“I was always interested in electronics and computers. I was fascinated with the idea of purchasing devices and unlocking them to do more than they are meant to by hacking. So, when I heard about the Computer Security program, it was a natural fit – I wanted to learn about cybersecurity and software. When I entered the program, I was impressed by the sense of community that the Computer Security program created. I felt such a strong sense of collaboration – everyone wanted to help each other succeed.

Computer Security is a lucrative field to go into, with various types of roles and applications in the working world. I’m an asset to my team at IBM, where I work as a Security Consultant. I have a competitive advantage and I can comfortably speak in many different contexts like software and business, thanks to the technical, niche skills I developed throughout school.”

“I first became interested in computer security after watching the 2007 movie Live Free or Die Hard. I realized that with technology being more accessible than ever, the number of computer-related crimes has greatly increased and that it negatively impacts our society. I’m very passionate about protecting our digital world and making a positive impact in the world.

Computer Security is an exciting and challenging career. Being in the computer security field, we can contribute to society. We are on the front line of protecting the community from attacks that negatively impact our lives. Since the computer security field is an ever-changing environment, we face different problems every day. I now teach Computer Security-related courses at Cambrian College to help more people join the fight against cybercrime.”

“The biggest highlight from my time in the Computer Security program was my research experience and collaboration with professors. Through the research projects I worked on, I was able to extend my classroom knowledge and apply it to various concepts that were relevant to everyday life, such as privacy and data protection laws. My involvement in undergrad research also opened up doors to present at the world’s top cybersecurity conferences. By the time I graduated, I had presented at three conferences, which allowed me to not only build relationships with other cybersecurity professionals and students, but also get extremely comfortable with presenting my work to large audiences and engaging in discussions about cybersecurity. I think that’s a huge part of what gave me confidence to pursue the role I’m currently in as a cybersecurity consultant.”

“Computer Security is extremely in-demand in the workforce. As machines scale and our society becomes more and more digital, the demand for security professionals is growing. Curiosity and passion are important in this work and this type of career can go in many directions.

After completing my studies, I worked as a security engineer at Telus which exposed me to security incident response, network architecture and consulting on managed security services. As a result of this role being a security rotation program, I was exposed to many different skill sets, domains of knowledge, and working environments. After 2 years, I joined Shopify on the Infrastructure Security team.”