Joan Vidal - SOC Lead | From Dominican Republic to Ransomware

In todays episode, Joan shares his remarkable journey from a curious high school student to a cybersecurity professional in the UAE.

He discusses his early influences, the challenges he faced in transitioning to cybersecurity roles, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career.

Joan emphasizes the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, and the value of certifications in the cybersecurity field.

He also touches on his passion for voice acting and his desire to support the Dominican community in the UAE by sharing valuable information and experiences.

Get in touch!
Joan Vidal - LinkedIn, Instagram
Nik Mohanlal - LinkedIn

Timestamps

• 00:00 The Journey into Cybersecurity
• 01:40 Early Experiences and Career Development
• 02:20 Transitioning into Cybersecurity Roles
• 04:57 The Impact of Curiosity in Cybersecurity
• 08:10 Facing Challenges and Building Skills
• 10:21 Defining Moments in Cybersecurity
• 13:03 The Thrill of Real-Time Incident Response
• 16:59 Navigating Ransomware Challenges
• 20:31 The Excitement of Cyber Defense
• 22:24 Red Teaming Insights and Community Engagement
• 24:32 The Joy of Incident Response
• 27:29 Bridging Programming and Cybersecurity
• 30:36 The Importance of Community in Cybersecurity
• 31:22 Certifications: A Pathway to Cybersecurity Mastery
• 40:41 The Value of Cybersecurity Certifications
• 43:36 The Shift Towards Practical Cyber Training
• 46:54 Challenges in the Cybersecurity Landscape
• 52:32 Exploring Voice Acting as a Passion
• 58:34 Supporting the Dominican Community in UAE
• 01:05:40 Advice for Aspiring Cybersecurity Professionals

Takeaways

• Joan's journey in cybersecurity began in high school.
• He transitioned from IT support to cybersecurity roles.
• Curiosity drives Joan's passion for investigations in cybersecurity.
• Facing a ransomware incident was a defining moment for him.
• He emphasizes the importance of foundational knowledge in cybersecurity.
• Joan has experience in both red teaming and blue teaming.
• He values certifications like CISSP for career advancement.
• Joan encourages aspiring professionals to apply widely for job opportunities.
• He shares his passion for voice acting and its connection to his acting dreams.
• Joan aims to support the Dominican community in the UAE through knowledge sharing.