Growing up I was never sure what I wanted to do with my life. I know others in the tech industry who built their first computer before they could walk. I was never that kid. In fact, I was never even interested in computers until the Army told me to be interested in computers in my early 20s. Now, after more than a decade of experience in information technology, numerous certifications within the field, and a bachelor’s degree I have grown to love technology and specifically cybersecurity.
Purpose
Over the last 2 years, I have supported incident response cleaning up the aftermath of ransomware devastation. I spoke with multiple C-suite executives of large and small companies who were just not aware of how vulnerable their organizations were until it was too late. This has given my career a sense of purpose. That purpose is to bring awareness to the C-suite leaders on how cyber security is a business enabler and how best to support their information technology departments to ensure that their organization operates safely online.
I have also grown to love encouraging and mentoring help desks and other information technology partners in cyber security matters and best practices. So far, I have given them resources, knowledge, and many, many websites empowering them to explore and learn how to apply cyber security principles within their organization.
This blog will give me space to solidify my own knowledge while hopefully sharing new knowledge to those seeking it. Cyber security is a vast array of disciplines. My focus is showing small and medium sized business that they can be prepared in cyber security, but that it takes the same effort a large company would put in. I help make that achievable.
“You can’t defend. You can’t prevent. The only thing you can do is detect and respond.”
Bruce schneier
Reading through LinkedIn, there are multiple posts on imposter syndrome and how people overcome it or deal with it. I am no different than any of those other people who struggle with it. What helps me get over it, is that reminder of all the mentors I have had who have believed in me, wrote letters of recommendations for me, who put me in leadership positions, and challenged me to do even better because of what they saw in me. I am reminded that many people who have come before me faced the same fears, the same doubts, the same struggles. They overcame them and have succeeded. I choose to focus on those that see doubt and fear, and instead of running or changing course, they run headfirst into it and win. Those are the type of people I want to emulate. Those are the people I want to learn from and help others become as I grow myself.
Conclusion
With my future goals laid out bare on the table, I hope to soon offer my services to those around me. Cyber security program management and training, policy creation and/or review, and best practice implementation strategies are just the beginning of what I plan to offer. Zero trust architecture and compliance audits will also be available. None of these services should be thought of just for large corporations, but also the small business as all companies have desirable data that bad guys would like to have or prevent you from having.
Key takeaways: I am driven. I have a purpose. I have goals. I have fears and ways to combat them. I desire to help businesses succeed and empower them by becoming or improving their cyber security posture.
