Cisco’s advocacy neighborhood, Cisco Insider, brings our shoppers in combination and gives some way for them to make robust connections, make bigger their skilled and private networks, and be told from most sensible professionals of their box. Certainly one of our objectives is to deepen {our relationships} with our shoppers. Our Q&A chain lets in us to polish a focus on a few of our maximum passionate advocates as we find out about their backgrounds.

Lately, we now have some of the friendliest faces in the neighborhood becoming a member of us for a talk. I’m excited to welcome Tim Harmon from Adventure Neighborhood Church.

Tim is a member of Cisco Insider Advocates, Cisco Insider Champions, and the Cisco Networking Academy Scholar Advisory Board.

Welcome, Tim! Let’s kick issues off by way of speaking about what you sought after to be whilst you had been 16 years outdated?

I at all times sought after to be a meteorologist. In Colorado, I grew up looking at Mike Nelson forecast the elements at the information. In highschool, I were given the risk to discuss with KUSA 9NEWS. I spent the day within the studio studying climate studies and looking at behind-the-scenes motion. I cherished each and every minute of it.

What a terrific revel in! How did you pivot to begin your profession in IT? What skilled resolution or alternative helped lead you on your present function?

Sadly, once I moved from Colorado to San Diego, Calif., there have been no meteorology methods at any of the colleges I regarded as. At some point on the trolley forestall, I heard somebody speaking about telecommunications, which sounded attention-grabbing. I did a little analysis and determined to get my degree at Related Technical School after which my bachelor’s stage in laptop science with a networking emphasis at California School San Diego (CCSD). Subsequent, I persevered my schooling with a grasp’s stage in laptop science and a grasp’s stage in cybersecurity. It’s interesting to know the other applied sciences and the way they paintings in combination.

In between my graduate methods, I labored at a controlled safety carrier supplier (MSSP) as a safety analyst and fell in love with safety. These days, you listen such a lot of tales about new cyber threats and corporations getting attacked. I need to be the only to lend a hand them place to protect themselves.

COVID performed a job in the best way I received my present place. I used to be volunteering at the manufacturing group at Adventure Neighborhood Church. In March 2021, the weekend manufacturing director requested if I’d be concerned with becoming a member of the workforce. I’m now the individual charged with getting the pc graphics (CG) able each and every weekend and ensuring all manufacturing group roles are crammed.

That’s superior. I ponder how lengthy your adventure would have taken with out that day on the trolley forestall. The Cisco Networking Academy is a brilliant position to expand cybersecurity abilities. How did your revel in with the Academy start?

A few years in the past, I used to be the assistant director for distributors and leisure on the San Diego Homosexual Rodeo. In 2010, the director, who used to be additionally a trainer at DeVry College, instructed me about Cisco Networking Academy. I carried out instantly. It grew to become out that Cisco Networking Academy used to be presented thru San Diego Proceeding Training. It used to be one of these nice revel in! All categories had been in individual and this system used to be in reality hands-on with a are living lab that used routers, switches, computer systems, and cables. A distinct second used to be once I were given the chance to visit Cisco Are living 2015 as a part of the Dream Staff. We helped construct all the wi-fi community for the development and it used to be some of the very best alternatives I’ve ever had.

We might want to write some other weblog publish on simply your rodeo revel in! What an unbelievable alternative to be part of the Dream Staff! How did you transform a member of the Cisco Networking Academy Scholar Advisory Board?

Well, I used to be named Mr. San Diego Rodeo 2007, so lots to speak about! After Cisco introduced the brand new Cisco Qualified Cyber Ops Affiliate certification and the scholarship program in 2016, I carried out, used to be permitted, and earned my certification. Given my familiarity with the group and my long-time engagement with Cisco Networking Academy, I used to be invited to transform part of the Scholar Advisory Board. Our function is to be sure that this system is constantly making improvements to and up to the moment with present knowledge generation and knowledge safety traits. And my studying hasn’t stopped there. I’ve begun a two-year program to acquire a grasp’s stage in complex research in information and engineering on the College of California, San Diego and can graduate in June 2025.

I really like that you just’re nonetheless at the board as of late and we’re rooting for you on your research! Pivoting quite, what do you like in regards to the Cisco Insider Champions neighborhood?

The Cisco Insider Champions program engages with greater than 300 folks from in all places the sector who come in combination to proportion their experience. We get sneak peeks at evolving Cisco applied sciences and feature the risk to provide comments. They train us find out how to lift our private emblem, so we be told running a blog abilities and find out how to proportion content material on social media. Cisco Champions get unique get right of entry to at Cisco Are living, together with behind-the-scenes alternatives, a laugh events, and the risk to do a podcast on the Podcast Area within the Global of Answers.

I listen you’re additionally part of some other program below the Cisco Insider umbrella! Inform me about your revel in with Cisco Insider Advocates?

Cisco Insider Advocates is a neighborhood any Cisco buyer can sign up for with other channels to discover. I’ve realized such a lot about now not simply safety however Catalyst Heart, Thousand Eyes, Intersight, Duo, and extra. On a daily basis I be told one thing new. The rewards I am getting for finishing demanding situations are an excellent bonus. And I really like the CIA sales space at Cisco Are living as an excellent spot to hang around and meet fellow advocates and neighborhood managers.

How have being part of those communities impacted you each professionally and for my part?

Being part of Cisco Insider has helped me in finding and connect to folks that I imagine my shut buddies. Cisco Insider has actually helped me department out. I’d by no means blogged or completed social media earlier than. Now, I’ve began personal weblog web site and introduced my very own YouTube channel to proportion cybersecurity pointers and methods I’ve realized alongside the best way. It’s designed for folks from novice to intermediate in order that they are able to revel in and be told with me.

You’re concerned with such a lot inside Cisco and we admire you very much. Remaining query, is there the rest on your existence you’re tremendous hooked in to and need to spotlight?

I’m part of a nonprofit right here in San Diego known as BSidesSD. BSides is an annual knowledge cybersecurity convention the place audio system do a tradition run earlier than they provide at Black Hat and DEF CON in Vegas over the summer season. I’ve created a promo and teaser video for it on my new YouTube channel (SecurityCyberGeek). The convention will happen March 30, 2024 at San Diego State College. I’m tremendous excited to be main because the volunteer coordinator this 12 months! Take a look at their website online for more info and to be informed about long term occasions!

Learn extra recommend interviews

You may revel in this interview with Cisco Insider Damian Erni.

Sign up for us!

For our shoppers who’ve already joined our Cisco Insider Advocates neighborhood, say hi to Tim should you haven’t met but. And should you’re a Cisco buyer however aren’t a neighborhood member, imagine becoming a member of. You’ll be capable to:

• Hook up with friends in a gamified, on-line neighborhood
• Have a possibility to fulfill with Cisco’s executives
• Proportion your comments, questions, and very best practices
• Get get right of entry to to ‘insider’ content material and assets
• Develop your skilled and private emblem
• Magnify your corporate’s luck tale with Cisco generation

In a position to get began?

Head over to the Cisco Insider Advocates Neighborhood and say hi!

(Calls for registration / login)

Proportion: