Entry

Score

Action

Category / Wining Level

Final Score

Validated Score

Judging Score

Published

Information Technology - Cyber Security
(Platinum Winner)

PO#

#TBA04929

Payment Status

Paid

PO Created Date

2025-04-21 11:49:55

Paid Date

2025-04-21 12:17:14

Competition

2025

Season

Entry ID

TBE105435

Entry Submission Date

2025-04-16 10:40:22

Agent Info

Name

Joseph Kwesi

josephkwesi401@gmail.com

Agent Entry

Yes

Agent Checkout

Member's Name

Malleswar Reddy Yerabolu

Member's Email

malleswarreddyciber@gmail.com

Entry Level

Others

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Published

Private Entry

Yes

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Category

View Entry Info

IT25030 - Cyber Security

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Linkedin Profile Link

Project Description

Project Description for Judges

Question 1 : Provide a brief description / background of your nominated organizational, departmental, team, or individual circumstance. (Your response to this question will be used for public display if your entry is awarded.)

Description
Malleswar Reddy Yerabolu serves as a Senior Security Engineer specializing in Vulnerability Management at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS). In this critical role, he oversees the protection of sensitive health data across state-owned hospitals, public healthcare facilities, and medical applications that serve millions of North Carolinians. With expertise in advanced security tools including Rapid7 and Tenable, Malleswar conducts comprehensive security assessments to identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. His leadership in the NC DHHS Cybersecurity Resilience & Vulnerability Management Initiative has been instrumental in strengthening the state's healthcare IT security infrastructure against emerging cyber threats. Malleswar's proactive approach focuses on risk-based remediation strategies that balance robust security with uninterrupted healthcare operations, crucial for maintaining public health services and safeguarding confidential patient information during critical treatment processes.
Background
Malleswar has established himself as a cybersecurity leader through his implementation of comprehensive security frameworks. His work on the NC DHHS Cybersecurity Resilience & Vulnerability Management Initiative delivered remarkable results, including:
Implementation of advanced vulnerability management protocols that reduced security exposure by 60% while maintaining continuous healthcare operations
Deployment of enhanced security monitoring using SIEM platforms that decreased cybersecurity incidents by 45%
Development of Zero Trust security architecture ensuring secure access controls for patient health records and electronic medical systems
Beyond technical implementations, Malleswar led vital compliance initiatives aligning NC DHHS with HIPAA, NIST 800-171, and HITRUST standards, preventing potential regulatory penalties. He also conducted specialized security awareness training for healthcare professionals, significantly reducing phishing attacks and human-factor vulnerabilities. Through his comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, Malleswar has played a pivotal role in protecting North Carolina's public health infrastructure and ensuring secure, uninterrupted healthcare services for millions of patients statewide. His work represents an outstanding example of how skilled cybersecurity leadership directly translates to enhanced safety and reliability in critical public health systems.

Question 2 : Outline your nominated organizational, departmental, team, or individual achievements, dated 1-3 years prior, based on your selected categories.

Strengthening Healthcare Cybersecurity Infrastructure
Malleswar Reddy demonstrated exceptional leadership in the NC DHHS Cybersecurity Resilience & Vulnerability Management Initiative, where he played a critical role in protecting state-owned hospitals and public healthcare facilities. His comprehensive approach to cybersecurity significantly enhanced the protection of sensitive health data and strengthened the state's healthcare IT security posture.
Key Achievements
Vulnerability Management Implementation
Malleswar led the implementation of an advanced vulnerability management program across multiple healthcare facilities. His strategic use of Rapid7 and Tenable enabled real-time security assessments and prioritized risk-based remediation. Through his expertise, security exposure was reduced by 60% while maintaining uninterrupted healthcare operations for millions of North Carolinians.
Threat Detection and Response
Implementing enhanced security monitoring with SIEM platforms including IBM QRadar and Splunk, Malleswar established robust real-time detection capabilities. His deployment of a Zero Trust security framework ensured secure access controls for patient health records and electronic medical systems. These initiatives resulted in a 45% reduction in cybersecurity incidents, significantly enhancing data protection for state healthcare services.
Regulatory Compliance Excellence
Successfully aligned operations with HIPAA, NIST 800-171, and HITRUST standards
Prevented potential legal and financial penalties through proactive compliance measures
Strengthened overall regulatory adherence across healthcare facilities
Security Awareness Impact
Malleswar conducted comprehensive security awareness training programs for healthcare professionals throughout North Carolina's public health system. These educational initiatives substantially reduced phishing attacks and human-factor vulnerabilities, reinforcing his vital contribution to protecting North Carolina's public health infrastructure and ensuring secure, uninterrupted healthcare services statewide.
Innovation in Healthcare Security
Malleswar's innovative approach to integrating cybersecurity with healthcare operations demonstrated exceptional foresight. By balancing robust security measures with accessibility needs, he created a model framework that maintained critical patient care functions while establishing multiple layers of protection against emerging threats. His work has become a benchmark for healthcare security excellence within state government systems.

Question 3 : Provide examples of the strategies / plans you have introduced, in order to attain your nominated organizational, departmental, team, or individual achievements. Explain why the highlighted achievements are significant / unique.

Multi-layered Vulnerability Management Approach
Malleswar Reddy Yerabolu led the implementation of an advanced vulnerability management program for the NC DHHS Cybersecurity Resilience & Vulnerability Management Initiative. He utilized a combination of Rapid7 and Tenable to conduct real-time security assessments across state-owned hospitals and healthcare facilities, implementing risk-based remediation protocols that reduced security exposure by 60% while maintaining uninterrupted healthcare operations.
Zero Trust Security Framework
To counter ransomware threats and unauthorized access risks, Malleswar designed and deployed a comprehensive Zero Trust security framework. This strategy ensured secure access controls for patient health records, electronic medical systems, and telemedicine platforms, creating multiple layers of protection for sensitive health data while facilitating necessary clinical workflows.
Integrated SIEM Implementation
Malleswar implemented enhanced security monitoring through IBM QRadar and Splunk platforms, enabling real-time detection and rapid response capabilities. This strategic initiative centralized security event management, creating comprehensive visibility across North Carolina's health infrastructure and establishing automated alert mechanisms for suspicious activities.
Unique and Significant Achievements
The cybersecurity initiatives led by Malleswar Reddy Yerabolu stand out for their comprehensive protection of critical healthcare infrastructure serving millions of North Carolinians. His strategic implementation of automated patch management systems alongside vulnerability assessments created a proactive security posture that reduced cybersecurity incidents by 45%.
What makes Malleswar's work particularly significant is his ability to balance stringent security controls with healthcare operational requirements. His compliance initiatives successfully aligned NC DHHS with HIPAA, NIST 800-171, and HITRUST standards, preventing potential legal and financial penalties while ensuring regulatory adherence.
The security awareness training program he developed specifically targeted healthcare professionals, addressing the unique challenges of securing medical environments where patient care remains the primary focus. This human-centered approach reduced phishing attacks and human-factor vulnerabilities across state health facilities.
Through these coordinated efforts, Malleswar ensured secure, uninterrupted healthcare services statewide, reinforcing his critical role in protecting North Carolina's public health infrastructure while maintaining exceptional standards of patient care and data privacy.

Optional Context for Judges (Not for publication. This section is solely for judges' evaluation.)

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Link List

Link	Password Protected	Display (Winner Info)
https://it.nc.gov/resources/online-safety-privacy/cybersecurity-newsletters	No	Display
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/administrative-offices/privacy-and-security	No	Display
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/administrative-offices/privacy-and-security/dhhs-privacy-and-security-awareness-hub	No	Display

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