Profile

Photo:

Maximillian Ward

    • About Me:

      I’m Max – a Cyber Defence Analyst.

      I guard and protect computers from being hacked by criminals. Like a digital security guard, or police officer

      I live in South Wales, and my life is much more than my job.

      I see almost everything in the cinema, go out dancing, go to the gym, and invest heavily in eating pizza hut pizza.

       

       

    • My pronouns are:

      He/Him

    • My Work:

      All the computers and devices within an organisation, such as a School, make up a computer network.

      In this network, computers talk to each other. These conversations, as well as the processes that happen inside each computer – are called “events”.

      I search through and analyse these events, sorting the good from the bad – hunting for activity that could be an attack.

    • Read more

      I work as part of a team of analysts like me in a “Security Operations Centre” (SOC)

      Our team works in rotation, covering all times of every day. The computers don’t stop, so neither can we!

      If computers get hacked and no longer work as they should, this can have real-world consequences. How would your day look if you couldn’t use computers?

      As a result, at all times, we are out protecting computers and the people that need them.

      We work with other teams in the SOC:

      – Threat Intelligence Analysts, who conduct research to inform us what kind of attacks we can expect.

      – Security Engineers, who keep all our equipment up and running.

      – Incident Responders, who forensically analyse computers and computer networks in great detail. Like digital detectives.

    • My Typical Day:

      I work about 5 long 12 hour days in a row, followed by 5 days off! So I really work hard, but play hard too!

      When I’m at work, I investigate “alerts” given to me.

      Computer networks have so much going on, we have to use software programs to help highlight potentially suspicious activity.

      Data about this activity is bundled into an “alert” so I know where to start looking.

      Aside from investigating these alerts, I write reports, hunt for threats in general, and guide ongoing investigations.

      I work in an office in a big comfy gaming chair. I snack throughout the day, and get to chat to my coworkers who are a really great bunch.

    • Read more

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      Perhaps buy prizes to dish out to students for a quiz on Cyber Security.

    Candidate CV questions (extra)

    • Education:

      I went to local primary and secondary schools in Wolverhampton in the middle of the city.

      I did 11 GCSEs, I got As in the stuff I liked (Maths, Sciences) and scraped some Cs in the stuff I didn’t like (French, English literature, Religious Studies)

      I started 4 A-Levels: Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Sci nice.

      I did not enjoy A-Levels. I was recommended to drop Maths, and I finished the others with a C, D, and a D. This was a lot less than my teachers had hoped for.

       

      I applied to 4 universities for Cyber Security courses (Coventry, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, and De Montfort)

      I picked De Montfort to be my favourite, with Wolverhampton as my backup.

      I ended up studying at De Montfort University in Leicester. I really loved it, and got top grades throughout. It’s a lot easier learning when you love it.

    • Qualifications:

      GCSEs:

      • Maths
      • Computer Science
      • Biology
      • Chemistry
      • Physics
      • English Language
      • English Literature
      • Religious Studies
      • French
      • Business Studies
      • Product Design

      A-Levels:

      • Chemistry
      • Biology
      • Computer Science

      University Undergraduate Degree:

      • Cyber Security BSc (Hons)

      Various Cyber Security Industry Qualifications (that I have studied for while working):

      • GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst
      • Blue Team Level 1
      • Splunk Certified Power User
      • Splunk Advanced Power User
      • Splunk Certified Cybersecurity Defense Analyst
      • Splunk Certified Cybersecurity Engineer
      • Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)

    • Work History:

      • Paper delivery @ The Co-op
      • IT volunteer @ Compton Hospice
      • Student Ethical Hacker @ East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre
      • Graduate Cyber Security Analyst @ Airbus Defence and Space
      • Cyber Defence Analyst L1 @ Airbus Protect
      • Cyber Defence Analyst L2 @ Airbus Protect

    • Current Job:

      Cyber Defence Analyst L2

    • Employer:

      Airbus Protect

    • My Interview

      • What did you want to be after you left school?

        A Cyber Security Professional.

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        Not much

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        No clue!

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        Paramore

        What's your favourite food?

        Pizza hut pan pizza, (Pepperoni and Nduja)

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        A better memory! Lots of Money! And a pizza hut pan pizza!

Questions answered by Maximillian

No questions to show