Working in Cyber Security: “You will find the job much easier if you understand the fundamentals”

What is it like to work in cyber security? We ask some of the members of the team in Symantec. Today, we hear from May Ying Tee, an Associate Software Engineer based in Singapore.

Security Response
Sep 5, 2018 · 4 min read
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How long have you been in this role?

I have been in this role for two years now.

How did you come to work in the field of cyber security?

I first joined Symantec as an intern during my Sophomore year. During the internship I was tasked with working on a machine learning project related to mobile security. The three months’ experience in the company allowed me to understand that cyber security is much more than just security as, often, we have to factor in usability and functionality too. This intrigued me enough to continue my exploration within the field when I eventually joined Symantec upon graduation.

What advice would you give to someone who wants a job like yours?

As a software engineer, it is crucial to have a good understanding of computer programming. However, with so many emerging technologies and languages in this industry, how does one ever keep up with all of them? It’s simply not possible. What is possible though, is to understand the logic behind them. For example, an introduction of a new computer language may seem hard to master at first, but as long as you understand the essence of programming, picking it up should be a breeze. This is applicable everywhere: regardless of the kind of job you are working on, you will find the job much easier if you understand the fundamentals.

Is the course you studied at university relevant to the job you have now?

I was a computer science student in university. Although I did not major in security, I am glad to say that the core courses in programming, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are relevant to my current job. After all, these courses are fundamental to any IT-related field these days.

“Technical skills are crucial in this field, but soft skills should not be overlooked either”

What do you think are three qualities someone who wants to work in a role like yours needs to have?

  1. Ability to see the big picture: Often, when we are tasked with a job, many (sometimes, including myself) will tend to work on it without asking too many questions. We may be able to do that task well, but sometimes the solution may not fit into the big picture. We should always take a step back and ask why: why are we doing this? What purpose are we trying to serve, in a bigger picture? Because by understanding the problem statement itself, surprising solutions may appear. We may find that the task could have been done differently, and perhaps able to yield a better result.

Any other tips, advice or anecdotes you would like to add?

Technical skills are crucial in this field, but soft skills should not be overlooked either. Some of the soft skills that I find underrated are the ability to communicate constructively and objectively, or the flexibility to be a leader and a follower as and when needed. I believe a good mix between these skills can definitely lead you to a successful path.

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Insights into the world of threat intelligence, cybercrime and IT security. Brought to you by researchers at Symantec.

Security Response

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Symantec Security Response brings you the latest threat intelligence from the IT security world.

Threat Intel

Insights into the world of threat intelligence, cybercrime and IT security. Brought to you by researchers at Symantec.

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