Intelligent CISO Issue 66 | Page 79

GO PHISH

WE ‘ GO PHISHING ’ WITH ASSAF MORAG , LEAD THREAT INTELLIGENCE RESEARCHER AT AQUA SECURITY , WHO TELLS US ABOUT LIFE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICE .

wWhat would you describe as your most memorable achievement in the cybersecurity industry ?

My most memorable achievement is something that hasn ’ t been disclosed before . It was a HUMINT ( Human Intelligence ) activity that spanned
almost a year . I infiltrated a group of hackers and was able to provide invaluable intelligence to relevant law enforcement agencies regarding their Tactics , Techniques and Procedures ( TTPs ), identities , Modus Operandi ( MO ) and technological infrastructure . I gained access to their SMS service , which contained information about their vendors , customers and team members . While we are inundated with such groups , this achievement had a significant impact on me personally , since I took on a task that seemed very challenging – gathering intelligence on a group of threat actors – I broke this task into pieces and combined both technological knowledge and experience , as well as soft skills from a psychological perspective . I was able to make a real impact . This experience led me to the understanding that anyone can make a positive impact and contribute to improving the security posture of our world .
What first made you think of a career in cybersecurity ?
I stumbled upon this career by chance . I was initially looking for a job as a data scientist and seized an opportunity with IBM Trusteer . This led me to a job that allows me to tell my children that I am working to make the world a safer place .
What style of management philosophy do you employ in your current position ?
As a parent of three children , my management philosophy mirrors how I approach parenting . I view myself as a guide for my team members , striving to help them become the best professional versions of themselves . I learn something new from them every day and aim to share my perspective in return . We collaborate to determine the best path forward . My goal is for my team members to enjoy their work while aligning with our team ’ s objectives .
What do you think is the current hot topic in cybersecurity ?
Definitely Artificial Intelligence ( AI ). We recently completed an AI hackathon to enhance our team ’ s capabilities in work , research and product development . From a broader perspective , AI is a double-edged sword ; it enables us to make significant advances in defence , but we have substantial evidence that hackers are also using AI to improve their attacks .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office ?
With three children , I find immense joy in watching them grow and creating memories with them . I am also a passionate soccer fan , particularly of Maccabi Haifa . Their recent success has brought me a great deal of happiness .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
Overall , I am actually extremely content with the trajectory of my career . I have progressed from a tech lead to managing a CTI group and now I www . intelligentciso . com
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