Women in Cyber Series: Day in the Life of an Information Developer by Jennifer Reed

As part of our series celebrating Women in Cyber, we are recognizing the achievements of women in science and technology by sharing insights from the women leaders of Verodin. In the next blog of our “Day in the Life” series, we introduce you to Jennifer Reed, who works with Verodin as an information developer manager.

I have a background in technical writing and training development, and before joining Verodin, I worked for several software companies as well as in a SOC for the government sector, which was my introduction to cybersecurity. In the beginning, my work primarily focused on how to handle threats. This then led to data analysis, report generation, and training new engineers. While in the SOC, I heard about Verodin and thought the platform would be a great tool to test SOC employees – and then, eventually, I joined the Verodin team!

I have now been with Verodin for almost two years, and I was one of the earlier employees – in fact, I was employee number 42. In my role as an information developer manager, I manage platform documentation and training. I work with the development team on each release to keep documentation up to date, develop the release notes, and provide user-experience related suggestions. On the training side, I’m responsible for our online learning management system and our instructor-led boot camps. This includes developing material, managing access, and scheduling and coordinating training sessions. I’m also particularly excited about the webinar series we are developing that will discuss new features and industry-specific topics of interest.

I enjoy cybersecurity, but for me, my colleagues are the best part of my job. I am fortunate that I can say I love the people I work with and our company culture – we work hard because we know what we’re doing is important and something that had not been done before. By providing hard data about the effectiveness of the security control, we’re helping organizations protect themselves from an attack or breach.

On a personal level, I’m probably more unique to the world of cybersecurity. I entered this field without a deep knowledge of it, which is hard as a female in a male dominated industry. And like many of my female counterparts, I liked computers growing up, but back then, studying computers was generally thought of something just for men.

Sponsorships Available

Sponsorships Available

Sponsorships Available

Thankfully, the perception that computers, science, and technology are industries for men is no longer the case, but we still have a ways to go to close the gender gap. I think we’re starting to get there, and for other women looking to enter the world of cybersecurity, my advice is to find and look for support. If you’re not comfortable joining a co-ed group, there are many women-specific groups that provide a safe place to go to. LinkedIn is a great resource to find like-minded women and mentors, and you’d be amazed at the free training you can find just by searching the Internet.

In my experience, Verodin provides a safe environment for women. It truly is a company that supports personal growth, which means they understand that not everything you try is going to be successful. With the right, supportive environment, I along with my female colleagues can overcome the challenges and not worry about the pressure to never fail. I can go to my colleagues to ask questions and for help. So, for women who are thinking about entering cybersecurity, find what works for you – from in-person networking groups to online resources. With an encouraging environment, you can ask questions, get invited to other groups, and find a mentor.

Want to hear more from leading women in cyber? Visit here to subscribe to the Verodin Cybersecurity Effectiveness Podcast, winner of the 2020 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards in the category of best cybersecurity podcast for a company with 1,000 to 4,999 employees. Listen in to our latest podcast series and gain insights from some of the most powerful women in cyber.

‍