Pete Lindstrom is a Research Director for IDC's Security Products program. He is an industry expert and thought leader in the areas of IAM (Identity & Access Management), cloud security, and IoT (Internet of Things) security. Additionally, Mr. Lindstrom is responsible for IDC's BuyerPulse Analysis: Identity and Access Management program. He provides focused research and intelligence to help clarify how IT buyers make purchasing decisions about IAM products.

Prior to joining IDC in 2014, Mr. Lindstrom accumulated 25 years of industry experience as an IT auditor, IT security practitioner, and industry analyst. He has extensive and broad expertise with a variety of information security products, but is best known as an authority on cybersecurity economics issues, such as strategic security metrics, estimating risk and return, and measuring security programs. He has also focused on applying core risk management principles to new technologies, architectures, and systems, focusing on the use of virtualization, cloud security, and big data. He has developed the "Four Disciplines of Security Management" (a security operations model), and the "5 Immutable Laws of Virtualization Security," which was integrated into guidance from the PCI Council.

Mr. Lindstrom is a frequent contributor to popular business and trade publications. He is often quoted in USA Today, WSJ Online, Information Security Magazine, VAR Business, Searchsecurity.com, and CSO Magazine. His columns and articles have appeared in Information Security Magazine, Searchsecurity.com, ISSA Journal, and CSO Online. Additionally, Mr. Lindstrom is a popular speaker at the RSA Security Conference, InfoSec World, ISSA International Conference, and many regional conferences.

In addition, to his extensive industry experience, Mr. Lindstrom served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Notre Dame.