IBM DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER · MASTER INVENTOR · PROFESSOR

Jeff Crume — cybersecurity, explained in light

warming up the studio lights…

Security, explained in light.

Four decades of cybersecurity, taught on a sheet of glass to 15 million viewers.

Explore my storyWatch my videos

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Years in IT & security

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Views on the lightboard videos

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Countries with clients

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Years at IBM

ZERO TRUSTAI SECURITYPHISHINGPROMPT INJECTIONENCRYPTIONDEEPFAKESIDENTITY & ACCESSSHADOW AIRANSOMWAREADVERSARIAL AIQUANTUM RISKDATA PROTECTION
ZERO TRUSTAI SECURITYPHISHINGPROMPT INJECTIONENCRYPTIONDEEPFAKESIDENTITY & ACCESSSHADOW AIRANSOMWAREADVERSARIAL AIQUANTUM RISKDATA PROTECTION
Jeff Crume at the lightboard, a neon padlock drawn on the glass over his chest
PhD · CYBERSECURITY
MASTER INVENTOR

THE STORY

Four decades of makingsecurity make sense.

Hi I am Jeff, an IBM Distinguished Engineer and Master Inventor with more than 40 years in the IT industry, a PhD in Cybersecurity, and an Adjunct Professor at NC State University. I also authored “Inside Internet Security: What Hackers Don't Want You To Know”, contributed to the Information Security Management Handbook, and serve on the editorial board of the Information and Computer Security research journal.

I architected some of the world's first secure e-commerce payment systems, lived in Beijing on assignment, and worked with clients in 50 countries then picked up a neon marker and became one of the most-watched security teachers on the planet, with YouTube videos viewed more than 15 million times.

“When I'm in my classroom, I can talk to about 25 students. When I'm here on YouTube, I get to talk to the world.”

HOW THE MAGIC WORKS

Studio secrets, revealed

The number one question from viewers: how do you write backwards?I don't. So here they are the four secrets behind every lightboard video.

SECRET 01

The Glass

Nobody is writing in the air. It's a sheet of glass the camera zooms until the edges crop out, and the writing appears to float in midair. Scroll back up, this hero never crops the edges. Secret shown, not hidden.

SECRET 02

The Blacklight

A light ring around the glass lights the presenter, a second ring of blacklight makes special neon dry-erase markers fluoresce. That's the glow physics, not post-production.

SECRET 03

The Flip

Nobody here learned to write backwards. The writing is normal, the video is mirrored in editing which is also why I look left-handed on YouTube. I am not. Try the FLIP button on the lightboard above.

SECRET 04

The Village

A director-producer shapes the content, and Dave behind the camera records everything and draws the polished graphics (including a certain dog). IBM runs lightboard studios in several locations around the world.

01SCRIPT→02STUDIO→03GLASS→04FLIP→05SHIP

“IT TAKES A VILLAGE” — DIRECTOR · PRODUCER · DAVE ON CAMERA & GRAPHICS · STUDIOS WORLDWIDE

THE CAREER

From NetView to neon

1982: I was a senior programmer on IBM's flagship network management software. 2026: I'm the Distinguished Engineer drawing AI security in glowing ink for millions. Here's every stop in between.

1982

IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC

Senior Programmer, Network Management Software

IBM

Team leader, programmer and designer on NetView, IBM's flagship network management software. A four-decade story that starts at a terminal.

1984

EDUCATION

B.S. Computer Science

NC State University

The degree that started it all and decades later, an induction into the inaugural class of the NC State Computer Science Alumni Hall of Fame.

1989

IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC

WW Systems & Network Management Technical Sales

IBM Tivoli

Led a team of senior technical subject matter experts supporting IBM Tivoli systems and network management products around the world.

1997

IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC

Executive IT Security Architect

IBM

Architected secure IT infrastructures including some of the world's first secure e-commerce payment systems plus identity & access management and mobile device security.

2006

IBM · BEIJING, CHINA

Security Technical Sales Leader, Greater China Group

IBM

An international assignment architecting secure solutions for clients across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan part of a career spanning clients in 50 countries.

2007

IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC

WW Technical Sales Leader, Security Compliance Solutions

IBM

Lead security architect for IBM security solutions worldwide running client workshops and briefings, and mentoring colleagues across the globe.

2009

IBM · RALEIGH–DURHAM, NC

Distinguished Engineer & CTO, IBM Security Technical Sales — Americas

IBM

Sixteen years as cybersecurity architect for the Americas, identifying security needs, defining requirements and setting strategic direction based on industry best practice.

2019

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Cybersecurity

University of Plymouth

A doctorate earned mid-career because the best teachers never stop being students.

2020

TEACHING · ENGINEERING BUILDING II, RALEIGH

Assistant Teaching Professor (Adjunct)

NC State University

“In my classroom I can talk to about 25 students. On YouTube, I get to talk to the world.” Now teaching cybersecurity where it all began.

2025

IBM · RALEIGH, NC

Distinguished Engineer, Data & AI Security Technical Sales

IBM

Working with clients on cybersecurity architectures for protecting data and AI and drawing it all out, in neon, on the IBM Technology lightboard.

THE PHILOSOPHY

Never trust. Always verify.

Zero Trust is the idea behind years of drawing on glass, no user, device or network is trusted by default inside the perimeter or out. Every request proves itself, every time.

In the very first Zero Trust video, the concept needed a guard for the house. So Dave the artist behind the camera drew one, an angry neon dog. Viewers loved him so much he started making cameo appearances in other videos, and eventually ended up on a commemorative shirt Dave made for me.

NO IMPLICIT TRUSTVERIFY EXPLICITLYLEAST PRIVILEGEASSUME BREACH

⌁ SECURE PERIMETER — K-9 UNIT ⌁

THE ANGRY DOG

GUARDING THE HOUSE SINCE ZERO TRUST VIDEO #1

Drawn by Dave. Beloved by the comment section. He checks everyone, every packet, every time. Hover to hear his policy. Click to submit your credentials.

POURING THE GLASS…

SPECIMEN 001 — THE MAN BEHIND THE GLASS · MOVE YOUR CURSOR

RECOGNITION

The man behind the glass

You see the writing. Here's the record of the person holding the marker.

BOOK

Inside Internet Security

Author of “Inside Internet Security: What Hackers Don't Want You To Know”, demystifying attackers for the people defending against them.

CONTRIBUTOR

Information Security Management Handbook

Contributing author to the industry-standard reference for security practitioners.

HALL OF FAME

NC State CS Alumni Hall of Fame

Member of the inaugural class honored by the same computer science department that awarded the B.S. degree.

TITLES

Distinguished Engineer · Master Inventor

IBM's highest technical designations, plus a seat on the editorial board of the “Information and Computer Security” research journal.

15M+

WHY THE VIDEOS EXIST

“I have a passion for teaching. It feels good to reach out and help as many people as I can.”

25

STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM

→

THE WORLD

ON THE IBM TECHNOLOGY CHANNEL

▶ Watch the lightboard videos

CONTACT

Office hours: the internet.

Zero trust questions, speaking invitations, a guest lecture at NC State or a debate about which neon marker glows brightest under blacklight. The door stays open, and so does the comment section.

EMAIL

jcrume@ncsu.edu

Adjunct Professor, NC State · the address opens your default mail app

YOUTUBE

IBM Technology

Lightboard videos · 15M+ views

CAMPUS

EB2 · Room 1220

Engineering Building II, NC State University, Raleigh NC