WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virtru, a trusted provider of business privacy and data protection to more than 6,500 organizations around the world, today announced that the company’s Co-Founder and CTO, Will Ackerly, has been named to the Washington Business Journal’s 2017 “40 Under 40” list. This award honors the region’s brightest young business leaders who are making a difference in their professions and in the community. The WBJ will recognize each winner at a ceremony on July 20, 2017, held at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Prior to founding Virtru with his brother John in 2012, Ackerly spent eight years at the National Security Agency (NSA) where he specialized in cloud analytic and security architecture — specifically protecting the agency’s in-house data transfers. During his tenure at the NSA, he invented the Trusted Data Format (TDF), an open standard used today by various government agencies for the secure transfer of data, and the technical foundation on which Virtru was founded. Today, Ackerly plays an instrumental role in creating easy-to-use encryption tools for consumers and large enterprises across industries.
“Working in the intelligence community gave me an appreciation for how difficult it is to protect personal information online,” said Ackerly. “Because privacy is fundamental human right, I strongly believe that individuals need to take action to preserve their privacy. I am honored to be recognized by the WBJ for my contributions to this cause.”
Virtru makes it possible for individuals and businesses to keep their sensitive information private and secure by enabling users to share data without ever losing control of it. Virtru wraps emails and digital files in a protected envelope that can only be opened by the intended recipient, and senders retain the ability to revoke or change access at any time, even after messages have been opened or forwarded. Using Virtru requires no prior knowledge, and it seamlessly integrates with the tools and platforms people use every day such as Gmail and Outlook.
Since leaving the NSA to protect everyday personal and business communications, Ackerly has demonstrated a strong track record for business success. In 2015, he was named to Fortune’s annual 40 Under 40 list of the most innovative young people in business, and is a sought after speaker for events such as RSA Conference and (ISC)² CyberSecureGov. Additionally, under Ackerly’s leadership, Virtru was named to CNBC’s inaugural Upstart 25 list of promising startups, and was recognized as Google Cloud’s Global Partner of the Year in the first quarter of 2017. More information about Virtru’s products and leadership team can be found here.
About Virtru
Virtru believes that personal privacy depends on the businesses, governments, and institutions that hold our information. Virtru products make it easy for businesses and individuals to maintain control over access to their emails, documents, and other data -- regardless of where they've been shared. More than 6,500 organizations around the world rely on Virtru to secure their most sensitive information. Learn more at www.virtru.com or follow @virtruprivacy on Twitter.
