Let’s Begin Again
Spring is here in Finland. The snow has melted, birds are singing again, and there’s light well past 9 PM. It’s a season of transition and for me, that theme feels very personal right now.
It’s been several years since I’ve written a blog post. I used to enjoy sharing thoughts and experiences, but life got busy caught up in projects, deadlines, career changes, and moving across continents. But now, as things settle into a new rhythm, I feel it's time to start writing again.
This is not just a return to blogging. It’s a reflection of the new chapter I’m living in a new country, with a new focus, and a new sense of purpose.
From IT Generalist to Cybersecurity: A Journey 15 Years in the Making
Before I moved into cybersecurity, I spent over 15 years as an IT generalist, someone who wore many hats in tech.
I began as a Systems Administrator, Engineer and Analyst (whatever you may want to call it), keeping infrastructure up and running, troubleshooting critical issues, managing servers and networks. For some time, I moved into Project Management, leading IT initiatives, aligning stakeholders, and balancing priorities across complex environments.
Those years taught me everything from technical depth to people management, skills that would later become incredibly useful when I finally decided to pivot into cybersecurity.
For a while, security was just one part of my broader IT responsibilities. But it kept pulling at me especially as I saw how much risk, strategy, and impact it involved. So, I took a leap: I enrolled in a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity, hoping it would be the bridge to something more specialized and meaningful.
And it was.
A Move Across Continents
In early 2023, after completing my degree, I was offered an opportunity in Europe. I moved to France, took a breath, enjoyed as many croissants as I want, and began my career in cybersecurity in a brand-new environment. I even got promoted as a SOC Manager. Later, in January 2024, I relocated to Finland, where I now live and work.
The shift hasn’t always been easy. New countries mean new cultures, languages, work norms, and expectations. But they also mean new perspectives — and growth.
Restarting in Europe gave me the chance to see cybersecurity through a wider lens. It also reminded me that our professional journeys don’t need to be linear. Sometimes, the most fulfilling paths take time to find.
Why I’m Writing Again
This blog is where I’ll reflect and share, not just about cybersecurity from a technical point of view, but about the real experiences behind the firewall of life.
I want to talk about what it’s like to:
- Transition from IT to cybersecurity mid-career
- Be a newcomer in a different country and still feel confident in your skills
- Study cybersecurity as an adult learner
- Experience cultural differences in cybersecurity operations
- Handle burnout and mental load in security roles
If you're someone who's in IT and thinking about making a shift or if you're already in cybersecurity and curious what it's like doing this work across different continents, this blog is for you.
This is my fresh start. Thank you for reading, and I hope you'll stick around for the stories, lessons, and reflections to come.