Artificial intelligence has taken hold of humanity; with the release of ChatGPT, people are beginning to understand what this next-generation technology is truly capable of. Although AI and related advancements are creating impressive opportunities for businesses, global superpowers, and leaders around the world, they are also creating never-before-seen threats. When it comes to cybersecurity, the increase of hackers and attackers using artificial intelligence to do their dirty work is frightening, to say the least. The good news is this: as the hackers get better, the good guys and cybersecurity experts like Muhammad Jamshid Khan are also getting better.
Drawn to technology at a young age, Khan began pursuing a computer-science education right out of high school and has since earned multiple degrees and certifications in the field. When he started work as a cybersecurity & network engineer in 2012, technology was very different from what it is today. He worked to design and implement secure network infrastructures using firewalls, software solutions, and even different VPNs. He learned how to conduct risk assessments, create and enforce better security policies within organizations, and optimize network infrastructures.
Those skills built Khan's foundation, readying him for a changing industry and an increasing level of risk in nearly everything he took on. In 2018, Khan worked for OCBC Bank in Singapore. Supporting the network infrastructure and cybersecurity of a financial institution was a whole new level of pressure, but Khan worked diligently to upgrade the network infrastructure as needed, conduct user acceptance testing for enterprise network projects, and manage multiple CISCO routers and switches.
Throughout the years, Khan's ability to design and implement complex network security solutions has grown and evolved. He is able to understand and process the risks an organization faces when it comes to cybersecurity, assess the current landscape of the organization, and build customized solutions that address complex threats. Further upstream, Khan leads in-depth security assessments and penetration testing exercises to highlight the weak points of a network security solution. As a Certified Ethical Hacker within the EC Council, he stays at the forefront of cybersecurity changes and protection mechanisms.
When he started working for the Ministry of LAW & Supreme Court of Singapore, network security infrastructure configurations were more important than ever. Due to the sensitive nature of the work the organization did on a daily basis, Khan didn't have room to design anything less than a sophisticated, secure security infrastructure. He worked closely with the security governance team to develop and document refreshed standards for network device security within the court.
During his time as a Network Security Engineer for Sysnet System and Solutions, Khan provided technical support to customers and partners in a number of channels. He installed, configured, and ran tests on networking, firewall, gateway, and cybersecurity tools. As the business needs changed, Khan's approach moved in lockstep. What might sound challenging to some is simply the nature of the industry to Khan. He's constantly thinking 10 steps ahead, working to understand new risks and potential threats, and mitigating them before they become a reality.
Now, as a Network and Cybersecurity Engineer for St. Engineering Electronics in Singapore, he works in a technical role that is also client-facing. Gathering customer requirements and designing new data centers using a wireless LAN design merges his technical abilities with his easy-to-understand communication methods. He also supports more junior engineers, actively impacting the future of the industry overall.
Every time that Khan has been faced with what feels like an insurmountable challenge, he lets that challenge fuel his efforts, and up until this point, has a perfect track record. He's worked to mitigate middle-of-the-night cybersecurity breaches, helped clients move to the cloud while maintaining a level of critical security, and so much more. For Muhammad Jamshid Khan, the ever-changing cybersecurity industry inspires him to continue to learn, grow, and make an impact in new ways. Rather than feeling discouraged by the intensity of the field, he sees it as a personal mission to grow professionally, as any natural thought leader does.
