Conner has worked across a variety of high-tech industries, specializing in corporate turnaround, cybersecurity, data and infrastructure.

"[2][3] In 2001, Conner moved into the creation and delivery of identity-based security and services as the chief executive officer and president of Entrust, a private software company.

[4] Conner joined when the company was falling from profitability; he launched a restructuring effort and began to trim workforce annually.

[10] Formerly a division of Dell Software Inc., SonicWall had been spun off and acquired by Francisco Partners and Elliott Management in June 2016.

[19] In February 2012, Conner took part in a hearing by the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce to discuss cybersecurity threats facing the U.S. and the role public-private partnerships play in defense.

[20] Conner has recently spent time discussing the effects of spear phishing schemes on weak authentication, notably the rash of attacks on media outlets and the risks of insider threats.