Working on cybersecurity allows me to directly contribute to Singapore’s national security by helping to protect critical infrastructure and safeguard digital assets.
“HTX was an organisation that I had heard more about from friends in HTX as well as colleagues in SPF who had worked with HTX before and everyone I had spoken to had positive experiences. Moreover, as part of the Home Team, it felt like a natural fit for me.”
For Sean, his work at xCyber fulfills his sense of mission: “Working on cybersecurity allows me to directly contribute to Singapore’s national security by helping to protect critical infrastructure and safeguard digital assets.”
However, here’s the twist: unlike most of his xCyber colleagues, Sean does not have an academic background in Computer Science. Instead, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Warwick, as well as a Master’s degree in Intelligence and International Security.
Rising to the challenge
Without any academic qualifications in Computer Science, Sean had to work hard to earn his certifications in Cybersecurity. He started studying for the CompTIA Security+ certification and passed the exam during his 3-month internship at Cybersecurity Centre of Expertise.
Currently on a non-technical scheme at xCyber as a Manager (Planning and Architecture), his work focuses on cybersecurity policy, as well as advising on cybersecurity solutions for the Home Team. He recently passed the ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam and hopes to be transferred to xCyber’s technical track where he can perform more operational work. As he shared:
“With the reorganisation of the department, I am also being given an opportunity to work in Cyber Threat Intelligence which will let me use my knowledge, skills and education in Intelligence to pre-emptively identify threats, threat actors and vulnerabilities before they can cause any harm to Home Team computer systems.”
Sean feels that his earlier work with the SPF on physical security has given him a deeper understanding of security gaps and vulnerabilities, which in turn has given him a better insight into cybersecurity vulnerabilities and solutions.
Compared with physical security, the digital threat landscape evolves more quickly – keeping up with the dynamism of the cybersecurity industry is a great source of job satisfaction for him. How does he keep up with the latest cybersecurity threats and developments?
“I enjoy reading articles or listening to podcasts that teach me about new developments in the industry or provide a new perspective on existing technology. Perhaps even more satisfying, though, is bringing up these insights in discussions or casual conversations with my colleagues,” he advises.
Two heads are better than one
Intriguingly, Sean did not attend courses to prepare for his certification exams – he studied directly from the textbooks! His secret is that his wife is also interested in cybersecurity and studied for the Security+ and CISSP exams with him. Rather than learn from a teacher, they would discuss and teach the Security+ and CISSP topics to each other.
But even if you don’t have your spouse as your study partner, you can get a friend or colleague to study with you or at least keep you motivated. This is crucial, as “having a study partner really helps keep you consistent with your studying,” Sean suggested.
For those looking to move into the cybersecurity sector, especially if – like him – you don’t have a background in computer science, Sean shared that he had to sacrifice many of his hobbies to study for the Security+ and CISSP exams: “I try to do at least an hour of studying a day, and a bit more on the weekends.”
He also recommends getting hands-on experience in cybersecurity labs or internships. These practical experiences give students precious opportunities to put into practice their theoretical knowledge.
The journey may be difficult, but the rewards are plenty. As Sean reminds us, “The security industry has always been a rewarding one to work in as your day-to-day work benefits society and can have far-reaching impacts.”