RIT alumni are shaping new careers: Cybersecurity incident commander

Twenty-five years ago, few companies employed cybersecurity incident commanders. Today, they are on the front lines of defending organizations against ransomware attacks, data breaches, and other digital threats that can disrupt, or even destroy, operations in minutes.

Laura Faria ’16 (mechanical engineering), ’17 MS (science, technology, and public policy), cybersecurity engineer and incident commander for Cisco, began her professional career examining drone landing gear and structural components.

But, as technology evolved, so did her interest in cybersecurity. She was attracted by the sector’s rapid growth, its connection to emerging technologies, and its long-term career potential. An encounter with a mentor in Silicon Valley launched her cyber career.

At Cisco, in Boston, her job involves responding to major cyber incidents, including large-scale ransomware attacks and network intrusions. As an incident commander, she helps lead investigations, coordinates response efforts, and works alongside forensic engineers to understand how attackers gained access and moved through a network.

“My work includes analyzing malware, understanding adversary behavior, tracking attacker movement through networks in real time, and helping organizations respond as quickly and effectively as possible,” said Faria. “It can be really intense.”

And, while the work is highly technical, Faria said the human side of cybersecurity is just as important. Helping customers during some of their worst moments is what motivates her.

“Not only did RIT help me grow tremendously as an engineer and as a lifelong learner, I also learned empathy,” she said. “My focus, discipline, technical skills, and ability to solve complex problems were all equally challenged. I was also pushed to become more adaptable and open to learning new technologies quickly, which has been essential in my cybersecurity career.”