Future IT Leaders Speak On Hopes, Career Plans In The Security Space

MES Computing spoke with two college seniors with plans for IT careers at the Midsize Enterprise Security Summit this week.

(Left to right: Alex Lam, senior at Kennesaw State University; Adam Dennison, VP, Midsize Enterprise Services, The Channel Company; Andrew (Andy) Green, Assistant Professor of Information Security and Assurance, Kennesaw State University; and Benjamin Mettler, senior at Kennesaw State University on stage at the Midsize Enterprise Summit IT Security.)

Benjamin Mettler and Alex Lam are the future of IT. Both are currently seniors at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

Mettler and Lam are majoring in information security and assurance, under the mentorship of Andrew Green, assistant professor of information security and assurance at Kennesaw State.

Information security assurance, according to the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), is measuring the confidence that the security features, practices, procedures, and architecture of an information system accurately mediates and enforces the security policy.

MES Computing spoke with both students at the Midsize Enterprise Summit IT Security this week in Atlanta about why they chose their course paths, and their plans for entering the IT field.

Why information security and assurance?

Mettler: I started out in accounting, and I enjoyed that pathway. But there was a class I took that is required. It’s called accounting information systems, and I fell in love with the controls and looking into that side of the business ... looking more at the data.

It was after taking that class, I looked more into the ISA [information security assurance] program. I’m enrolled for fintech [financial technology] as well, just to get more in depth with the nuances of information, the security behind it.

Lam: I started out as a cybersecurity major, and I took a couple of programming classes and all that. And then, I realized I was more [interested in] the front end and the back end with the technical side, because during my internships, I took on a sale. I really enjoyed delivering a product to a customer. So, I looked at information assurance, which was more [on the] managerial side. I kind of like that aspect of communicating a product to a client.

(Left to right: Adam Dennison, VP, Midsize Enterprise Services, The Channel Company; Andrew (Andy) Green, Assistant Professor of Information Security and Assurance, Kennesaw State University; Benjamin Mettler, senior at Kennesaw State University; and Alex Lam, senior at Kennesaw State University)

Is there any specific business or industry that you’re looking to work for or work in?

Mettler: I’m fairly open to a lot of opportunities. There’s a lot of companies [in] this industry, so it’s hard to kind of narrow it down. With us having such a limited amount of experience and exposure ... it wouldn’t be the worst thing to kind of bounce around [and] see different perspectives of [companies].

Lam: There are so many companies out there. And with our limited years of experience, I know companies for higher positions are looking for more years of experience. And with this field being so competitive, I think any opportunity we’re going to take because, like, I say, you want that sponge mentality, you know, don’t be afraid to do anything ... you always want to learn something.

How hard was it to get through the program? And what would your advice be to anyone else who’s considering the same course of study?

Mettler : Accounting was a lot harder in the beginning, and then it got easier at the end. The ISA [information security assurance] was a lot easier in the beginning ... but then it was more difficult doing a lot more of the technical work. I wasn’t used to building the Linux and the PowerShell servers and all that ... part of the fun was research in ... that challenge.

Lam: When I was going into the course ... COVID was hitting, it was peak. So, I basically had to teach all the stuff to myself. The videos did help through professors. That was, for me, a learning curve, just, like, teaching myself and then getting on schedule with everything I needed to learn, and so you really have to push yourself through these courses.

Andy Green was probably my favorite professor ... He’s very passionate about what he teaches his students. Definitely prepares you for the future. So, if you have a chance to take Andy Green, definitely take him.