In this interview, Sina explains how he went from being interested in technology at a young age, to becoming a leader in safeguarding platforms and network infrastructure. We talk about his pioneering research into dynamically retrainable AI firewalls; his career working on scalable and secure systems; and his perspective on the challenges and future in cybersecurity. Read about how Sina’s visionary work is changing the way we protect critical infrastructure in an evolving digital world
Tell us some background about you?
I’ve always loved computers since I was a kid. I learned programming when I was 14 years old because of that interest. So it was much more sensible for me to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree where I could gain the knowledge and be exposed to real world problems in technology.
A few years later, I completed an M.Sc. in Information Technology from the University of Melbourne, to solidify my skills and knowledge in IT systems.
Gradually I became interested in networking and platforms. This interest ultimately shaped my career.
How did you get into cybersecurity and network infrastructure?
I always had a fascination with networks. Learning about the important role that platforms and network infrastructure play in powering our digital world inspired me. These systems are integral to communication, commerce and more, so their security is crucial. The work of creating systems that can scale while remaining resilient against increasingly sophisticated threats was something I’d really wanted to dig into. Working in a field in which your work directly contributes to protecting critical infrastructure is incredibly motivating.
What are some ways you leverage AI in your day-to-day job in cybersecurity for platforms and network infrastructure?
So, AI has been key to my work on solving the problems of modern cybersecurity. Among my research in recent years, I developed a model called dynamically retrainable AI firewalls. These firewalls continuously learn and adapt to evolving threats in real time through retraining on new data. Other firewalls are built with rules and intelligence that become outdated, whereas these systems of intelligent firewalls can learn and adapt to the evolution of attacks in addition to volume and complexity of the large scale systems. This helps organizations deliver secure operations at the speed of their business while simplifying the complexity of their operations.
What kind of influence your work with the dynamically retrainable AI firewalls has had?
There’s been major impact in the scientific community as far as I can tell. A good measure of the impact is how widely my research has been cited in academic and professional literature and I hope at least some of it help to develop adaptive security. The dynamically retrainable AI firewalls demonstrate that they are far more capable of delivering a real-time response to threats and improved cumulative network resilience. They have set forth a framework that could be used to create scalable, self-learning defenses that might be key in an age when organizations have come under attack from ever more sophisticated cyber-weaponry. I’m looking forward to see how these systems not only tackle today’s issues, but also set the stage for tomorrow’s trends in AI-powered cyber defense!
Tell us about your current role as Lead Engineer — what do you like most about it?
I get to work with cutting-edge technologies and design secure platforms that serve millions of users worldwide. I create solutions to facilitate connections, optimize performance, and safeguard against ever-present threats. What I enjoy the most is knowing that the systems I help build ensure secure and reliable operations on a global scale, allowing me to make a visible and meaningful impact
What is one of the biggest cybersecurity challenge for platform and network infrastructure today?
Keeping systems highly secure and attack-proof is a principal factor when it comes to maintaining scalability of systems. This has created a situation where, as with all platforms as they scale, the ever-increasing complexity makes it a lot more challenging to secure. The second challenge is integrating cutting edge technologies such as AI while simultaneously ensuring that no exploitable weaknesses are introduced. Today’s AI-driven cyber-attacks are much more sophisticated and constantly changing.
What do you think is the most exciting aspect of the future of cybersecurity in this field?
Security landscape has changed a lot in the past couple decades. We have seen a shift from reactive to proactive security. AI and automation also enabled us to identify and prevent threats in real time. These technologies have made us rethink the way we design and harden infrastructure, so that it is more resilient and adaptable. It’s an interesting time to live and certainly to do this kind of work.
What would you recommend to a person who is a beginner or looking for a career in cybersecurity for platform and network infrastructure?
Networking, security, and programming are the main focus. Seek real-world projects; nothing replaces hands-on experience.
Final tips — A lot is changing in this space so remain curious and learn. And don’t discount the potential for collaboration, some of the most innovative ideas will come from working with others.
