I am interested in cybersecurity technology for several reasons to include career change, gaining knowledge and learning new skills. 

I am currently a Systems Administrator. I have been in this role for almost 14 years including time spent serving in the United States Air Force. Although I am very good at my job and I get to take on challenging tasks in my current role, I am always looking forward to the next step and ways to make progress in life and my career. Pursuing this degree, focusing on cybersecurity, will add to my toolbelt of knowledge and allow me an opportunity to switch careers when the opportunity presents itself. 

My initial interest in cybersecurity technology came from watching shows like CSI and Law and Order as a kid. Although I know the stories are fictional, it still gave me a sense of how important digital forensics can be in solving cases and using tools to recover data that was thought to be deleted or lost, and tracing the origins of data. It was gratifying to see criminals taken down by computer forensics. 

Through my studies and many years serving in the military, I learned about the different types of malwares and how they are implemented. We were always warned about not opening emails from unknown senders or clicking links on random or unsecure websites because it may contain viruses or be a phishing attempt to collect your data and steal information. My sense of awareness around cyber security comes from my experience working as a systems administrator and working with the information assurance team to resolve and prevent risks within our network. 

In addition to learning about digital forensics, I would also like to learn how to perform ethical hacking and prevent unethical hackers from gaining access to systems they have no rights to.