Post Syndicated from Tal Avissar original https://blog.rapid7.com/2022/09/13/how-a-principal-engineer-made-his-journey-to-cloud-security-with-rapid7/
The first programming language I learned in my childhood was Pascal. I was 12 years old at the time, and I quickly developed a passion for technology.
From a young age, I always knew I wanted to learn engineering and computer science. I wanted to solve big design and architecture problems while building new products that would influence the many people using software every day. The idea that we can use technology to build better tools inspires me, and I get excited about finding ways to help people work more efficiently.
Cybersecurity is such an interesting field because of the unique challenges and complexities associated with it. With my prior knowledge and background in security fundamentals and algorithms, joining Rapid7 felt like an exciting opportunity to grow my career.
An approachable start to a new challenge
Starting a role in a new industry can feel overwhelming, but Rapid7 has provided me the tools to make it a successful transition.
I joined Rapid7 as a Principal Engineer within our Cloud Security team. When I joined, I had some background in cybersecurity and security. Upon joining, I was immediately supported with the training programs and learning materials that helped me get up to speed and understand the business in more detail.
As a new hire, I had an excellent onboarding experience. The onboarding program gave me the chance to experience the unique culture and values of Rapid7, while also learning more about our industry, products, and the evolving needs of our customers. With the right tools, programs, and culture, I felt supported from day 1 to begin learning and immerse myself into the business and culture.
What sets Rapid7 apart
There are a lot of things that make Rapid7 unique as an employer. The people who work here are incredibly smart and kind, and the company places emphasis on learning and development, which shows they care about their people. It’s important for me to be in an environment where the business and leaders support their teams and care about giving them the right resources and tools they need to do the job, while also growing their own skills and knowledge. In engineering, the team gets access to the tools and tech stack requirements needed to fulfill our work.
Since I joined the company, I have experienced the reward of seeing the direct impact of my work. Being able to work autonomously to get the job done while having opportunities to mentor and coach others around me has been extremely rewarding. I love having the freedom to be creative, learn, and innovate new solutions. As I continue to grow within my career, I look forward to my next step in achieving my MSC degree in computer science. Being in an organization where I am creating products from scratch and using a cutting-edge tech stack helps contribute toward this goal.
I’ve learned a lot by taking a new step in my career and moving to a cloud security company. For those who are looking to do the same, I have a few pieces of advice to help you be successful:
- Have an attitude of learning and growth.
- There are many certifications you can get that will help introduce you to cloud technology. Check out certifications for GCP, AWS, and Azure to get comfortable.
- Research and explore advanced concepts of security, encryption, and attack models. There is a lot of exciting activity happening in cybersecurity, and learning more about the industry can fuel your interest and help you understand the importance and impact your work in this field can have.
Interested in joining Tal on the Cloud Security team at Rapid7? Explore our open roles.
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