Roshni Bedi was born in India but spent most of her childhood in Kuwait and Dubai. She now lives in Melbourne and is about to start her third year studying for a bachelor’s degree in information technology at Monash University. ROSHNI BEDI Bachelor of Information Technology Student at Monash University
Suppose you met an old friend from your last year at school who, knowing nothing about cybersecurity or what you do, asks you what you are doing. How do you answer them to ‘sell’ them on the idea of a career in cybersecurity?
I did not enjoy coding, I avoided any technical or
Cybersecurity is so much more than the stereotype
such passion for the field inspired me to choose IT as
movies have constructed in our brains. A career in
my degree.
computer-based subjects, but my perspective slowly changed when I opened my mind to cybersecurity and its possibilities. My father and I always had conversations about his job, what it entailed and what he enjoyed about it. Listening to him speak with
cyber is basically the same as being in forensics or the police. We work as the ‘cyber police’ protecting
After some research, and speaking to people working
the digital world from cybercriminals and tracing
in cyber I decided to enrol in my current course. It
any malicious activity or attacks. We are always
has changed my perspective of technology and its
developing ways to defend systems, data and
benefits. I enjoy studying, researching and testing the
computers from being compromised by attackers in
tools and technologies cybersecurity offers, and am
the most effective and simple manner.
proud of my decision to become a second-generation cyber professional.
How does the reality of cybersecurity as you experience it today fit with your understanding when you first thought about studying it?
Furthermore, I love being engrossed and having
Cybersecurity for me included hours of coding and
news, data breaches and attacks, or talking with my
trying to break into systems and being something of a
father about cybersecurity concepts and how things
‘tech-god’. However, being able to study it at university
work. I would attribute all my achievements to him.
intellectual conversations about current cybersecurity
has helped me understand the technical and nontechnical side of this profession.
In addition to your studies, what employment experience do you have in cybersecurity?
I have learnt how easy it is to be attacked and have
I am in my second year and have applied for several
your data stolen by someone who is simply a script
internships with Big Four banks and consulting firms
kiddie, and seen the detrimental impacts that can
so I can expose myself to the industry and experience
have. Studying in this field has equipped me with the
corporate culture alongside university culture. I will
knowledge and skills to protect personal information
be starting as an EY Consulting summer intern in the
and to understand what measures can be taken to
banking and financial sector, and I have also secured
defend myself from cyberattacks.
a 12-month internship with National Australia Bank as a security analyst next year. I am looking forward
Who, or what would you say has had the biggest influence on your cybersecurity career journey to date, and why?
to starting at both organisations so I can learn from a team of supportive and talented professionals and advance my skills as a cybersecurity professional.
My decision to choose cybersecurity as a career was guided by my father, himself a cybersecurity professional. In high school I was a science student with a passion for biology and chemistry and did not particularly enjoy computing or IT. Because
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