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In the world of cybersecurity, the only constant is change. Threats evolve, technologies shift, and the digital frontier expands every second. For those aspiring to protect it, what does the path to success look like?
I had the incredible opportunity to explore this question as part of the CloudSEK Student Challenge, sitting down with Sreenarayan Ashokkumar, Vice President of Cyber Security at Interactive Brokers, to learn about his journey and the principles that guide him.
His story isn’t one of a straight, predictable line but a winding path fueled by curiosity, exploration, and a pivotal moment of clarity.
The Journey: From Exported Fruit to Encrypted Fortresses‍
Like many in the tech world, Sreenarayan’s fascination began early. While still in high school, he took his first step into the practical world of technology by developing a website for a company that exported fruits. This initial project was more than just code; it was a lesson in how technology serves real-world business needs.
However, this early start didn't mean he had it all figured out. In fact, his journey was marked by a period of profound exploration. Unsure of which specific career path to commit to, he dove into various technologies. He learned SAP, a powerful enterprise software, but found that each new skill simply opened more doors, paradoxically making the choice even more confusing.
The turning point came not from a textbook or a training course, but from a conversation. An insightful senior in his college introduced him to the world of cybersecurity. Suddenly, the pieces clicked into place. He had a realization that has since become a cornerstone of his career: everything needs to be secured. All the disparate technologies he had worked on; web development, enterprise software, network infrastructure, all shared a fundamental need for security. It was the universal layer connecting his interests.
With this newfound focus, his path became clear. He began a dedicated journey of earning certifications like the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), building a robust foundation of both offensive and defensive knowledge. This dedicated pursuit of expertise eventually led him to his current role as a VP, where he now leads security strategy for a global financial institution.
‍The Core Lesson: You Must Build What You Want to Break
When I asked Sreenarayan about the most important lesson he's learned, his answer was both simple and profound: security involves continuous learning and development. The threat landscape of today will be a footnote in the history books of tomorrow. Complacency is the enemy.
He elaborated on this with a powerful concept, the duality of the security professional. "You need to be able to build as well as break targets," he explained, "and build things to break things."
This is a crucial insight. Many newcomers are drawn to the "breaker" side of cybersecurity, the thrill of penetration testing, finding vulnerabilities, and thinking like an attacker. While essential, that’s only half the picture. To truly be effective, a defender must deeply understand how systems are constructed. You cannot effectively protect a network if you don’t understand its architecture. You cannot secure an application if you don’t grasp the principles of secure software development. The best security professionals are architects as much as they are demolition experts.
He extended this principle to the next frontier: Artificial Intelligence. As AI becomes more integrated into our digital lives, security professionals must again embrace both sides. It's no longer enough to just use AI-powered tools for threat detection. One must also understand how to build with AI and, critically, how to use AI to break systems.
Adversaries are already leveraging AI for sophisticated attacks, and the only way to counter them is to understand their methods and tools intimately.
‍Advice for the Future: Fuel Your Curiosity
So, what is Sreenarayan’s advice for students and aspiring professionals looking to follow in his footsteps? It boils down to one thing: mindset. "Stay eager, always ready to learn, keen to know more, and always interested," he advised. Technical skills can be taught, certifications can be earned, but the internal drive to constantly ask "why" and "how" is what separates a good professional from a great one. Technology will change, but the inquisitive mind that is passionate about learning will always adapt and thrive.
About the Author: Aadithya Koppikar is a Computer Science and Engineering student at VIT Vellore with a strong interest in cybersecurity. He has hands-on experience in vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and defensive security, with a solid foundation in network, application, and cloud security. Analytical and detail-oriented, he aspires to become a CISO.