How far would you be willing to go to feed your family?

Maybe you’d brave a different city for better opportunities or plunge headfirst into a high-stakes industry you know absolutely nothing about. And while you’re at it, invent something that could change your life — and the lives of millions around the world.

Well, I managed to do all three

Born into the clutches of poverty, I strived to create a job through my Electrical Engineering degree and be my family’s breadwinner. However, I quickly realised that the career progression in my chosen field was rather linear, not allowing me to quickly rise the ranks. Not having the luxury of time on my side, I had to explore other options and fast — one which allowed me to put food on the table.

The beginning of the internet

And fortunately for me, in 1996, I caught wind of the new high-risk, high-returns industry that was rapidly taking hold of the Philippines: the Internet and cybersecurity, and dove in head first.

With no knowledge of the industry, days and nights were spent pouring over the limited resources available to learn the ropes in this new industry. Countless books and a self-paid crash course later, I finally secured my first stint with an internet service provider and rose the ranks in this field.

After four years there, I left the company as a senior field systems administrator. During this time, I was still using the Windows 95 operating system and grew curious about the cybersecurity field.

Venturing into the cybersecurity space

Joining one of the largest security technology companies in the Philippines in 2000, I dove headfirst into the cybersecurity field. There, I discovered my passion for the field through the Nimda virus — a malicious file-infecting computer worm that attacked systems through emails, open network shares, browsing of compromised websites, and exploitation of various Internet Information Services.

Also Read: Cybersecurity for retail: How to avoid e-crimes

After tackling a Russian cyberattack in Georgia, I grew to understand the growing threat cybersecurity poses to national security. Experiencing that in 2010, I started a campaign in the Philippines to combat the growing spread of cyberattacks, especially targeting vulnerable youth, through education and awareness. It was important to bring across the message that cyberattacks not only affect companies but have the potential to bring a country to its knees.

Evangelising the internet space with cybersecurity

The goals set and the steps I took were led with the thought, “How can I help people?” And this thinking has shaped my career in the cybersecurity field – protecting people against cybersecurity threats and ending the scourge of online sexual abuse and exploitation.

Additionally, the Global Chain of Trust (GCOT) is also one of the biggest driving forces in my career today to transform the internet into a safer, cleaner cyberspace for all. While this idea has been in the works since 2016, technology has not advanced far enough to breathe life into this idea. Technological advancements are not the only obstacle — meeting like-minded individuals to embark on this journey was another challenge.

Today, we can confidently say that the world has yet to see this form of cybersecurity protection, securing the DNS infrastructure against attacks as a first line of defence. This journey to create a new technology has taught me much – the amount of love I have for the community and the belief that I am part of something bigger than myself pushes me to constantly innovate.

If there is one thing I can impart, it would be this piece of advice that I have received in my years spent in the cybersecurity profession – to always think beyond yourself.

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