Ankit Masrani is a key contributor to Microsoft’s security infrastructure. He shared the resume that helped him secure a role at Microsoft focused on building security systems. Before joining Microsoft, Masrani pursued studies in IT and obtained a Master’s degree in computer science. He also gained experience working at AWS. Masrani emphasized the importance of data expertise and security knowledge for transitioning into cybersecurity.
Entering the cybersecurity field can pose challenges, as experienced by the 36-year-old Masrani. Originally aiming to become a software engineer, he unexpectedly found himself working in cybersecurity. Currently based in Seattle, Masrani develops sovereignty controls for Microsoft’s security platform, ensuring the protection of sensitive customer data within specific geographic boundaries.
Having studied information technology and worked on software systems, Masrani moved to the U.S. to pursue a Master’s degree in computer science. He previously interned at AWS for six months before becoming a full-time employee, focusing on data and network security. Seeking a change after six and a half years at AWS, Masrani felt drawn to the realm of data governance and security.
Masrani’s journey led him to Microsoft, where he started as a senior software engineer on the Purview security team. He now serves as a principal software engineer on the Security Platform team. His resume for Microsoft showcased his education and extensive experience, though he believes that with more experience, the focus would shift to his work history rather than his academic background.
Specializing in security, Masrani leverages his IT, computer science, and data experience in his current role. He emphasizes the importance of specific skill sets for transitioning from general software engineering to cybersecurity services. In his role, Masrani manages security logs, user activity data, and threat intelligence data while focusing on building cybersecurity services. Experience with big data technologies like Hadoop, as well as cloud services such as AWS and Microsoft Azure, are crucial for effective data processing and understanding scalable systems. Masrani’s work involves building services for security platforms and emphasizes the significance of machine learning and anomaly detection in security product development.
According to Ni Masrani, security expertise is a crucial requirement for transitioning into the cybersecurity industry. Masrani emphasized the importance of understanding safety procedures and data handling guidelines that may vary across different regions. He highlighted the significance of having domain knowledge in data governance and various security tools, along with being well-versed in regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation. Additionally, Masrani stressed the necessity of possessing foundational knowledge in data encryption, network security, and application security. “It is imperative to handle customer data in a secure and responsible manner,” Masrani stated, underscoring the importance of adhering to best practices in data management. For further details, refer to the original article featured on Business Insider.
