Strategic Cybersecurity PR for an Identity Security Brand

(W)right On Communications elevated identity verification leader ID Dataweb’s marketplace visibility through strategic cybersecurity PR programming.

ID Dataweb Case Study Strategic Cybersecurity PR WebsiteMockup

ID Dataweb: Building Trust at Scale in a High-Risk Digital World

(W)right On Communications’ client ID Dataweb was founded in 2011 as part of the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) initiative, and has a clear mission: to create a world where digital trust is the foundation of every interaction.

ID Dataweb has since created a unified, trust-based identity ecosystem capable of operating at enterprise scale and orchestrated hundreds of millions of identity verification transactions for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies in the U.S. and globally. Its technology plays a critical role in detecting identity-based threats and mitigating risk across high-stakes environments where security, accuracy and trust are essential.

Situation: Market Leadership Outpaced Market Visibility

By early 2024, ID Dataweb had proven its capabilities through real-world performance, enterprise adoption, and measurable outcomes. However, its visibility among core security and IT decision-makers did not yet reflect its leadership in identity threat detection and risk mitigation.

In a crowded cybersecurity market full of loud competitors and recycled buzzwords, ID Dataweb faced a familiar challenge: a respected solution, yet no consistent market narrative. Leadership wanted to be seen as a credible voice on present and emerging cyber risk, not just another vendor reacting to news cycles.

To close that gap, ID Dataweb needed a communications strategy that could clearly articulate its expertise, elevate executive voices, and build recognition within key industry verticals where identity risk carries significant operational and financial consequences.

Solution: Building Brand Authority through Strategic Cybersecurity Public Relations

In March 2024, ID Dataweb engaged (W)right On Communications to design and execute a strategic cybersecurity PR program focused on elevating the company’s market presence and credibility through a variety of B2B technology communications services.

Rather than starting with press releases, Wright On built a thought leadership platform designed to help executives educate enterprise buyers through timely, credible commentary on trending cybersecurity topics, and steadily build authority over time.

(W)right On developed a tightly aligned, multi-channel approach that transformed ID Dataweb’s technical expertise into clear, authoritative messaging. The program included insightful executive thought leadership articles placed across security and leading trade publications created with minimal time from internal SMEs while maintaining accuracy, refreshed content assets such as whitepapers and blogs, executive presentations, design of tradeshow booths, and event-specific collateral, and a coordinated social media strategy to amplify visibility as part of comprehensive security industry PR efforts.

(W)right On also helped activate ID Dataweb’s customer and partner ecosystem, leveraging third-party validation to win a major Financial Services industry award and being named a finalist in the 2026 SC Media Trust Awards.

ID Dataweb Case Study Strategic Cybersecurity PR HospitalityTechnology

Results: Measurable Momentum and Market Validation

Within the first year of (W)right On Communications’ strategic cybersecurity PR program, ID Dataweb achieved:

  • 400 percent year-over-year media coverage growth, giving the sales team credible third-party validation to use in conversations with enterprise prospects
  • 50+ feature articles in highly targeted security and industry outlets and
  • 15 executive-level thought leadership pieces in banking, hospitality, aviation and security outlets, which increased credibility with decision-making VPs and CISOs

The agency’s content and media strategies reached ID Dataweb’s target audiences where they were.

The results have reinforced ID Dataweb’s growing role as a trusted leader in identity threat detection and risk mitigation, while demonstrating how (W)right On Communications’ strategic PR program and communications approach can help translate deep expertise into sustained visibility, credibility and market recognition.

ID Dataweb Case Study Strategic Cybersecurity PR WatersRankings2025
ID Dataweb Case Study Strategic Cybersecurity PR Security Magazine
Close

Julie Wright

President + Founder

Julie Wright serves as President of (W)right On Communications, the strategic communications firm she founded in 1998. She leads the firm’s two specialized agencies—WOC | Signal, serving clean energy, manufacturing and cybersecurity organizations, and WOC | Resonance, serving senior living, tourism and community-facing institutions—and its centers of excellence in crisis communications, creative services and AI-optimized PR.

Julie is known for her trusted crisis communications counsel and as a recognized expert on the intersection of AI and public relations. With more than three decades of experience advising organizations navigating complex reputational and market environments, she began her career as a journalist and has held senior roles in both agency and in-house marketing leadership.

