What A Senior Cybersecurity Analyst At Aleta Technologies Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Cybersecurity Industry
Ian, a Senior Cybersecurity Analyst, emphasizes the importance of embracing the learning process, stating that "it's okay that you don't know everything" in a field with vast knowledge. The most insightful advice offered is to focus on asking impactful questions, such as "what will it cost and what's the impact," rather than solely focusing on technical solutions, and to continuously learn from mistakes, similar to refining academic work.
Overcoming Challenges, Problem-Solving, Communication, Industry Realities, Candid Advice
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ian Knutson
Senior Cybersecurity Analyst
Aleta Technologies Inc.
University of Arizona 2015
Western Governors University Masters of Science Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Computer Science
Technology
Cyber Security and IT
Video Highlights
1. It's okay to not know everything; expertise is developed over time through continuous learning and asking questions.
2. Knowing how to ask the right questions is crucial; focus on impact, cost, and feasibility, not just technical solutions.
3. Learning from mistakes and feedback is essential for improvement; view setbacks as opportunities for growth and development, similar to academic feedback.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone had told you before you entered this industry?
I wish someone had told me that it's okay, that you don't know everything. The reason why that is so important is because there's just too much to know. You cannot be an expert on day one, and that's absolutely fine.
You can take it a day at a time and learn one thing at a time. In cybersecurity, it can feel daunting not to be the best hacker, not to be the best SecDevOps developer, or the best at running meetings or writing documentation. That's absolutely okay.
You can learn by doing, by talking, and by asking questions. It's okay to not know the answer. In business school, they teach you that there are no bad answers, only bad questions. Knowing how to ask the right questions has been huge.
I wish someone had told me that earlier. It took me a couple of years to realize that on some projects, I was asking the wrong questions. For instance, instead of asking how to mitigate a certain vulnerability, I should have been asking what it would take, what it would cost, and what the impact would be.
This is not just about what we need to do to fix something. I hope this example makes sense to undergrads. In the same way, if you write a sentence or a paper and it doesn't get the grade you want, that's okay.
You take a look at what the proctor or whoever graded it said, and use that information to improve your work for next time. That was applicable back then, and it's still absolutely applicable today.