A Q&A with Steve Campbell of Securicon who provides insights into Securicon’s strengths, expertise and leadership.
Q. What do you do at Securicon?
I’m a “Senior Consultant” and penetration tester. I have more than 14 years of combined Information Technology and Security experience which I use to help my clients to discover gaps in their information security program.
Q. What has been your favorite project so far?
My favorite was an Internal Network Penetration Test of an electric utility and at one point I found my way into an Industrial Controls System and realized that I had control of a city’s electric grid. My adrenaline spiked and I took my hands off the keyboard and took a deep breath before taking a screenshot and carefully backing out of the system. I knew that by finding and reporting the vulnerabilities that allowed me to break in, I was helping the client seal the gaps to prevent a malicious hacker from taking down the electric grid.
Q. What motivates you to wake up and go to work?
I love the challenge of hacking computer systems. It doesn’t feel like work to me. At the end of the day I know that if I find the misconfigurations and vulnerabilities before the malicious hackers find them and do a good job of communicating the risk, I may be helping the client to avoid a costly and painful security breach.
Q. If you could switch your job with anyone else within Securicon, whose job would you want?
I wouldn’t switch jobs with anyone. I’m doing what I love to do.
Q. What are 3 words to describe Securicon?
Family, Expertise, and Solutions.
Q. What do you like most about Securicon?
I like that Securicon is a small team of dedicated and knowledgeable security professionals who care deeply about our clients.
Q. Before working at Securicon, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I used to work on aviation electronics and fly on helicopters in the Navy.
Q. What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I never feel like I’m good enough, and that’s why I’m so driven to keep learning more about my profession. Sometimes I have to pause for a moment and look back on my skill level a year ago to realize just how far I’ve progressed.
Q. What’s your favorite indoor/outdoor activity?
My favorite indoor activity is sitting at the keyboard and learning about new things in information security. My favorite outdoor activity is riding my Harley Davidson on the twisties up in the mountains of western North Carolina.
Q. How do you define success?
I define success as providing for my family while getting paid to do what I love, while providing value to my clients.