How to make a midcareer move into cybersecurity

SOFIA MERIDA

HOW TO MAKE A MIDCAREER MOVE INTO CYBERSECURITY

by Sofia Merida, Zscaler’s ANZ Sales Engineer

Is it possible to switch from telecommunications engineering to cybersecurity on the fly? Yes, if you’re prepared to step out of your comfort zone, says Zscaler’s ANZ Sales Engineer, Sofia Merida.

Once the ugly duckling of the ICT sector, cybersecurity has risen to prominence in recent times. Highly publicised phishing and ransomware attacks have raised public awareness about the importance of securing systems and data. Business leaders have collectively come to the realisation tools and technologies that improve their organisations’ cybersecurity posture aren’t just a ‘nice to have’, and shouldn’t be seen as a grudge purchase.

As a result, cybersecurity is finally enjoying some long overdue time in the sun. The market is buoyant and, perhaps not surprisingly, it’s suffering from a sustained shortage of personnel. Here in Australia we’ll need an additional 17,000 cybersecurity workers by 2026, according to AustCyber. With the COVID pandemic keeping the borders effectively sealed to skilled migrants in all but a handful of areas for the foreseeable future, plugging the skills gap with imported talent is not an option. Higher education institutions are doing their bit to create a talent pipeline—recent years have seen the launch of a string of certificates, diplomas and qualifications—but job openings look set to outnumber applicants, for the next few years, at least.

MAKING THE SWITCH

All of which means there’s never been a better time for women with interest and aptitude to enter the cybersecurity sector. That’s what I did last year and I couldn’t be happier.

Prior to taking the plunge, I’d clocked up a decade of experience in ICT proper. I’d worked in customer support, pre-sales and technical sales for major vendors and service providers, in my native Venezuela and in Spain, before segueing into business and project analyst roles. Then I moved to Australia, where I was surprised and delighted by the range of high-tech opportunities on offer for individuals—women and men—who were prepared to take a deep dive into the technical nitty gritty. A pre-sales engineer role with well-regarded telecommunications managed services provider, Enablis, exposed me to Zscaler’s cloud security technology, and when a sales engineering role came up with that vendor, I decided I was up for the challenge.

Has it been an easy transition? Let’s just say there’s been quite a lot to learn, starting with the ubiquitous acronyms. They’re an enduring feature of the ICT industry but in the cybersecurity space, they have a full suite of their own!

Then there are technical standards and frameworks, like the Australian Privacy Principles, to get your head around, along with the troubleshooting and integration challenges that are part and parcel of working with any suite of complex products.

Formal training, by way of a cybersecurity diploma or postgraduate qualification, would no doubt have provided some of the answers to my many questions in the early days. In its absence, unfailingly supportive and helpful colleagues, and plenty of reading and research after hours, helped me fill in the blanks and upskill quickly, so I could begin adding value for our partners and resellers in Australia and New Zealand.

SUPPORTING CUSTOMERS, AND ONE ANOTHER

At the end of the day, that’s what working in cyber is all about: helping customers of all stripes and sizes to minimise their vulnerability and mitigate risk, in an increasingly hostile world, and one in which the cost of remediating and recovering from a significant cyber-attack or data breach continues to soar.

Going to work each day knowing that’s my remit, and the remit of our entire organisation, has inspired me to learn and grow professionally in my new role. So has the thriving community of women working in the cyber sector. Networking events, online and in real life, and groups like the Australian Women in Security Network allow newbies like me to connect with peers, share experiences and seek advice and support from other women forging meaningful and successful careers for themselves in this exciting and dynamic sector.

If you’re a woman with some ICT skills under your belt and you’re looking for a new challenge, I’d encourage you to join the club!

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