The Diana Initiative 2021

Are you a software engineer interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity? As software engineers ourselves, we know how challenging starting a career in security can be. Security classes at the undergraduate level and networking opportunities with security professionals are rare, thus perpetuating the inaccurate perception that being in security requires a lot of background knowledge and expertise.

It’s ok if you weren’t hacking as a toddler, there is room for you in the industry. In fact, cybersecurity entails much more than hacking! Unfortunately, it’s not commonly talked about how many security roles require engineering skills and that the skills you build as a software engineer are completely transferable to those needed as a security professional.

In attending this presentation, you will hear firsthand accounts of how two security engineers transitioned their careers from software development to cybersecurity. The discussion will include actionable advice and resources on how to enter security, and cover other topics such as conferences, educational researches, and hands-on experiences. By dispelling the myth that security is hard to get into, participants will leave feeling empowered in pursuing a career in cybersecurity.