Cybersecurity and risk management is essential for any business or organization that uses technology. At IT Risk and Security Advisory Services (I.T.R.S.), we offer advisory services to companies and government agencies globally. Our consultants integrate with traditional and cross-functional teams to support short and long-term business objectives.
Welcome to IT Risk and Security Advisory Services. We are the premier provider of Advisory Services, and through our e-commerce mall, we offer Art, Books, Fashion and Customized Items. Our goal is to provide the very best in our in-person and virtual services. Because our quality standards are high, our Consultants, Artists and Authors are among the best in the business. Our goal is to always deliver excellence in our products and services with the mindset of the customer comes first. We want you, our valued customer, to be satisfied. Here is a list of our client centric services:
Tara Kissoon is a 2D/3D Illustrator and has an e-commerce business which showcases her Art on Tara Kissoon's Gallery @ www.thevirtualmall.ca.
Her Award Winning Art has a solo exhibit on TERAVARNA (formerly Art Show International Gallery, International Juried Art Competition) @ https://www.teravarna.com/artists/tara-kissoon and is also exhibited on The Gallea, Artsy, Artnet and Redwood Art Group, Boomer Gallery, The Line.
Tara Kissoon is an author, and has an e-commerce business which showcases her Children's Non-Fiction Books @ www.thevirtualmall.ca, Amazon, Kindle Lending Programs and Ontario Libraries through Indie Ontario. Her publishers include ITRS, Taylor & Francis (Routledge) and Austin Macauley, UK.
Cybersecurity - Canada's Digital Adoption Program (CDAP): Helping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on their digital transformation journeys through CDAP.
Lead on niche assignments.
Responsible for developing, preparing, and delivering courses within the School of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
This online mall provides twelve individual stores for customers to shop, as an Amazon Associate.
Interested Investors: Business Plan
Every organization is different, we tailor our services to meet our client's unique needs. We take a client-centric approach that allows us to develop the right solutions for your organization.
Digital Advisor
Strategic & Thought Leadership
Program & Project Leadership
Operational & Managerial Leadership
Change Management & Implementation
Client & Relationship Management
Governance, IT Audit & Compliance
Digital, Data & Cloud Security
eCommerce & Mobile Security
Cyber Risk & Privacy
Cybersecurity Awareness & Training
Academic Teaching & Research
Subject Matter Expertise in Information Security
Tara has undertaken a range of major initiatives over the course of her career. She has led the development and implementation of Information Technology, Information Risk and Information Security strategies and associated work plans on multi million dollar initiatives. She has fostered strong relationships in support of LEAN implementations within Visa, TD, RBC and BMO resulting in cost savings of several million dollars.
Tara is a Teaching Assistant within the BSc Computer Science program.
Tara was responsible for cybersecurity awareness and training, privacy impact assessments, risk assessments and development of specific standard operating procedures.
Tara was responsible to develop the digital cyber security risk management and vulnerability management programs. This included policy development in support of the University's Digital Security Program.
As a Professor, Tara led the development, delivery and evaluation of IT curriculum; Data Communication, Security, Novell and Cisco Academy Training Courses. (MCP/MCT, CCAI).
As a Member of Academic Council, Tara worked with a team to create and maintain College-wide policies.
Tara was a member on the Advisory Committee to establish the proposal for an Applied Degree - Informatics, with a specialization in Security and Privacy.
The primary function of the head of IT Risk Management, Corporate Support Areas (ITRM CSAs) was to lead the Information Risk (IR) CSA, Technology Risk Management CSAs, and Technology Operational Risk Management functions.
Tara led a global cross-functional IT Risk team to support the Global Wealth Management business segment. She worked with a team to implement several enterprise technology initiatives and was involved in the Strategic Enterprise Program.
Tara was hired to lead a team of Business Technology Risk Managers (BTRMs) to support Canadian Banking (TDCT) , TD Insurance, Canadian Auto Finance, North American Cards and Merchant Services, Payment Card Industry initiatives across the enterprise to include Mergers and Acquisitions.
Tara was a Systems Developer in Electronic Banking responsible for building, installing and modifying the code for the Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) along with the testing of Mondex through a wireless connection.
Tara worked as an IT Auditor on Technical Audits - Y2K, System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) Oracle, Unix, Windows, SQL, various applications.
As a Digital Advisor in Canada's Digital Adoption Program (CDAP), Tara provides guidance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on their digital transformation journeys through CDAP. Tara works with SMEs on the creation of their digital adoption plan: Queens Family Dentistry.
