Security is a huge area of importance for the media and entertainment industry. Vince Fusco, security operations manager, Trusted Partner Network, tells TVBEurope how he found his way into the industry following a stint at America’s National Security Agency.
Talk us through an average day in your role.
Since I started working at the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the Trusted Partner Network (TPN) in July, my average day is never dull and always exciting and fast-paced. TPN is really paving the way forward with its initiative and serves as a benchmark to support content owners and service / software providers in managing their security preparedness across the entire content media chain. While one of my main roles is to review and update the MPA best practices, I am also responsible for various QC aspects of the TPN programme and work with the rest of the TPN team on a daily basis to keep forward momentum and provide excellent support to our stakeholders. I also get to work with other industry organisations such as the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and third-party assessors on security preparedness, the TPN+ platform developers to help facilitate updates, and engage with content owners on security control feedback.
How did you get started in the media industry?
In 2018, while working as an information security consultant, I was approached by an acquaintance, who owned a post production facility. They asked me to assist them with their Trusted Partner Program assessment. It opened up an opportunity for me to use my security background, and join an industry that I had always had a passion for, and been curious about. Later that year, I became one of the first assessors for TPN and the rest is history.
What training did you have before entering the industry?
My background prior to entering the media industry was almost exclusively security-focused. My graduate programme at the University of Tulsa was sponsored by the Department of Defense, recruiting talent for the federal government to grow their cyber capabilities around 2012. This led to a five-year project in Ft. Meade, Maryland working in a highly technical role at the National Security Agency. After my time in government, I went back home to Tulsa, Oklahoma to pursue work as an information security consultant, specialising in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) advisory and assessments. All in all, my career has provided me with a broad range of experiences in the security business with clients across many industries.
Why do you enjoy working in the industry?
As a life-long and unabashed movie lover, I have always been enamoured with anything in the media and entertainment industry. I have always wanted to work with content creators to help them protect their craft, and to support the industry as a whole to secure our valuable content. I appreciate that I get to make an impact in an industry that I love day in and day out.
What piece of advice would you offer someone looking to explore a role similar to yours?
I believe in seeking out career opportunities that truly excite you, and when I applied for the job at TPN, it felt like a fresh opportunity. So, I would suggest that folks pursue what they enjoy. I also believe it’s important to lean on your whole network, rather than just your professional contacts. It’s amazing what connections you find yourself with that can lead you to a new opportunity. In fact, I was initially alerted to TPN through a family friend; someone who I had never worked with professionally. Also, considering a change in career path may be a bit frightening at first, and I’ve been navigating this idea for the past 18 months. I just wasn’t interested in doing “the same old thing” and I wanted something that would help me grow as a person and in my career. I can openly say to anyone who asks – passion drives success.