Julie currently serves as a director of Innovotech Inc., a Canadian publicly traded boutique contract research organization; Reposit Carbon, a privately-held company focusing on enhanced rock weathering for carbon dioxide removal; the California Travel Association, a statewide advocacy group for the tourism industry; and a director and past chair of the San Diego North Economic Development Council. Her previous community leadership includes board service with the International Association of Business Communicators, La Jolla Village’s business improvement district, Tri-City Hospital Foundation and California State University San Marcos’ President’s Council.

She has been recognized nationally and regionally for excellence in communications leadership, including honors from IABC San Diego as 2025 Communicator of the Year and the San Diego Press Club’s 2025 Andy Mace Award recipient.

Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Journalism from the University of Western Ontario. She is a graduate of Leadership North County and the Corporate Directors Forum Governance Academy.

LinkedIn

Close

Roman Luck

Motion Graphics + Video Specialist

Roman is an accomplished video production specialist with over 15 years of experience contributing to various corporate and commercial video projects. Throughout his career he successfully completed jobs for some of the world’s most recognized brands including Amazon, Nike, UCLA, Airbnb, HP, US Navy, and T-Mobile, with some videos reaching millions of online views.

Roman’s expertise covers every stage of production—from pre-production planning and professional on-set cinematography to post-production, including video editing and motion graphics design. His portfolio spans diverse video formats, from corporate training and recruitment films to commercial documentary, testimonials, and animated explainers, delivering high-quality visual storytelling that engages audiences and achieves business goals.

Close

Tatiana Martinez

Hispanic Media + Outreach Specialist

Tatiana Martinez leads Spanish-language media outreach and community relations efforts for the agency and its client partners. She acts as a spokesperson for Spanish-language media and business or community group outreach. Tatiana has provided translations, Spanish voiceovers and strategies for reaching Spanish-speaking stakeholders. A former journalist for Mexican and American media outlets, Tatiana has a journalism degree from the University of Arizona and communications degree from Mexico’s Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara.

Close

Phelan Riessen

Lead Developer + Technical Resource

Phelan Riessen is a passionate web and graphic design artist with over 25 years of experience designing and building more than 60 websites for a variety of organizations. Skilled in fontography, web design, Photoshop and web marketing strategies; Phelan also holds a strong presence in the San Diego tech community by serving as an organizer of several large-scale events including RefreshSD, March Mingle and Startup Week.

Close

Mindy Wright

Senior Communications Strategist, WOC | Resonance

Mindy supports senior living and tourism engagements within WOC | Resonance, helping client partners strengthen community trust and stakeholder alignment.

Mindy provides (W)right On client partners more than 10 years of experience in internal and external communications, media relations, content development, campaign and crisis leadership, fundraising support, social media, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement. She is a LEAD San Diego Impact Leadership Program Graduate; healthcare communications and marketing campaign platinum award winner from MAR-COM Awards; and recipient of a silver award for crisis and executive communications from the San Diego/Imperial County chapter of PRSA.

A native San Diego resident, Mindy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Security and Conflict Resolution from San Diego State University.

Close

Marsha Kelly

Tribal Media + Outreach Specialist

Marsha Kelly has dedicated her career to assisting American Indian tribal communities and businesses with strategies to diversify their economies through wind farms, solar arrays, EV charging infrastructure and other initiatives. Her tribal relationships include the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians and the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association with consulting to other tribes across California, Michigan, New Mexico, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Science in English and Communications from the University of Minnesota.

Close

Larry Smalheiser

Managing Director, WOC | Signal

Larry Smalheiser serves as Managing Director of WOC | Signal, the specialized agency within (W)right On Communications, where he leads market development and client strategy across clean energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and cybersecurity. He advises executive teams navigating regulatory complexity, competitive markets and high-visibility growth environments — aligning communications with business objectives in sectors defined by scrutiny and consequence.

With more than 20 years of in-house and agency experience, Larry has built and led communications strategies for global technology and enterprise organizations including Sony, Dell, VMware, RSA, Xerox, Virgin Galactic and Underwriters Laboratories. His work consistently sits at the intersection of corporate narrative, analyst and media influence, sales enablement and executive positioning.

Prior to joining (W)right On, Larry served as Public Relations and Analyst Relations Lead for Sony Electronics, working closely with the North America President & COO and global leadership teams. In that role, he helped shape corporate messaging, engage influential analysts and media and ensure alignment between business priorities and market perception across a complex, matrixed organization.

Larry brings a steady, commercially literate point of view to communications strategy — advising leaders on thought leadership, competitive differentiation and reputation management in highly technical and fast-evolving markets. He is a two-time PRSA Silver Anvil Award recipient and fluent in Japanese and Spanish.

