Name: Todd A. PainterTitle: Network EngineerEmployer: UNG, Inc.Location: Boiling Springs, SC (USA)Years in IT: 7Years in information security: 3Cybersecurity certifications: SSCP, Security+, working on CISSP   How did you decide upon a career in cybersecurity? Looking at the current scope of IT, it was apparent to me that the IT security field would have the largest growth in the coming years. With that in mind, I knew that I had a good chance at becoming a valuable asset to any company that needed a security expert, or someone with more of a security mindset rather than just desktop or network support. Why did you get your SSCP®? I studied and attained my SSCP for two reasons. The first reason is

This week saw the first-ever (ISC)² EMEA Information Security Leadership Awards (ISLA) take place at Secure Summit UK in London. The awards offered the chance for our community to recognise peers going the extra mile to enhance security in the region. Individuals could be nominated in four categories: Senior Information Security Professional, Information Security Practitioner, Up-and-Coming Information Security Professional and Woman Information Security Professional; with submissions being judged by members of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Advisory Council (EAC). Impressively, over 200 submissions were received and after much deliberation, the nominations were shortlisted down to the four winners; after the judges scored against the following criteria: Expertise, Dedication, Impact, Innovation, Leadership and Community Engagement. The ceremony itself was presented

Name: James Packer Title: Security and Cloud Specialist Employer: Big 4 Firm Location: London, UK Education: Information Technology and Security Years in IT: 10 Years in Cybersecurity: 5 Cybersecurity Certifications: CISSP, CCSP, CIS F ISO27001   How did you get in to a career in cybersecurity? I’d say I’m like countless security professionals out there, I first started in IT and security was just a part of my job, inherent in every role I performed. I started in desktop support, progressing through the service desk lines to a managerial role, before moving in to projects and architecture- “solutionising” as I call it. This was when security for me, upped a gear. As my career matured, I also started working for larger

Name: Mario Damar BardowellTitle: Security AnalystEmployer: LeidosLocation: Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.Degree: B.S. in Network Systems CommunicationsYears in IT: 8Years in information security: 2Cybersecurity certifications: SSCP, CISSP, CompTIA’s CASP and Security +, CEH   How did you decide upon a career in cybersecurity? The decision to pursue a career in cybersecurity was made due to the impression I received when I got a chance to work with an information security professional in my very first role as a help desk analyst. The man was sharp and always did things by the book. He didn't cut corners and showed me why securing systems was critical to a business’s success. It was then that I knew I wanted to put my time and effort

Name: Marco FernandesTitle: Lead Security Solutions ArchitectEmployer: Hewlett Packard EnterpriseLocation: Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas, U.S.A.Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business Computer Information SystemsYears in IT: 4Years in information security: 8Cybersecurity certifications: SSCP   How did you decide upon a career in cybersecurity? I grew up with a love of technology and cybersecurity, along with a curiosity for business. So when I got to college, I wasn’t sure what I should major in. My brilliant brother, Roger Fernandes, encouraged me to pursue a degree in Business Computer Information Systems (BCIS). After seeing news of so many hacks and data breaches, I knew our country needed more security professionals, thus I decided to become one. I started out as an IT analyst in