For over 25 years, Todd Atkins has been a pioneer of cybersecurity at UCSB, and a witness as to how much security at UCSB has evolved.
“I started out as an army of one,” Todd recalls. “When I joined, security wasn’t even its own department yet. Now we’ve got a team of eight, handling everything from incident response to vulnerability management and engineering.”
Todd’s role today centers on making the security operations team effective and efficient. “My primary job is ensuring we have the right tools to make our jobs easier in the SOC,” he explains. “Some tools we write ourselves. Some are open source or purchased, but they all need to be configured and maintained for our environment.”
He’s also deeply involved in the platforms used to manage vulnerabilities and assets across UCSB. “We're working with five different sources of vulnerability data now, and our system normalizes that information so unit IT leads can track and reduce their risk.”
Todd’s cybersecurity journey began during his first job at Stanford University in the late ’80s. “One day, I came into work and everyone was frantically typing away. The Morris worm had hit,” he remembers. “They told me to grab a cup of coffee and start helping. That was my introduction to security.”
That firsthand experience with one of the first major national cybersecurity incidents set the tone for his career. It also led him to conferences like Usenix, where he later presented a paper on a tool he developed, ironically named "swatch," a name he used until the Swiss watch company asked him to stop.
Todd’s first job at UCSB wasn’t in the cybersecurity department. “I started doing systems programming for the College of Engineering,” but in 2000, a campus incident prompted the creation of a new role—network security coordinator. “I saw the job posting and thought, ‘That’s right up my alley.’”
Since then, Todd has been instrumental in transforming UCSB’s security program. “We’ve grown to have distinct teams for incident response, risk management, and engineering,” he notes. “That structure lets us focus more deeply on each area.”
When asked about the biggest emerging risk in cybersecurity, Todd doesn’t hesitate: “AI,” he says. “It’s just so abusable. From deepfake voices to tailored phishing messages, it makes attacks more convincing.” He also notes how AI can aid in developing malicious code. “Right now, it still takes someone with skill to get that last 10% working. But once it hits 100%... anyone could describe what they want and get it built.”
Todd’s advice for those looking to enter the field? Start small and explore. “Cybersecurity covers so many different roles, technical and non-technical. Look at job descriptions, find what excites you, and guide your learning toward that.” He recommends webinars and listening to professionals talk about their work. “Even when you’re in the job, you have to keep learning—especially from other people’s successes and mistakes.”
Todd stays current by attending conferences and listening to podcasts. “Almost every tool I’ve used over the years came from a conference talk or someone I met there,” he says. “The two platforms we use now, I first heard about on a podcast. I thought, ‘That’s what I need.’ It took four years to get funding—but now we have it.” Conferences also offer another vital resource: community. “You hear what others are struggling with, what’s working for them. It’s where the best ideas come from.”
When he's not safeguarding UCSB’s networks, Todd enjoys the music and wine scenes of Santa Barbara.
“I love live music,” he says. “In Santa Barbara, you can pretty much see a show every day of the week.”
Todd also has a well-established side hustle in the wine business, which he describes as being “neck deep.” He works in a tasting room where he shares not only the wines but also the stories behind them, highlighting the culture, people, and passion that go into each bottle. “A lot of people actually think I work in wine full-time,” he jokes.
Todd’s hobbies don’t stop there, he also DJs, brews beers, and is a huge English Soccer fan. Whether he's securing networks or making music, Todd brings the same passion, expertise, and dedication that has made him a pivotal figure in cybersecurity at UCSB.