While Larry is based in San Diego today, he was raised in the Bay Area and lived for several years in Japan. Larry holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service and International Affairs from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science in Linguistics from UC Santa Barbara.

LinkedIn

Close

Katrina Early


Media Integration Specialist

Formerly with VisitBritain and Showtime Networks, Katrina Early provides (W)right On client partners’ integrated and creative partnerships with film and TV studios, retailers, and media outlets such as Sony Pictures, Universal, Warner Brothers, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Entertainment Tonight to name a few. Experienced in the hospitality, travel, entertainment industries among others, Katrina coordinates all aspects of B2B industry events, as well as grows client partners’ audience social media engagement through highly sharable digital content. Results achieved include positive media placement in top tier outlets including National Geographic, Robb Report, Forbes, USA Today, LA Times, NBC/Today Show, E! News, Extra, The Tonight Show, People and many others.

Katrina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Public Relations from CSU Long Beach and a Master of Arts in Communications from the prestigious University of Southern California Annenberg School of Communication.

Close

Justin Beach

Web Developer + Technical Resource

Justin Beach brings over 25 years of expertise in web development, programming and technical support to his role at (W)right On Communications. As the agency’s Web Developer and Technical Resource, Justin ensures our client partners’ digital platforms are optimized for success and deliver seamless functionality and a compelling user experience.

Justin’s career spans leadership and entrepreneurial roles with experience building corporate websites, e-commerce platforms and electronic marketing campaigns for a diverse client base. His technical fluency extends across PHP, ASP, MySQL, CSS, JS and multiple database architectures.

Previously, Justin supported strategic SEO campaigns at Myers Media Group, creating platforms responsible for deploying over a million search-optimized web pages. He also led the development of an online shopping platform for Kodak subsidiary ENCAD, Inc., driving e-commerce growth through sophisticated web solutions and marketing integrations.

From guiding print marketing clients into the digital age to deploying hundreds of websites across various frameworks, Justin’s ability to blend design and technical expertise has benefited industries ranging from finance and bioscience to wellness and nonprofit organizations.

At (W)right On Communications, Justin’s creative problem-solving, deep technical know-how and passion for excellence power our clients’ digital strategies, elevating their brands in the digital space.

Close

Hamish Marshall

Director, Research + Analytics WOC Intelligence

As Director of Research & Analytics based out of (W)right On’s Vancouver office, Hamish leads (W)right On’s survey and stakeholder information gathering initiatives North America-wide. A former advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, Provincial Premiers, City Mayors and dozens of elected officials, he also served in the government of Canada overseeing the quantitative and qualitative research activities of federal government agencies. With experience using every sort of data collection method to provide critical insights for strategic planning, marketing and other organizational activities, Hamish has worked with dozens of private and public sector client partners, including the world’s largest mining company. In 2004 he worked in radio business development in Kabul, Afghanistan, and he has volunteered in democracy-building activities in Bangladesh and Jordan. Today, Hamish is frequently sought out by the media as an expert commentator for national television, radio and print publications. Prior to joining (W)right On, Hamish worked as the Research Director for Angus Reid Public Opinion, conducting and performing analysis on surveys in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oxford in England, a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree from the University of Toronto and enjoys history, writing and sailing.

Close
Grant Wright named a Canada's Global Executive

Grant Wright

CEO & Managing Partner

Grant Wright serves as CEO and Managing Partner of (W)right On Communications. He brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience in external affairs, business development and strategic communications for major American and Canadian corporations. His background spans regulatory and governmental affairs, stakeholder engagement, infrastructure development, M&A integration and brand strategy for organizations from growth-stage ventures to Fortune 500 companies.

As CEO and Managing Partner of (W)right On Communications, Grant provides executive-level counsel to client partners and oversees agency management and operations across WOC | Signal and WOC | Resonance. His experience navigating complex regulatory and infrastructure environments strengthens the firm’s ability to advise organizations operating under scrutiny and high consequence. Grant is often called upon to lead media and presentation trainings for the agencies’ client partners ahead of high-stakes market, media and community opportunities.

Grant is a Canada Global Executive, a director on the Downtown San Diego Partnership board and recently chaired the International PR Network (IPRN) North American chapter board and served as a global board director. He is a past director of Connect San Diego board and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Victoria and an MBA in Marketing and Finance from McMaster University.

A longtime San Diego resident, Grant is a commercial pilot licensed in both Canada and the United States and founding board chair of the Southern California Aviation Association, which has awarded more than $500,000 in student scholarships.