In addition, Tara has worked on many initiatives within the Government of Ontario and York Region.
Tara was responsible to lead the project implementation for the Real Time Threat Management (RTM) - as - a -service - solution in Brookfield Asset Management. As a technical consultant, she was involved in various initiatives to include Scotiabank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), National Academy of Science (NAS), and PreSales.
Tara collaborated with a team to develop the payment security area within Blackberry and provided leadership and effective management to influence strategic initiatives across the organization.
Tara was originally hired by this global payment technology company to lead specific Canadian and Global risk and security programs. Her expertise was leveraged to design, build, assess and advise on payment system risk and security initiatives globally. She conducted approximately 300+ information security assessments and various training programs on behalf of Visa.
She represented Visa at the PCI Security Standards Council (SSC) on the Technical Working Group (TWG) and was responsible to support all Payment Card Industry (PCI) initiatives.
Tara completed annual compliance assessments benchmarking these environments using the Interac Regulations: Credit Unions in Canada.
Tara worked as an IT Auditor on Regulatory Audits: Sarbanes Oxley, SAP, Peoplesoft.
Tara Kissoon is a multi-certified Technology, Risk & Security Leader with twenty-five years of technology experience, twenty years of IT Risk and Security experience in the financial services industry. She brings continued success on leading Technology, I.T. Risk and Security programs within large organizations.
Tara has a Master of Science (MSc) in Information Security with Upper Second Class Honours from Royal Holloway College, University of London and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction from Rotman School of Business, University of Toronto. Tara obtained a Certificate in Network Engineering with High Distinction from Indus System achieving her Certified Novell Engineer (CNE). She is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and holds a Life Licence Qualification Program (Program) licence (LLQP).
To date, Tara has published her academic research as follows: 1) Optimum Spending on Cybersecurity Measures, 2) Optimum Spending on Cybersecurity Measures: Part II and her recent books: 3) Optimal Spending on Cybersecurity Measures - Risk Management (ISBN: 9781032061405), 4) Optimal Spending on Cybersecurity Measures - DevOps (ISBN: 9781032518947), 5) Optimal Spending on Cybersecurity Measures - Digital Privacy and Data Protection (ISBN: 9781032802473), 6) Optimal Spending on Cybersecurity Measures - Protecting Health Information (ISBN: 9781032823577) in support of Cybersecurity Initiatives. Tara also published a series of Children Non-Fiction Books which are available in many countries through Amazon.
6th PORTRAIT - Finalist Award: "Lines of Experience", "The Investigator", "Masks of Carnival"
8th ABSTRACT - Finalist Award: "Diamond Tower", "Venice", "Tower Bridge", "Varanasi @ Night"
5th FIGURATIVE - Finalist Award: "Never Give Up", "Daisen", "Presence"
3rd WATER - Finalist Award: "Enlightenment", "Caribbean Twilight", "Australian Sunrise", "New Zealand Sunset"
7th ABSTRACT - Talent Award: "Louvre", "Exotic", "Sacred Heart"
6th OPEN – Talent Award: “Athens”
Service Excellence Award: Cybersecurity Team - Dimension Data Canada
First mobile handset to achieve Visa and Mastercard NFC Certification on an embedded element - Blackberry
Distinction - Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Award of Merit - Royal Holloway, University of London
Quarterly Achievement Award – Visa
Achievers Award - CIBC
Highest Average, Highest Number of Certification Exams & First Place – Business Proposal - Indus System Training Centre
Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) - Life License Qualification Program (LLQP)
ISC2 – Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP):
- Board Member - Toronto Chapter, Participant on the Women's, Undergraduate and Graduate ISC2 Scholarship Review Committee, Participant on the Centre for Cyber Safety & Education: Canadian Advisory Committee.
Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) – Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA):
- Gold Level Member, Committee Member – ISACA CACs - EUROCACs - ISRM, Conference Speaker.
Leadership Building Activity: University of London's Alumni Ambassador, Board Member (Youth Speak), Judge (Enactus), Build for the Future (TD Bank).
Volunteer/Charitable Events/Personal Interests: St. Patrick's Parish, United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Women's Shelter, Volunteer Toronto-Governance Training for New Board Members, York Region Board of Education - Association for Bright Children (ABC) Representative, TD Bank/Youth In Motion - Mentor, Ride to Conquer Cancer, Ride for Heart, Sporting Life 10km run, RBC Run for Kids, Acrylic & Oil Painting, Golf, Music: Vocals, Swimming, Variety Night, Jobs Daughters (Bethel #12: Past Senior Princess), Girl Guides.