doctorate earned mid-career because the best teachers never stop being students.
2020
TEACHING · ENGINEERING BUILDING II, RALEIGH
NC State University
“In my classroom I can talk to about 25 students. On YouTube, I get to talk to the world.” Now teaching cybersecurity where it all began.
2025
IBM · RALEIGH, NC
IBM
Working with clients on cybersecurity architectures for protecting data and AI and drawing it all out, in neon, on the IBM Technology lightboard.
THE PHILOSOPHY
Zero Trust is the idea that no user, device or network is trusted by default inside the perimeter or out. Every request proves itself, every time.
It was the subject of my very first video. The concept needed a guard for the house in my analogy. So Dave, the artist behind the camera, drew one — an angry neon dog. Viewers loved him so much he started making cameo appearances in other videos, and eventually ended up on a commemorative shirt Dave made for me.
⌁ SECURE PERIMETER — K-9 UNIT ⌁
Fido — THE ANGRY DOG
GUARDING THE HOUSE SINCE ZERO TRUST VIDEO #1
Drawn by Dave. The guy that filmed, edited and did graphics for all of my early videos. Beloved by the YouTube comment section. FIDO checks everyone, every packet, every time. Hover to hear his policy. Click to submit your credentials.
POURING THE GLASS…
SPECIMEN 001 — THE MAN BEHIND THE GLASS · MOVE YOUR CURSOR · TAP AND DRAG
RECOGNITION
You see the writing. Here's the record of the person holding the marker.
BOOK
Author of “Inside Internet Security: What Hackers Don't Want You To Know”, demystifying attackers for the people defending against them.
CONTRIBUTOR
Contributing author to the industry-standard reference for security practitioners.
HALL OF FAME
Member of the inaugural class honored by the same computer science department that awarded the B.S. degree.
TITLES
Some of IBM's highest technical designations, plus a seat on the editorial board of the “Information and Computer Security” research journal.
WHY THE VIDEOS EXIST
“I have a passion for teaching. It feels good to reach out and help as many people as I can.
So many people taugh me, so this is my way of paying it forward.”
25
STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM
THE WORLD
ON THE IBM TECHNOLOGY CHANNEL
ON STAGE
The lightboard reaches further, but a room still does something a camera can't. Summits, symposiums, university conferences and federal briefings. A hundred-plus of them, on AI and Cybersecurity and the attack surface that arrived with the technology.




RECENT APPEARANCES
WALLISELLEN (ZÜRICH), SWITZERLAND
“¿La IA eliminará o creará empleos?”
CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
NEW YORK, NY · NOVEMBER
“Deepfakes and Synthetic Reality: Blurring the Lines”
“AI: The New Attack Surface”
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
DUKE UNIVERSITY, DURHAM, NC
“AI: The New Attack Surface”
“Enhancing Federal Citizen Services with Zero Trust & AI Innovations”
MONTRÉAL, CANADA
KEYNOTES · PANELS · PODCASTS · CLASSROOMS · INTERNAL BRIEFINGS
IN THEIR WORDS
We hired Jeff to keynote a major conference on AI and the crowd loved him! His message was dialed into the audience, he shared his expertise thoughtfully and with the right amount of humor, and he received extremely high ratings afterwards. We are bringing him back and believe he’ll be a major part of our events going forward.
Ian Heller
CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY GROUP, LLC
Jeff’s speech on AI was one of the highlights of our annual event. He combined deep expertise with a unique way of presenting, making even complex technical topics easy to follow and enjoyable for everyone in the room. Jeff kept the audience engaged throughout by combining clear explanations, an innovative style, and a great sense of humour.
Omicron AG
CONTACT
Cybersecurity questions, AI discussions, speaking engagements. Guest lectures at universities around the world or a debate about which neon marker glows brightest under blacklight. The door stays open, and so does the comment section.