Cybersecurity Conventions 2

Every time I came to work I wanted to do my best no matter what it was. This mean there was always going to be a door opening, and I can't help but walk through it and continue to give it everything I have. Gracious leaders, and amazing mentors led me to growing within IT and cybersecurity until I was given the opportunity to go to my first cybersecurity conventions. What I learned is that I must be more. Direction, focus, and purpose is a requirement for success in Cybersecurity. The industry is hard to get into but good people can make it easier and provide a great foundation for those who came in lost like me.

During the The Official Cybersecurity Summit I got to talk to a lot of vendors. I honestly felt like I was surrounded by telemarketers. I know the purpose was to demo their tools so that companies might be able to decide if it was something that would be useful to them, but I just felt overwhelmed. I decided to go to tables and try to see if I could gauge whether these tools would be helpful to our company. I felt like it would matter as I would not be making any decisions but I thought I would look anyway. I got to see one-directional gateways, asset detection tools, and API security tools. Some companies were really great at providing information, others not so much. I think I was an hour into being there before I found my leadership and co-workers who where also at the convention. I thought that my assessment of the tools wouldn't matter. But the director said something I didn't expect. "You guys are the experts. I depend on you guys to help us make decisions. You help is indispensable."

I never had this perspective before. I went to school for this. I have worked in the environment. I have studied and become certified. I am continuing education. Am I an expert? Well, one could always learn more, but knowing this means I that if I feel as if I could improve then I must.

Later a conversation with one of my coworkers made me realize he felt a lot as I did. We talked for a little while about the path to success and what looks like. We both served and the military and I think we saw then world much the same. We can and should make the world both safer and better for our children, but how can we do this with cybersecurity?

See next blog to continue.