In episode 153 of Cybersecurity Where You Are, Sean Atkinson is joined by <a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-ashong-3a275b241">Jason Ashong</a>, IT Support Specialist at the Center for Internet Security® (CIS®). Jason shares his journey from tinkering with tech as a kid to working in IT and pursuing cybersecurity research. The conversation covers education, mentorship, hands-on experience, and advice for newcomers entering the field. Here are some highlights from our episode:<ul><li>01:10. Jason’s early days in IT of fixing devices and breaking things to learn</li><li>02:14. First professional IT/helpdesk experience at Dutchess Community College</li><li>03:48. The importance of mentors pushing you to grow</li><li>06:02. Jason’s advice to students of understanding foundational computing knowledge</li><li>08:45. The value of technical skills in networking, cryptography, and coding</li><li>11:00. Hands-on experience through labs, competitions, and research projects</li><li>16:08. Self-confidence, practice, and dedicated time as tips for navigating the job market</li><li>19:29. The role of attitude in opening up new opportunities</li><li>24:40. Jason flips the script and interviews Sean</li><li>Mistakes to avoid when entering the field: imposter syndrome and perfectionism</li><li>Cybersecurity as a path of continuous learning</li><li>Opportunities for newcomers with experience in artificial intelligence and data science</li></ul>Resources<ul><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.cisecurity.org/insights/podcast/episode-129-embedding-cybersecurity-in-project-management?utm_source=wistia&utm_campaign=cis&utm_medium=audio&utm_term=theme_tl&utm_content=2025-cis-podcast_153-wistia-podcast_sub">Episode 129: Embedding Cybersecurity in Project Management</a></li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.cisecurity.org/insights/podcast/episode-95-ai-augmentation-and-its-impact-on-cyber-defense?utm_source=wistia&utm_campaign=cis&utm_medium=audio&utm_term=theme_tl&utm_content=2025-cis-podcast_153-wistia-podcast_sub">Episode 95: AI Augmentation and Its Impact on Cyber Defense</a></li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.cisecurity.org/insights/podcast/episode-44-a-zero-trust-framework-knows-no-end?utm_source=wistia&utm_campaign=cis&utm_medium=audio&utm_term=theme_tl&utm_content=2025-cis-podcast_153-wistia-podcast_sub">Episode 44: A Zero Trust Framework Knows No End</a></li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://tryhackme.com/">TryHackMe</a></li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="https://www.hackthebox.com/">Hack The Box</a></li></ul>If you have some feedback or an idea for an upcoming episode of Cybersecurity Where You Are, let us know by emailing&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" href="mailto:podcast@cisecurity.org">podcast@cisecurity.org</a>.

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