https://www.linkedin.com/in/hack3d-matrix/

Hello Everyone!

Thank you and welcome to my blog. My name is Victor Alaman and the purpose of this blog is to help you CREATE, HACK, and DEFEND. I also will point out my pain points and struggles as I continue my journey in Cybersecurity. We will create projects, hack these projects and Defend these projects in a home lab environment. I think continuous learning is vital in this field and I really want to help and hopefully make a impactful contribution to the cybersecurity community the best way I can. I am introverted by nature and I think its important to step out of your comfort zone every now and then. When working together we can create a community that is welcoming and helpful to newcomers.

My Journey

What can we do to succeed in this field? I was a bit lost when I left the United States Army, even though I had 8 years experience as a IT specialist, within those 8 years of serving I failed to obtain any certifications in IT or gain any further education. When I got out I was faced with the problem of finding a job in IT. It seems everywhere I looked there was some sort of education/certification requirement. I eventually settled and took on a role as a cable technician. I enjoyed this mostly because I got to spend time teaching customers, helping other team members out and my environment changed daily. It also gave me a chance to be outdoors and help me break out of my shell more. Besides the uncomfortable places I had to work in, I was not being technically challenged like I wanted. During my time employed I started studying for my A+, it was more of a casual study because when I got out of the military I told my self I was not going to use my GI bill or even go to school, studying was something I really didn’t enjoy….at least that’s what I thought.

I took some time off from being employed and I decided to attend a local technical college full time. This is when I found my passion for cybersecurity. I realized that I actually loved to study especially when it came down to tinkering with tech. Fast track to today I have 3 technical associate degrees, a Bachelors degree in cybersecurity. Along the way I also obtained several certification, I had found my motivation to learn and I developed career goals that I am still working on today.

My first role in cybersecurity began as an Intern. I was working for this local cybersecurity startup and interning as a SOC analyst. It was one of the greatest experiences I have had and am grateful for the chance to prove myself. I was able to make a mark and got hired full time as a SOC analyst. With all these stepping stones and building blocks, I got hired at one of today’s leading tech companies. I was shocked beyond belief. I knew that I worked hard and it really is a great experience to actually see that hard work pay off.

Just like we all are trying to do, I am still taking necessary steps to learn and grow. I could go on and on but I think that summarizes my journey so far. There is more to come. I will soon start posting projects, tips and ideas that can help you on your own cybersecurity journey.

One final note, it is important to have a good support system. It can be family, friends or online groups. I am grateful for my wife and kids and the patience they have for me. I had to slow down at times make sure I gave quality time to family, for so long I was running at full speed, putting so much time into studying and learning new tech. Being in cybersecurity you will have to stay on top of what is happening in the world, read blogs, tech news and stay up to date on current cyber threats. Learning does not stop, but it’s perfectly fine to take it easy and enjoy family, friends and other passions!