Reshmi Hariharan Governance, Risk and Compliance Technology Specialist at Microsoft
R
eshmi Hariharan is a governance, risk
(CDPSE) certification, and says her membership of
and compliance (GRC) technology
ISACA also provides an opportunity to network with
specialist with Microsoft, based in
peers in the industry and gives her access to thought
Sydney. It’s a career destination she has
leadership content.
arrived at from a degree in electronics
and communications engineering and, she says,
A PIVOT INTO CYBERSECURITY
“mostly by saying ‘yes’ to all the opportunities that
When Hariharan gained her first cybersecurity role
came my way even if that did not make sense
it represented the realisation of a long-held interest.
immediately.” The only thing that mattered was: “is
“When I was pursuing my undergraduate degree
it different from what I’m doing now, and do I get to
in electronics engineering, there was one subject
learn something new.”
on computer networks and security that got me interested in the basics of security, but I did not
Her initial role in the industry was in marketing, not
have any clear vision of working in cyber back then. I
in cybersecurity. “I was given an opportunity to join
started my career and then pivoted into cyber a few
a cybersecurity firm as a researcher for developing
years later. I was working as a researcher and, many
marketing and thought leadership content,” she says.
times, the topics included cyber. I would think, “oh
“A few months later, I was given an option to join
that’s interesting.”
the governance, risk and compliance team. I started helping out with information security assessments
She says such pivots into cybersecurity from other
and then gradually built my skill and got certified as
skill sets are common. “People pivot to cyber from
PCI AQSA [Associate Qualified Security Assessor] and
different walks of life, bringing in varied sets of
ISO 27001 LA [lead Auditor].”
expertise. There is room for everyone. The key is adaptability and an open mind. You can always find
50
Down the track she plans to gain ISACA’s Certified
roles in cyber that relate to your skillset and values
Information Security Manager (CISM) certification
throughout your career. For me, there is always
and Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer
change and something new to learn.”
W O M E N I N S E C U R I T Y M A G A Z I N E
J A N U A RY • F E B R U A RY 2023
