What's your job about?
Leidos Australia is a technology company that supplies specialist solutions to the Australian Government and other clients. I am a Cyber Security Analyst undertaking work in a full-scale cyber security project for Defence across multiple environments. I have exposure to GRC (Governance, Risk and Compliance), vulnerability management, cyber engineering, and cyber threat intelligence and threat hunt teams. I am thankful for the opportunity to work across all areas of the project and have used this time to plan which areas of cyber security I want to continue and specialise in.
The work is diverse and uses both my technical and soft skills. Knowing the cyber security landscape and threat vectors is vital. To stay on top of all things cyber, my mornings consist of reading cyber security news and reports. One task I am proud of is the development of a proof-of-concept dashboard for the internal and external stakeholders. I was able to learn a new skill set and supply new capabilities to my team.
What's your background?
I grew up in Melbourne, Australia and have been in Melbourne through primary, high school and university; however, the dream was always to move to Canberra for a graduate role.
My love for technology began at an early age, sneakily playing computer games with my twin sister instead of going to bed like we were told. The idea of working in technology was always my end goal.
While at uni, I had the opportunity to sit the e-council ethical hacking and digital forensics exams and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) Cyber Security Fundamentals exam.
In my final year of university, I landed a six-month internship at Victoria’s Big Build Rail Project Victoria (RPV) project office. Working with a wonderful and supportive team, I was exposed to Microsoft Azure and M365, third-party management, and the Victorian Protective Data Security Framework (VPDSF) attestation and audits. I continued learning and completed two Microsoft fundamental exams and an RMIT micro-credential in public-sector risk management. After the internship, I was asked to stay on as a Security Administrator, incorporating and managing compliance with the VPDSF.
At the beginning of my final year, I began applying for graduate roles. The purple of Leidos stood out to me and the option to work in Canberra appealed to me. I applied for and started my role in January 2023 and have enjoyed the Graduate Development Program and the meaningful work of my project. My Canberra graduate cohort has been so supportive and has been the highlight of my first year at Leidos!
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes, however, knowing all about technology helps! This role values and requires a passion for learning and building strong relationships – just as much as technical skills. There are plenty of courses and certificates that can help build technical skills. If you are doing rotations across cyber security domains it is important to be willing to learn computer networking, security tooling as well as governance and policy frameworks.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing is that I know there is always someone to talk to and ask for feedback without fear. I have access to a buddy, mentor, People Leader, a talented team of colleagues, and a wonderful graduate cohort. Leidos and the Early Careers team have built an environment that values both your well-being and career growth. I feel so supported in this role.
What are the limitations of your job?
There is a lot of responsibility in this role and in my experience I have been very self-driven. The work can have high stakes and challenging time constraints/deadlines. Those coming straight out of university may struggle to adapt to the self-driven nature of the role and taskings. Cyber security as an industry faces an elevated level of burnout due to stress and this role is no different. The hours will change depending on the requirements of the tasking or the team and you must adapt.
What are three pieces of advice you would give to other students?