ISE was founded by Johns Hopkins University professor Avi Rubin. The technical staff at ISE have produced dozens of leading publications in the field of computer security and cryptography. They have won numerous awards including many best paper awards, the EFF Pioneer Award, Baltimorean of the Year, the CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Award, and the MIT Technology Review TR35. The staff includes several Ph.D.s in Computer Science and in Math, as well as Masters degrees in computer science and security informatics.

ISE security analysts have backgrounds that include academia, industry, as well as former employees of the National Security Agency. Several ISE consultants have certifications including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), GIAC Certified Forensics Analyst (GCFA), and Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE).