Faces of SteelCloud: Trained on Client Needs
Fred Galzerano is a jack of many trades when it comes to IT. He’s worked in medical IT. He’s worked in data centers. He’s worked for an internet pioneer. And he’s even worked for a rock and roll legend. But his best job so far? As the Training and Sales Engineering Lead at SteelCloud. Training is a topic we don’t often talk about, so we sat down with Fred to hear more about how it works with SteelCloud and ConfigOS.
What goes into training at SteelCloud?
The training we offer for ConfigOS is customized for every client and every policy. So there is a lot of conferring with clients to understand what they are trying to accomplish prior to the training session. My team focuses largely on clients and their use cases. As trainers, it’s about tailoring training to answer specific use cases and challenges. And as sales engineers it’s about identifying use cases and looking for better ways to solve challenges and speak to clients’ needs.
Does everyone need training? And how long does it take?
Everyone needs training on ConfigOS. It’s possible to read the manual and train yourself, but that has only happened once. That said, ConfigOS is easy to use and learn. The baseline training takes an hour to an hour-and-a-half. Customized trainings might take an hour or two more. So you can learn to automate STIG and CIS processes in an afternoon. Once a client gets their hands on the product after the training, they are pretty competent. They may have a question or two after having used it for a bit, but it’s usually something minor. We generally don’t hear from them much after that, which is a good sign.
When do you usually see an “aha” moment with ConfigOS?
A lot of the challenge happens in just learning a different way to do things after so many years of manual work. Beyond that, people are used to scanning tools. But the real aha moment comes when they realize they are not just scanning with ConfigOS, but they are remediating at the same time. And remediation happens according to their configurations and their policies. They may understand this intellectually going into the training. But when they see it actually happen, it can blow their minds. Beyond that, the surprise is in just how much time the application saves, especially around reporting.
SteelCloud recruited you for your job. Why did you say yes?
I was looking for something different. I was in job in a less structured environment, working in a Windows environment when I feel more comfortable with Linux. SteelCloud initially hired me to help write some scripts. That turned into implementation, which turned into training. What I found was that SteelCloud struck that balance between a structured environment and one that is also empowered and trusting.
Why do you love doing what you do at SteelCloud?
The environment we have at SteelCloud is exceptional. I like working with the people I work with. I like teaching customers something new and seeing them go from not knowing anything about the product to being proficient it in just hours. I like that every client has a unique environment—it’s never the same workplace twice. And I like the freedom and flexibility we have to work with clients and meet their specific needs.
What do you think SteelCloud does best?
SteelCloud is able to shift dynamically. A lot of IT is prevention, rather than trying to stop a hack. So SteelCloud excels at shifting to address the ways things are changing, and even staying ahead of the curve. In an industry that can be marked by chaos and change, we are able to roll with the punches and make our company and our clients stronger in the process.
Finally, what kind of impact do you see SteelCloud having on the industry?
Our company allows customers to focus on other things. It’s that simple. STIGs are a huge requirement and they are updated quarterly. That’s a heavy load for any team to bear. We turn it from a full-time job for the team to something that can be managed by one person alongside their other duties. It’s a game changer for those who use it. And in an environment where experts are hard to come by and risks are high, it’s a necessity.
When Fred isn’t thinking about use cases and how to make client’s lives easier, he likes to hang out with his friends, cook dinner and listen to psychedelic rock, folk punk, and other alternative music. Some of his favorite bands are King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Amigo the Devil, and Bridge City Sinners. Fred also enjoys writing short stories a’ la Stephen King.
