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What does it take to build an online community of 50,000 cybersecurity professionals? Jerry Bell, founder of InfoSec Exchange and former CISO for IBM Cloud, reveals the journey behind creating one of the most influential Mastodon servers in the security world.
When Twitter underwent significant changes in 2022, Bell's Fediverse server, which he'd quietly maintained since 2017, suddenly became the landing spot for thousands of security professionals seeking a new digital home. The explosive growth from around 100 users to 50,000 within a month created both technical and human challenges. "The technical aspects, while challenging, don't hold a candle to the complexities of moderating a community that large," Bell explains, detailing the balancing act between enabling free expression and maintaining community standards.
Bell's contributions to the security community extend well beyond Mastodon. As the host of the Defensive Security Podcast since 2011, he pioneered professional-grade security content when most security podcasts were either consumer-focused or entertainment-oriented. This content creation directly contributed to his career advancement, eventually helping him secure the position of CISO for IBM Cloud. For aspiring security professionals, Bell offers three key pieces of advice: prioritize human networking over resume submissions, develop a deep understanding of networking technology regardless of specialization, and find ways to differentiate yourself through content creation or community involvement.
Whether discussing persistent cloud security challenges like misconfigured S3 buckets or sharing his journey from factory maintenance worker to security executive, Bell's story demonstrates how creating content and building communities can transform a career path. What digital footprint are you creating that will make hiring managers recognize your name when your resume lands on their desk?

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