Stephen Alexander
Cloud Security Architect, Technical Innovator & AI Builder
Architecting secure cloud solutions for complex enterprise missions. Creating effective, AI-enhanced tools that make cloud technology more engaging and useful. Transforming technical challenges into practical, scalable implementations that drive mission impact.
Featured Projects
Assay Document Analysis
An advanced AI-powered platform that transforms complex PDF documents into multiple types of actionable insights, from simple summaries to technical analyses, structured outlines, and smart FAQs.
AI/ML
NLP
RAG
Embeddings
Document Analysis
PDF Processing
Operation: BlackSwan
A turn-based network architecture strategy game where you design and deploy critical infrastructure under budget, time, and operational constraints. Balance connection types (Dedicated, Hosted, IP Tunnel, Site-to-Site), manage outages and mid-game events, and optimize throughput while staying within budget. A simulation that blends strategic planning, risk management, and network resilience.
Strategy Game
Network Architecture
Infrastructure Design
Risk Management
Network Resilience
Simulation
Cloud CTF Challenge
A cyberpunk-themed security training platform that gamifies AWS security learning through narrative-driven CTF challenges. Users become cyber operatives protecting AI systems from data poisoning attacks.
Cloud Security
GenAI
CTF
Encryption
Cloud Security Training
Gamification
AWS Service Analogies Generator
A serverless AI-powered service that generates witty analogies for AWS services, using multiple LLM models including Claude-3 and GPT-4. Makes cloud computing concepts more approachable through creative comparisons.
Serverless
GenAI
LLM Gateway
Claude
GPT-4
Content Generation
Humor
Featured Writing
Classic Intrusion Analysis Frameworks for AWS Environments
A comprehensive guide examining how traditional intrusion analysis frameworks can be adapted for cloud environments, helping security professionals bridge the gap between conventional and cloud-based security approaches.
2021-03-31 • 30 min read
Cloud Security
Zero-Trust Architecture
Intrusion Analysis
AWS Security
Security Automation
APT Defense
From Idea to Code: What I Learned Using AI to Build Websites and APIs
A practical exploration of using AI tools like Claude, Cursor AI, Midjourney, and v0 by Vercel for web development, sharing real-world experiences and lessons learned in AI-assisted coding.
2024-12-17 • 10 min read
AI-Assisted Development
Generative AI
Prompt Engineering
Development Workflow
AI Integration
Project Management
AI is Eating the World: A Culinary Journey of AI Models and Approaches
An innovative exploration comparing AI models to restaurant types, from frontier models as Michelin-starred establishments to specialized models as local specialty spots, making complex AI concepts more digestible through familiar culinary analogies.
2024-12-09 • 20 min read
AI Architecture
Foundation Models
Specialized AI
Multi-Modal AI
Agentic AI
AI Democratization
Technology Education
Did I build an LLM Gateway?: A Curious Developer's Journey
A journey from a simple Lambda function to an accidental LLM Gateway, sharing insights on building modular AI systems, handling multiple foundation models, and evolving architecture based on practical needs.
2024-12-02 • 15 min read
LLM Architecture
Cloud AI
LLMOps
Model Integration
Serverless AI
System Design
My Journey into AI Security: What Every Cybersecurity Professional Should Know
An in-depth exploration of AI security challenges and practical insights, covering key threats like adversarial machine learning, prompt injection, and AI-powered social engineering, along with essential implementation strategies.
2024-11-18 • 15 min read
AI Security
Zero Trust AI
Adversarial ML
Prompt Injection
AI Governance
Security Architecture
Security Education
Digital Transformation and IT Modernization for Elections in AWS
A comprehensive whitepaper exploring how AWS cloud services can modernize election systems, focusing on security, scalability, and reliability for critical election infrastructure.
2025-01-13 • 25 min read
Digital Transformation
Cloud Modernization
Election Security
Data Protection
Infrastructure Scalability
Voter Accessibility
Speaking Engagements
Creating Quorum Based Access Control built on Nitro Enclaves
AWS re:Invent
Las Vegas
Demonstrated innovative security architecture using AWS Nitro Enclaves for enhanced access control mechanisms.
Cloud SecurityZero TrustNitro EnclavesAccess ControlABAC
KMS Asymmetric Encryption Workshop
AWS re:Inforce
Boston
Led hands-on workshop exploring advanced encryption patterns using AWS KMS asymmetric encryption capabilities.
Cloud SecurityEncryptionPrivacyWorkshop
Monitoring AWS Organizations at Enterprise Scale
Splunk .Conf
Las Vegas
Shared strategies for implementing effective monitoring across multi-account AWS environments at enterprise scale.
Cloud SecurityObservabilityEnterprise ScaleSplunk
Enabling 'Authority to Operate' Faster, Cheaper and Better
AWS WWPS DC Summit
Washington DC
Presented approaches to streamline ATO processes while maintaining security and compliance requirements.
Cloud SecurityComplianceGovernanceRisk ManagementATO
CloudTrail Lake Workshop: The Truth is Out There
AWS WWPS DC Summit
Washington DC
Workshop demonstrating advanced log analysis and security investigation techniques using CloudTrail Lake.
Cloud SecurityLoggingObservabilityComplianceInvestigations
Skills & Expertise
Product Management
Product strategy, go-to-market planning, customer discovery and validation, technical product development, and market positioning for enterprise solutions
Infrastructure & Serverless Architecture
Serverless design patterns, AWS services (Lambda, DynamoDB, API Gateway), scalable system design
Cloud Security Architecture
Enterprise security patterns, encryption strategies, IAM/ABAC, observability, GRC frameworks, and zero-trust architectures
AI Solutions Architecture
LLM integration, RAG implementation, prompt engineering, model governance, and performance/cost management