Name: Ayman Ouda

Title: Senior Consultant / Senior Architect

Employer: Telstra / Avirna

Education: Bachelor’s in Telecommunications Engineering, Master’s in Information Technology

Years in IT: 17+

Years in cybersecurity: 4

Cybersecurity certifications: CCSP and CCSK

How did you decide upon a career in cybersecurity?

I decided upon a career in cybersecurity as a normal progression of being a cloud consultant. Working as a cloud architect for the last seven-eight years, I discovered nearly all of our clients express the same two concerns, which are: “How secure is the cloud?” and “If we decide to move, what is the exit strategy?” Those concerns address a complex ICT landscape and risk profile and mature IT service management practices. Therefore, I invested considerably in both domains so that I can “walk the walk.”



Why did you get your CCSP®?

I initially learned about the CCSP through CSA engagement, as I am CCSK certified. I researched, and as (ISC)² is globally recognized and one of the most renowned bodies in the field of information security, I contacted my regional head office to register for the CCSP online course. I studied for three months, with intense determination. It was a tough track, but worth every minute.



What is a typical day like for you?

A typical day starts around 6am for me, with a quick refreshment and morning ritual before heading into work. I read the news on my bus commute to work, and in the evenings I am able to read about cloud, security and other industry topics.



Can you tell us about a personal career highlight?

My two top career highlights have been ServiceNow/ITSM Uplift PoW delivered for Australia Post and developing an information security roadmap and assessment delivered for Telstra and Transurban, involving the adopting of ISO27001/2, ISO27017/18 frameworks.

How has the CCSP certification helped you in your career?

Acquiring the CCSP certification helped tremendously in connecting myself to a wide network of security professionals, security studies, articles and more. All of which give me an edge in the market. CCSP defines a clear path/framework of where to look for, and be.

What is the most useful advice you have for other cloud security professionals?

The advice I can give for cloud security professionals is that cloud is a very fast-paced and dynamic field, especially when linked with security. CCSPs have to be dynamic to keep up – read, attend seminars, get involved, teach. This will help us make the cloud safer and better for everyone.

For more information on the Certified Cloud Security Professional certification, read the Rise of the Cloud Security Professional white paper.