LinkedIn

Close

David Cumpston

Director, WOC | Resonance

David Cumpston serves as Director of WOC | Resonance, the specialized agency within (W)right On Communications serving senior living communities, tourism organizations and other community-facing institutions. He advises executive teams and boards on how to strengthen trust, shape narrative and protect reputation in environments where public perception and stakeholder confidence directly influence success.

With more than two decades of strategic communications leadership experience, David has guided organizations through growth initiatives, executive transitions, reputational challenges and high-visibility moments. His work spans narrative development, reputation management and integrated communications strategy for organizations including Oakmont Management Group, Episcopal Communities & Services, the San Diego Tourism Marketing District (SDTMD), Visit Napa Valley, Visit Modesto, Stanford Children’s Health and national hospitality and retail brands.

Known for pairing disciplined strategic judgment with creative clarity, David helps organizations cut through noise with communications that are thoughtful, differentiated and grounded in long-term credibility. His ability to respond decisively under pressure has earned two Bulldog Media Awards for Best Response to Breaking News.

David holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Texas State University and is a certified member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Based in San Diego, he brings a global perspective and deep appreciation for culture and context to the organizations and communities he serves.

Outside of work, David is an avid traveler and lifelong student of culture — experiences that inform his approach to community-centered communications.

LinkedIn

Close

Danielle Crebbin

Senior Graphic Designer

With more than 10 years of design and marketing experience, Danielle creates compelling visual identities and creative assets that strengthen brand recognition and audience engagement. Danielle supports (W)right On Communications’ creative services across WOC | Signal and WOC | Resonance, leading design initiatives including brand development, website experiences, annual reports and strategic visual storytelling.

From website design and digital campaigns to print materials, billboards and motion graphics, Danielle ensures every execution reflects strong branding and cohesive visual storytelling. Her capabilities span content creation, marketing collateral, animations, websites, print and motion graphics, all grounded in thoughtful design and storytelling.

Prior to joining (W)right On Communications, Danielle worked with creative agencies and freelance clients across the Caribbean, the U.K. and European Union. Most recently, she oversaw creative localization for Dyson’s Central European and Emerging Markets. She also brings a strategic perspective to her work, incorporating SEO and generative search optimization (GEO) insights to support campaign performance.

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts & Graphic Design from Barbados Community College and a Master of Science in International Creative Advertising from Manchester Metropolitan University. She has lived and worked in the Caribbean, U.K., Austria and now the USA.

Close

Claudia Askew, APR

Senior Communications Strategist

Claudia Askew, APR is based in Washington, D.C. and draws on her 30 years of experience in strategic communications to serve client partners in the energy, cleantech and B2B sectors. She led marketing and PR planning for the NeighborWorks America program for eight years helping low-income residents in all 50 states access down payment assistance through the Neighborhood LIFT program. She has a long history of volunteerism helping underserved youth and low-income women, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from Wake Forest University and her Accredited in PR (APR) designation from the Public Relations Society of America.

Close

Brian Wright

Communications Program Analyst

Responsible for communication programs research and analysis, Brian provides administrative and functional support to the agency’s program leads as well as senior management. With experience managing a retail store in the complex pool supply industry, Brian is a key contributor for social media programs, media relations, content development, vendor management, software programs oversight and other critical program aspects. He brings an innate sense of the agency’s GSD attitude to help ensure the agency remains at the industry forefront.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Victoria in British Columbia, is an FAA-licensed Private Pilot, and is an accomplished musician and music producer in his spare time.

Close

Andrea Saxenhofer

Senior Communications Strategist, WOC | Signal

Andrea focuses on clean energy client engagements within WOC | Signal, advising organizations navigating infrastructure development, regulatory complexity and energy transition communications.

Andrea brings more than ten years of strategic communications experience, with a strong focus on energy, B2B and tech. Most recently based in San Diego, she has worked as a freelance communications consultant supporting numerous energy infrastructure projects across the country through community outreach, corporate and sustainability communications, and digital content creation. Prior to this, Andrea led comprehensive internal and external communications initiatives at BKW Power Grid, Swiss Post and the State Executive Office in Switzerland.

She currently serves as Chair of Communications for the San Diego Chapter of WRISE (Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy).

Andrea holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Public Management and Policy, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Political Communications from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences. She also earned a Digital Marketing Certificate from Columbia Business School and most recently completed the MITx Resolving Renewable Energy Siting Disputes course.

She is bilingual in English and German, fluent in Spanish, and proficient in French.

Close