Introducing women with a deep interest in cybersecurity

I am currently working as a security manager at the National Health Group (NHG). I liaise with cluster information security officers (CISOs) from hospitals, polyclinics, and pharmacies for various security initiatives, such as technical risk advisory, risk assessment, and application security training.

What brought you to the cybersecurity industry?

My bachelor's degree is in Information Systems Management with a specialization in Data Analytics. There was a time when a company is willing to pay me more to join the data analytics team than the security team. Nonetheless, cybersecurity is a subject that fuels my intellectual curiosity and can keep my keen interest for a very long time. That is why I chose to study cybersecurity for my postgraduate degree and stayed in the career for years.

What were your defining moments in this industry, and factors or guidance that helped you achieve them?

Obtaining my doctorate degree, filing a patent for a detection tool, chairing a track in a security research conference, and working in Silicon Valley are all defining moments for me. These achievements are possible only with the support from my family, team members, collaborators, mentors, and advisors in the industry.

What is it that you love most about your role?

A certain aspect of cybersecurity involves understanding the business context and protecting customer interests, such as patient safety, confidentiality, and privacy. Being a part of big institutions that provide care and service as well as bringing values to society are all enriching experiences in my current role.

Prominent Cybersecurity trends:

What are some of the trends you have seen in the market lately, and what do you think will emerge in the future?

While there are still skill shortages in the current cybersecurity industry, it amazes me to see young students from polytechnics and universities with solid cybersecurity skills. I have seen 18 or 19-year-old students using Burpsuite and forensics tools fluently, passing Certified Ethical Hack (CEH) exam, taking interest in CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional). I foresee a great future with having them as my colleagues soon.

Females in Cyber Security

What can we do to encourage more women to join the cybersecurity sector?

Throughout my university years and work, I always look up to women leaders and follow in their footsteps. Many of them are my classmates, seniors, professors, supervisors, colleagues, and even my family members. It is important to have role models in our everyday life. Showcasing more women leaders as well as being present in society as women leaders would bring more women to the industry.

Final thoughts

How can you debunk the myth that cybersecurity is only for men? Is there any indication this stereotyping is changing?

There have been a few times when I have been addressed with “Mr.” or “Sir” in emails. Since I have a foreign name, it is hard for people to infer my gender based on my name alone. People generally assume that I am a male just because I work in the cybersecurity industry and speak with technical jargon. It will likely take a while for the world to change its perspective, but it is encouraging to see more and more women in cybersecurity. As more women show up at workplaces and lead their careers with passion, the world will see that the stereotype is no longer true.