I know that as we work through our lives, go from job to job, position to position, we sometimes question why we do what we do.
As business clients, we sometimes ask why that business or its employees are engaged in their work.
I can, here, tell you why I do what I do.
What am I doing here?
At the age of 55, working hard on 56, I have spent my life doing things others wouldn’t or couldn’t. I have been a bodyguard, a contract site security officer, and a military person protecting the rights and information of our country and our people. I truly believe that all my life has led to doing cybersecurity. All my life has been about protecting others.
Why?
A little history:
At the age of 17, I joined the military. I attended the Army’s and the Air Force’s basic training courses. I graduated to move on and do my job.
In 2000, I rejoined the Army as an intelligence analyst. I worked with over 20 countries to train them for UN (United Nations) membership under the Partnership For Peace (PfP) program, and ended up in Iraq fighting for the people of Iraq and their right to self-governance.
This is not why I am writing this post.
I am writing this post because it feels like a necessity. It feels like I have to make sure we all understand why I do cybersecurity in the first place.
Why?
As a young person, I was always challenged by people who thought I was weak or not knowledgeable about self-defense. I really wasn’t, so they weren’t wrong. I felt powerless to defend myself against the most simple of attacks.
Then, the years went by.
People attacked me and worked to sublimate my personality and my body. I found that I didn’t have to lose myself or what I thought was right. I found that I could defend myself and others without much effort.
After that discovery, I spent many years learning to do both. I worked to engage my clients and myself in knowing that I could protect them. Knowing your protector is someone who can watch over you with confidence and experience is a very important and comforting thought.
Ultimately, I went into cybersecurity after over 40 years of protecting others and their information (including the federal and state governments) and with a love for IT.
I took a step forward and took some classes. I Went for my degree and some certifications.
Shortly before I got my degree and certifications, I was approached by an international IT/Cybersecurity company looking to hire more of both types of personnel. I hired on, expecting to be trained in my field. I did.
What Happened Next?
It seems so long ago, but I spent about two years working within specialized groups related to cybersecurity. The military. Et Cetera.
I learned a lot from that experience, including that what I learned from my college instructors and tutors wasn’t the end-all-be-all of my education. You have to experience what your position means and what your work is. No two organizations are the same. Nor should they be.
Why do I do cybersecurity?
In the end, my story becomes a statement.
I do cybersecurity because protecting people and their information has always been part of my life, from physical security to data protection. Now, I have combined the two and all that goes with them into one place to reside as an employee. As a professional.
My recommendations?
- Stay safe.
- Know who you are dealing with at all times.
- Protect yourself and those who depend on you to defend them.
Playing it safe is one of the most important things you can do as a user of the Internet and of others’ data. Own the fact that you are their data custodian.
