Name: Jamila Rychlik
Role: Cloud Security Consultant, PA Consulting
What does your typical day look like?
I get a coffee before anything. When I open my laptop, I first take a look at my calendar, then messages and emails. My day will usually include meetings, working on project open tasks and collaborating with customers and PA colleagues.
What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working with a financial institution on the management and improvement of risks associated with the outsourcing of cloud services.
What inspired you to join this company in particular?
A few years ago, I read on a local news website about PA consulting opening an office in Belfast and straight away it caught my attention. I then researched the company and learned about the many industries and services PA worked with as well as its innovative background and I thought it would be an amazing company to work for.
Did you always want to work in this industry (tech)?
Yes. Technology is fascinating and I always wanted to be part of it.
What’s your favourite part about your work?
There are various but the fact that I get to collaborate with many different people, inside and outside the organisation is my favourite part.
What would you say to other people considering a job in this industry (tech)?
Go for it! A job in tech has generally many benefits such as flexibility, and career growth opportunities. Tech is constantly evolving so you’ll never feel like you’re stuck. Other benefits include the ability to work remotely, the high demand for tech-related skills so the risk of being unemployed is very low and there are many different fields within IT so you can choose the one that you align with. Finally, working in tech is very rewarding. It is a sector that touches literally any industry, so you feel like the work you do is meaningful.
How do you see this technology impacting on our lives?
More than ever the field of cyber security has great importance overall. It is applied to the way that companies maintain a productive environment while keeping a strong defence against cyber-attacks. Security is at the core of all services that we interact with on a daily basis and failing to have a great secure posture puts companies at risk which then has a negative impact on us, the consumer.
Who inspired you to work in this field?
Throughout the cyber academy I attended, there were speakers who were invited to talk to the students about their roles and the impactful work they did. Those were the people that inspired me.
What do you consider to be the most important tech innovation or development in recent years?
Artificial intelligence and how it can be used for the greater good in cyber security. As systems and services grow, so do cyber attacks and cyber threats. Attackers are becoming more intelligent and more sophisticated too. AI can be used, for example, to analyse patterns and behaviours of possible attacks and determine what is a true alert and what is not, that way helping security professionals deal with the number of alerts they receive on a daily basis and reducing their attack surface. By leveraging artificial intelligence-based systems, companies can better protect themselves against threats and become more resilient in the process.
What tech gadget could you not live without?
My phone.
