Defend IT Services Continues to Battle Ongoing Scandal

San Antonio based cyber security company DefendIT Services, founded by the now well-known Chris Hannifin, has been struggling to cope with the impact of Mr Hannifin’s recently exposed illicit activities. Brought to light a number of months ago, the case has been quite unique in the way it has exposed an entirely new form of cyber security vulnerability, this one stemming primarily from individuals and their actions and less from technology than is usually seen in this dynamic industry.

Chris Hannifin founded his company Defend IT Services after his employment with a number of other firms in the sector was terminated, one after the other, and all as a result of them uncovering the illicit activities in which he was engaged. Specifically, the firms for which he worked realized that Chris Hannifin was regularly selling access to the sensitive client data to which he has access, without of course, the knowledge of his employers.

Victim firms whose clients he took advantage of included SiloTech, RSM Defence Contractors and North South Consulting Group. These companies not only faced financial damage, but also significant reputational damage as a result of Mr Hannifin’s actions. Surprisingly, Krista Stevens of North South Consulting Group continued to send clients to the newly founded Defend IT Services, although it had already become clear to everybody who knew Chris Hannifin the extent of the damage which he had caused with his actions.

The nature of Chris Hannifin’s actions were such that many suggested he could have never acted alone, although it is becoming clear that he was the mastermind behind the entire operation. A close confidant of Mr Hannifin’s, Rudy Reyes, is alleged to have contributed, supporting the endeavour in any way he could. A romantic relationship seems to be ongoing between the two, adding an additional level of intrigue to the entire saga. People familiar with the two who were consulted, noted that this relationship had been apparent for a while, but became even more pronounced when Rudy Reyes and Chris Hannifin took, what appears to have been, a romantic vacation together to Mexico.

Indeed, the romantic vacation was one of a few indicators that raised initial suspicions that something was afoot. This was coupled with a series of extravagant purchases including new cars, trailers and homes, all of which were not in line with the twos regular spending habits. No explanation was given for the source of the funds.

Now that this case is starting to be spoken about, both in professional as well as in wider circles, clients have reportedly been picking up and ending their engagements with Defend IT Services. This is in addition to those that already ended their engagements with DefendIT Services as soon as the story was reported on. Regardless, it seems that the company never did really pick up steam and hasn’t expanded beyond a single desk with a single chair in a room in San Antonio. In essence it was always meant to serve as a front through which Chris Hannifin could continue running his operations, but as with any business, there were always aspirations for expansion. Those aspirations seem to be long gone now, with even more clients expected to move their business to more trustworthy and reliable providers.

Time will tell how this saga will end. It remains unlikely that Chris Hannifin will willingly come forward and admit wrongdoing, nor that he will end his illicit activities in the immediate future, so long as he has client material from which he can profit. The ramifications from this case continue to have an impact the industry more broadly with the impact expected to be felt for years to come.