About Mark Darland

Technology professional with 23 years of experience delivering enterprise solutions for private sector technology organizations. Proficient in Windows Server, Linux, and advanced encryption methods (Elliptic Curve, RSA), with demonstrated expertise in security hardening aligned to CIS Level 2, OWASP for Tomcat and IIS, and CSA STAR standards.

Extensive AWS background covering S3, RDS, EC2, CloudWatch, CloudTrail, CloudFront, Route 53, and IAM, complemented by deep experience in database migrations (Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL), SQL performance tuning, and Java/.NET application development. Skilled in secure network implementations including DNSSEC, as well as content delivery optimization using Elastic Load Balancing and global Content Delivery Networks.

Mark Darland, software architect, smiling in a light blue dress shirt against a neutral studio backdrop

Core Competencies

NIST Cybersecurity Framework Implementation

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides comprehensive frameworks that have become foundational for cybersecurity governance across public and private sectors. I have extensive experience implementing the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), which organizes security activities into five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.

  • •Implementation of NIST SP 800-53 security controls for federal information systems
  • •Application of NIST SP 800-171 for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
  • •Risk assessments following NIST SP 800-30 methodologies
  • •Support for NIST's Risk Management Framework (RMF) outlined in SP 800-37
  • •Cryptographic standards implementation aligned with FIPS 140-3 requirements

Center for Internet Security (CIS) Benchmarks

CIS Controls and benchmarks provide prioritized security measures for organizations. I specialize in applying these controls to harden systems across diverse technology environments, focusing on the critical security controls that provide the greatest risk reduction.

  • •Implementation of CIS Level 2 hardening for Windows Server 2022/2025 and RedHat Linux 9
  • •Configuration of secure baselines for IIS 10.5, Tomcat 9.0, and Apache Web Server
  • •Database security hardening for Oracle 12c, MS SQL Server 2022/2019, and MySQL 8
  • •Application of CIS Controls for inventory management, access control, and continuous monitoring
  • •Integration of automated configuration scanning and compliance reporting

OWASP Security Standards

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) provides industry-standard guidance for securing web applications. I have implemented OWASP controls across application servers and development frameworks to mitigate common vulnerabilities.

  • •Application of OWASP Top 10 controls for web application security
  • •Implementation of input validation and output encoding to prevent injection attacks
  • •Configuration of secure authentication and session management
  • •Deployment of web application firewalls (WAF) with OWASP ModSecurity rulesets
  • •Security testing aligned with OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS)

AWS Cloud Security Architecture

As an AWS Solutions Architect Professional with Security Specialty certification, I design and implement secure cloud architectures leveraging AWS GovCloud and commercial regions. My approach emphasizes defense in depth, least privilege access, and continuous monitoring.

  • •Design of secure VPC architectures with proper network segmentation
  • •Implementation of IAM policies following principle of least privilege
  • •Configuration of CloudWatch, CloudTrail, and AWS Config for security monitoring
  • •Deployment of S3 bucket policies, encryption, and access logging
  • •Integration of AWS security services including GuardDuty, Security Hub, and Macie

Risk Management Framework (RMF)

The RMF provides a structured process for integrating security and risk management activities into the system development lifecycle. I have supported organizations through all phases of the RMF, from categorization through continuous monitoring.

  • •System categorization following FIPS 199 and FIPS 200 standards
  • •Security control selection and tailoring from NIST SP 800-53
  • •Development of System Security Plans (SSP) and assessment documentation
  • •Coordination of security control assessments and authorization processes
  • •Establishment of continuous monitoring programs for ongoing authorization

Unified Threat Management

Modern threat landscapes require integrated security tools that provide visibility across the entire infrastructure. I have experience implementing and managing unified security platforms that combine multiple protection mechanisms.

  • •Integration of Elasticsearch and Syslog-NG for centralized log aggregation
  • •Configuration of SIEM solutions for threat detection and incident response
  • •Deployment of intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS)
  • •Implementation of endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions
  • •Correlation of security events across network, host, and application layers

Professional Approach

Effective security requires balancing technical controls with organizational culture and business objectives. My approach emphasizes practical, risk-based solutions that protect assets while enabling operational efficiency. I work collaboratively with stakeholders across all levels to build security programs that are both robust and sustainable.

Throughout my career, I have remained committed to continuous learning and staying current with evolving threats, technologies, and regulatory requirements. This includes maintaining multiple AWS certifications (Solutions Architect Professional, Security Specialty, Solutions Architect Associate, Developer Associate, Cloud Practitioner) and CompTIA CySA+ certification. This dedication ensures that the security strategies I develop remain effective in an ever-changing landscape.

The security frameworks I implement—NIST CSF 2.0, CIS Controls, OWASP standards, and cloud-native security services—provide a structured foundation while remaining flexible enough to adapt to each organization's unique requirements. Whether hardening operating systems, securing databases, implementing cryptographic controls, or architecting cloud solutions, my focus remains on delivering measurable security improvements that align with business goals.

Technical Environment

Operating Systems

  • •Windows Server 2022/2025
  • •RedHat Linux 9
  • •Amazon Linux

Cloud Platforms

  • •AWS GovCloud
  • •Nutanix
  • •S3, RDS, EC2, CloudWatch
  • •CloudTrail, CloudFront, Route 53

Content Delivery

  • •IIS 10.5
  • •Tomcat 9.0
  • •Apache Web Server
  • •Elastic Load Balancing

Databases

  • •Oracle 12c
  • •MS SQL Server 2022/2019
  • •MySQL 8

Languages

  • •AWS Java SDK
  • •AWS Microsoft .NET SDK
  • •PL/SQL, XML
  • •C#, PowerShell, Ansible

Development Tools

  • •Java Eclipse
  • •Microsoft Visual Studio 2022/2019

Hardware Infrastructure

  • •HPE
  • •Cisco VCenter
  • •IBM Blade Center
  • •Cisco Catalyst
  • •Palo Alto and Juniper

Security Tools

  • •Elasticsearch
  • •Syslog-NG
  • •DNSSEC
  • •Elliptic Curve, RSA