Accelerating secure innovation: How Marc Crudgington is redefining cybersecurity for the modern enterprise

In the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity, few leaders embody the perfect intersection of strategic foresight, technical depth, and business acumen, quite like Marc Crudgington. A former U.S. Air Force technologist turned enterprise security visionary, Marc is leading a security transformation that is less about red tape and more about unleashing speed, agility, and resilience at scale.

Marc’s journey began in the Air Force, where he cultivated his technical expertise and forged a leadership philosophy grounded in discipline, clarity, and purpose. Those early experiences became the foundation for his signature approach, helping to transform a series of Fortune 500 companies: Simplifying complexity, enabling speed, and embedding security as a business enabler rather than a blocker.

“Cybersecurity is like the brakes on your Ferrari,” Marc explains. “Brakes aren’t there to slow you down—they’re there so you can drive 180 mph safely.”

Marc’s extensive experience in refining and protecting the environments has instilled a deep sense of responsibility to share his acquired knowledge. He has long served as a member of the CIS Advisory Board for several universities and has also become a published author, with his latest book, The Cyber War Is Here, achieving #1 best-seller status on Amazon.

In 2024, as VP of IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity, Marc launched a comprehensive Security Modernization and Transformation Initiative at Crane Worldwide that is reshaping the organization’s approach to, implementation of, and benefits derived from cybersecurity. His mission? Efficiency and enablement. Marc states, “before the transformation, we needed additional efficiencies and standardizations. My goal was to consolidate complexity and distribute simplicity.” That mantra has come to life through a series of high-impact, business-aligned initiatives:

• A complete refresh of core security infrastructure, including a new MSSP and next-gen SIEM platform
• Implementation of a global SD-WAN network infrastructure
• Deployment of advanced mobile application management (MAM) for better remote access control
• Enhanced DLP capabilities featuring automated document labeling and protection
• Overhaul of conditional access policies to support a zero-trust architecture
• Implementation of a modern data backup and recovery system
• Rollout of a cloud security posture management solution spanning Azure, AWS, GCP, and Oracle
• In-flight deployments of global server EDR, a SASE platform, network access control (NAC), third-party risk management, phishing simulations, email security, and vulnerability management solutions

Each of these efforts is driven with surgical precision, always considering the broader business context. “One of my strengths,” Marc notes, “is translating the value of technology into business terms. Security leaders must speak the language of the boardroom, not just that of the server room.”

This business-oriented mindset is evident in his pursuit of ISO 27001 certification, which is expected to be completed in the near term. For Marc, the certification is not just a compliance checkbox—it’s an affirmation of Crane’s commitment to structured, scalable, and resilient systems.

As a prominent keynote speaker, Forbes Technology Council Member, and VC advisor, Marc isn’t only known for his command of systems and frameworks but also his relentless focus on visibility and adaptability. “You can’t eliminate all risk,” he says, “but you can mitigate it—or at least increase visibility—across systems, processes, and people. That’s where transformation happens.”

Marc offers a bold new blueprint for technology leaders navigating an era where cybersecurity must scale with innovation. He proves that security, when executed with clarity and intent, doesn’t slow the business down—it gives it the confidence to move faster.