From protecting the streets to securing the web: a leap into the world of cybersecurity

Career paths are never a straight line from A to B, often taking the form of meandering roads with bumps and unexpected obstacles. This unpredictability can make a career change all the more intimidating, and these feelings of uncertainty are further magnified for women who are starting out in the world of technology. This apprehension has many sources, including the lack of representation and diversity in the tech industry, with Tech Nation reporting that women only make up 26% of the technology workforce. Often, the possibility of facing discrimination as a result of conscious or unconscious biases only heightens these feelings.

With these obstacles already in place for women, it is even more critical for those in the industry to talk about their career journeys in technology in the hope of inspiring more women to take the leap and pursue the career that they aspire to, rather than the one they think they should explore.

From police force to cyber force – navigating my career change

My introduction to the cyber world was at Southampton Solent University where I decided to study criminology because of my strong interest in the criminal mind and desire to gain a broader understanding of ‘what makes people tick’. This seemed to be the perfect course to provide me with this knowledge, and help me pursue a career in the police force.

The course itself captured my interest due to the diverse range of topics that were being taught by industry-leading experts. My passion for the world of cyber began in my final year, when I selected an additional module to learn about ‘cyberterrorism’. I enjoyed this module to the extent that I decided to write my dissertation around the existing argument of old versus new terrorism. Its main aim was to analyse what cyberterrorism actually is (or was back then!) and how the ‘cyber’ dimension adds a new perspective to the debate.

Combatting crime with the Kent Police force

After completing my degree in criminology, I landed my dream job as a police officer with the Kent Police force. This was always an aspiration of mine and, although I really enjoyed the job overall, I ended up struggling with the work-life balance that comes with the role. Despite working extremely hard throughout school, sixth form and at university to get to where I was, things didn’t end up the way I had envisioned.

Making the decision to leave the police force to pursue a different career path was one of the hardest, but best decisions I have ever made. This situation taught me that no matter what, life is too short to spend it doing something that makes you unhappy and that you can change your mind about your career at whatever age. Although it might seem like you are destined to head in one direction, you don’t

have to stay on that path as sometimes things work out and other times they inevitably do not. The challenges we face should be treated as lessons learnt and experience gained, rather than as setbacks.

Trading in my police hat for a career in the world of cyber

My career change involved leaving a role of combatting physical crime to enter the virtual world of cybercrime, which is constantly evolving and changing as technology continues to advance. I joined Orange Cyberdefense in January 2018 as a Service Delivery Manager and within four years I was promoted to the Head of Security Operations Centre (SOC). When starting out at Orange Cyberdefense, I realised that I had learnt many transferable skills that allowed me to excel in my new role, such as interpersonal and communication skills, having a good work ethic, drive, and grit.

The SOC is a team of 32 engineers based in the UK and Mauritius. It is responsible for delivering managed security services to protect our customers’ digital infrastructure. As cybersecurity experts, the team focuses on providing proactive value-added support with the aim of unburdening our customers from the IT security challenges that businesses face today. I love the diversity that comes with being in this team as no two days are ever the same. There is always a different challenge that needs to be tackled and I love being part of this process and having an impact on a global organisation. This role has provided me with the opportunity to travel and meet like-minded people and colleagues, while also supporting my team of engineers and helping them succeed in their own careers.

The biggest contributor to my success, and the thing I believe enabled me to become the Head of SOC at the age of 28, is that I truly understand what I’m passionate about, which has allowed me to consistently deliver in the variety of roles that led me to where I am now. This combined with surrounding myself with the right people, and having the drive and perseverance to succeed, has meant that I’ve been able to overcome any and all challenges that have come my way.

Breaking into the cyber industry: my tips and tricks for success

If I had to give my top three tips for entering a career in cybersecurity, they would be:

● You don’t have to do things in the traditional sense and, by this, I mean believing that higher education is the only route into the industry. Real-life experiences are just as valuable, if not more valuable, than education and they can give you the skills you need to excel.

● It is most important to discover your passion. Drilling down into what motivates you and taking steps to pursue it will always leave you happier, more fulfilled and more successful that staying stagnant in a role you’re hungry for.

● The cybersecurity industry is constantly evolving and you need to be willing to learn every day, develop your skills and quickly adapt to change in order to thrive.

The prospect of a career change is often stressful, but for women wanting to enter the technology industry these feelings may be magnified. I hope that my story has inspired at least one woman to take that leap. I look forward to the day where women and men in technology are provided with the same opportunities for growth and support, and I believe that this will be the day when the industry can truly begin to thrive and drive innovation.