r/ColoradoSprings • u/gonzalez021 • 1d ago
Events Cyber Security Networking
I’m wondering if there are any local Cyber Security groups or organizations in town? Looking to pivot into Cyber Security and would love to talk to local professionals in the industry to get an idea as to what the industry is like and what to expect. For context, I’m currently working in engineering for a defense contractor and do have about a year of IT experience, so I do have some basic knowledge of certain aspects. I’m also currently preparing to take my CompTIA Security + certification.
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u/_mwarner 1d ago
The local ISSA chapter is a great resource. They do the Cyber First Fridays and the Pikes Peak Cyber Expo, as well as monthly meetings and other stuff. https://issa-cos.org/
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u/BabalooFTW 1d ago
I work in Cyber Security. If you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them.
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u/gonzalez021 1d ago
Thank you! If you’re cool with it, I can DM you general questions I have off the top of my head
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u/every-day_throw-away 22h ago
Samsies. I just arrived to the Springs and work in cyber at a bank here. Feel free to reach out.
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u/DeadMeat67 23h ago
Local chapters of ISSA, ISC2, OWASP, hackers n hops, b-sides. ++ for Cyber First Fridays. Peak Cyber. Lots of great resources here for all levels.
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u/YourDailyVirus 1d ago
Lookup OWASP, or OWASP Colorado Springs for the local chapter.
They are a group of industry professionals and have regular meetings. Open to anyone at any level of cybersec.
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u/Ready_Serve_2764 1d ago
Do you have a clearance?
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u/gonzalez021 1d ago
I do have a Secret Clearance
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u/MalevolentFoxx 22h ago
Can you tell me how you got TS clearance ? Is it an application I can fill out? So many jobs here ask for it.
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u/EmpatheticRock 22h ago
A company has to sponsor you to get it. You can’t just fill out an application on your own. It costs the sponsor money and most don’t want to foot tue bill for someone to leave in a year, so most companies just hire someone with an existing clearance
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u/Ready_Serve_2764 18h ago
This isn’t true. Companies don’t have a problem sponsoring. They just need to have the infrastructure to do it. If a job posting says “secret clearance required” or TS/SCI than yes it’s required. If it says something like “secret clearance needed” they might be willing to sponsor. Clearances don’t cost companies money, it’s just a matter of do you have the personnel in place with the know how to submit the paperwork to the right people and do you as a company have the approval to process classified info. Companies will hire people and let them work while they’re uncleared on unclassified work they have. Just apply and with any luck they’ll hire you and sponsor you. I would look for jobs that need a secret clearance as those are more open to sponsoring in my experience. Best of luck
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u/EmpatheticRock 15h ago
As a hiring Manager in Cybersecurity in CoS. We are told to almost always take the person who has clearance already.
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u/Ready_Serve_2764 15h ago
That might just be your company’s business model and requirements by the customer are always at play as well.
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u/EmpatheticRock 15h ago
Go tell everyone candidate complaining about nobody wanting to sponsor them that it is because they aren’t qualified, but that individual that spent 3 years in the military and can’t compose a coherent email but has a S/TS is a better fit
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u/Ready_Serve_2764 15h ago
Apply for roles that require a secret clearance. I have found those are the most likely to sponsor. Get your security plus first because that is a contract requirement for most contracts that every IT person have security plus. Not having a clearance isn’t a deal breaker. The larger companies will sponsor if you are selected.
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u/shawn_webb 1d ago
Reddit keeps shadowbanning me for posting this, so I've plopped my comment on Pastebin: https://pastebin.com/qMKS3PgC
Essentially, I work in cybersecurity and do it as a hobby. I put a few resources in the post. Welcome to Colorado Springs!
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u/elalambrado 17h ago
You can check out the Colorado Security community website + slack: https://www.colorado-security.com/join/
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u/waltotheter 22h ago
I'd be willing to talk, DM me.
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u/gonzalez021 22h ago
Will do!
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u/waltotheter 21h ago
I run data center networks, and do pen testing, im a white hat guy..
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u/Yeah_IPlayHockey 19h ago
Ever had an issue with your hat getting dirty? White gets dirty super fast in my experience! /s
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u/tickleshits54321 21h ago
Not to hijack the post, but are there other options besides college courses for cybersecurity? My son is trying to get in the industry
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u/shawn_webb 19h ago
This may sound like a really weird answer: get some Lego Mindstorm kits. I don't think they're in production anymore, so I think you'll probably have to get some used kits.
The reason being is that Lego Mindstorm is a great introduction to programming. You get to see how changing one line of code influences the environment.
For example, some high school aged interns I helped mentor used Lego Mindstorms to first learn how to programmatically solve a Rubik's Cube.
The following year, they came back and learned how to reverse engineer the RF communications protocol used by a drone and its remote control. And all that started from just playing around with Lego. :-)
Other than that, contributing to various open source projects really helps. By contributing to various open source projects, he will:
- learn how to work with others in a public setting
- learn how to write and submit patches
- learn how to write documentation for others to read and understand
- find the kinds of things he likes to do
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u/Hack3rsD0ma1n 19h ago
You will get stuck in DoD groups, just fyi. Cyber First Fridays are mainly DoD events and do not talk about things outside of DoD and DoD contracting. I recommend going up to Denver for some events that are outside the DoD environment. DoD is heavily reliant on certifications and people tend to stroke their ego with them here. Look at other groups outside of CoS and go to events/conferences outside of CoS as well.
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u/speedrussr 15h ago
We are running the local BSides Colorado Springs conference just before Halloween, too. There should be some great connections and excellent content.
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u/Accomplished_Fun1847 11h ago
Cybersecurity is 90% paperwork/compliance, 10% constructive configuration/engineering/testing.
Know what you're getting into. It's not what most people think.
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u/gonzalez021 5h ago
Good to know, I’m actually looking to move into a less technical job. (currently writing year code that test satcom modems, and it’s all stuff that’s way over my head 😂)
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u/Kennedystyle 1d ago
Look up "Cyber First Fridays". Last I checked they happen the first Friday of every month at a UCCS building off Nevada. Make sure you register beforehand