Page 47 - Cybersecurity Career Guide for UT Austin

CYBERSECURITY CAREER GUIDE 47
“We specialize in network security,
cloud security, and security operations
technologies,” Richardson-Sequeira
explains. Their products range from fire-
walls to software that scans for threats
and automatically responds to attacks.
Companies like Palo Alto also do re-
search. “Investigating trends is a huge
part of our company,” she says. It has an
entire unit that “regularly reports on
trends and other information related to
the threat landscape.” Palo Alto re-
searchers, for instance, recently reported
that ransomware payment demands
have soared 518 percent since 2020.
To be sure, most large companies
and federal agencies have their own
in-house cybersecurity teams (see page
38). But the job of combating cyber-
crimes is so huge, many still enlist the
help of specialized companies. “No
one person can know it all,” Richardson-
Sequeira says, “so it is easier to work
together.” Jon Brickey, a senior VP at
Mastercard, agrees, noting that the
field is so diverse it requires a vast vari-
ety of knowledge and technologies.
The industry is “critical,” he says. “We
all have to rely on the innovations and
effectiveness of these companies. They
provide the products and services that
protect the entire ecosystem of industry
and government.”
Accordingly, the companies look to
hire people from a wide range of back-
grounds beyond computer engineering
and computer science, including law,
management, and marketing. Strong
communications skills are also highly
prized. Indeed, Richardson-Sequeira
Mastercard Operations &
Technology Hub in St. Louis, MO
Fortinet headquarters
in Sunnyvale, CA
JOHN MOTTERN/FEATURE PHOTO SERVICE FOR IBM; COURTESY PALO ALTO NETWORKS; COURTESY MASTERCARD
ultimately earned a bachelor’s degree
in English. “It’s not so much about the
degree, but what you bring to the table.
If you’re trying to break in, a lot of com-
panies will train you.” One reason why
companies offer training is to help fill
positions. There’s a massive talent
shortage and nearly 3 million jobs are
open at any given time, Richardson-
Sequeira says. “The competition for top
talent is stiff.”
She admits cybersecurity isn’t easy
work. Let’s face it, the threat levels
never let up, so it’s go, go, go, go, all
the time. “You absolutely have to be
passionate and dedicated to do well
in this field.” Nevertheless, Richardson-
Sequeira stresses that the work is also
thrilling and satisfying. Which means it’s
rewarding in every sense of the word.
Palo Alto Networks’
corporate campus in
Palo Alto, CA