Q&A with NAT grad Michael Jensen

Since completing the Network Administration Technology (NAT) program in 2018, Michael Jensen has jumped right into the fast-paced, ever-changing world of cyber security. Currently employed as a Cyber Security Technical Advisor with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Michael shares with us what he’s been up to since graduation, and what he valued most from his time at Assiniboine.

Tell us a bit about your current job:

MJ: Since September 2022, I have worked with a team of trained cyber security analysts to defend the information systems relied upon by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as well as the Canadian Coast Guard from a wide variety of digital threats. In my role, I perform operational defensive techniques, as well as provide guidance to other analysts as needed. I work directly in cyber operations, but also work on a wide variety of short and long-term projects. As a technical advisor, one of my major functions is to provide advice to senior management and executives regarding information security best practices, as well as to provide analysis of risks, mitigation techniques and potential impacts.

What career path did you take to get to your current job?

MJ: I completed my practicum at the Brandon Research Center for Agriculture and Agri-food Canada performing Tier 2 technical support for the scientists and administrators there. After graduation, I was hired on as a term employee but before my term was up, I won a competition to lead the IT service desk and become the Incident Management Specialist at an Air Force base on Vancouver Island. While there, I started taking on more security-focused tasks and was designated the local site expert. Eventually, the Air Force asked if I would join their team to compete in a multi-national cyber competition. As part of that process, they invested heavily in furthering my education with a cyber-specific focus. As a result of that, I was able to move into a fully cyber-focused position when I moved to Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2022.

What an exciting start to your career. What led you to apply to the NAT program at Assiniboine in the first place?

MJ: Before I went to school I was working at a software firm in Winnipeg and knew that I needed to get a formal education in order to advance my career. I spoke with some businesses in Winnipeg to find out which colleges were producing the highest calibre graduates and consistently heard that the graduates from the NAT program at Assiniboine were entering the workforce extremely skilled. As a result, I applied to the program, sold my house, and moved to Brandon. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’m convinced that had I stayed in Winnipeg and attended one of the colleges there, I would not have received the same calibre of education, and as a result, many of the opportunities I've received in my career would likely not have happened.

Wow! How’s that for a 10 star review!

MJ: The education I received at Assiniboine set me apart from my peers. There have been many times in my career I was able to answer questions or provide solutions because of something I learned at the college.

Part of the reason I got the job with National Defence was because the entrance exam referenced a specific technology I learned in one of the networking courses. Because I understood the technology, I was able to excel in the exam and secure that position. I later learned that there were over 200 applicants for that position, some with much more experience than I had.

I’ve been extremely lucky. Assiniboine gave me the skills and knowledge I needed to stand out amongst my peers, which has provided me with a lot of opportunities and allowed me to accelerate my career at a rapid pace.

Have you completed any additional training related to your career path?

MJ: I have taken a lot of extra education in both hard and soft skills related to information technology in general, as well as technical leadership, service management and delivery, and of course cyber security. I hold certifications in service delivery as well as three in cyber security, along with the professional designation of Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

What has been the most challenging part of your job?

MJ: The most challenging part of my job is keeping up to date. We live in a world where threat actors are changing their tactics, techniques and procedures daily. Every year, tens of thousands of vulnerabilities are discovered. The methods malicious actors used yesterday might not be what they’re using today, and are almost certainly not what they’ll be using tomorrow. One of the many facets of my job is to stay on top of the threat landscape and ensure that I'm aware of emerging trends in order to ensure that I can adequately defend the information systems our scientists, enforcement officers, and coast guard rely on.

And the most rewarding?

MJ: My job is exciting and very rewarding. Every day is a new puzzle to solve or a new project to take on. It’s an extreme part of IT as a whole and it’s a field that is not only significantly understaffed, but that gap is widening. Every country in the world needs more cyber experts and Canada is no exception.

In 2021 I was invited to represent Canada as part of the Air Force team which competed at Ex-Cyberflag. Ex-Cyberflag is a multi-national cyber security competition hosted by US CyberCommand (USCYBERCOM) and supported by the National Security Agency (NSA). I’m proud to be able to say that Canada took all three spots at the podium and I was able to help my team secure second place at that competition.

What advice do you have to give to someone who has similar interests in this field, or a related one?

MJ: I have two pieces of advice.

1. Learning technology isn’t easy. It’s an incredibly vast field that only grows rapidly every year. If you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind. However, if you have genuine interest in how technology works and you’re willing to put in the effort to really understand it, then it can be an incredibly rewarding career.

2. Secondly, understand that even in a world as connected as we are, geography matters. If you really want to advance your career after graduation, you may have to move in order to experience significant career growth. But that doesn’t mean you can come back once you do. Come to ACC to get the best education you can, but once you’ve graduated, don't limit yourself to the Westman area unless you really want your career to take you places. It’s okay to leave for a few years and come back. I did, and I couldn’t be happier.