Irradiate Security Returns to Cyber Career Symposium 2025

Irradiate Security was thrilled to participate once again in the Canberra Cyber Career Symposium held on March 19, 2025, at the Canberra Rex Hotel. Having previously participated in 2023, our team witnessed significant growth in both attendance and diversity of participants this year, spanning high school students, university attendees, and professionals seeking career transitions.

Connecting with Future Cyber Professionals

The 2025 symposium brought together an impressive mix of aspiring cyber security enthusiasts. We engaged with high school students showing early interest in the field, university students exploring career possibilities, and experienced professionals from various industries looking to transition into cyber security.

What struck us most was the diversity of backgrounds represented. We spoke with former healthcare workers, IT support specialists, network engineer, web developers, risk assessment professionals, all united by their interest in cyber security careers.

This diversity reflects the evolving understanding that cyber security requires varied perspectives and skill sets beyond traditional technical backgrounds—something we've long advocated for at Irradiate Security.

Hands-On Workshop: Introduction to Web Application Reconnaissance

A highlight of our participation was conducting a hands-on workshop titled "Introduction to Web Application Reconnaissance." Participants brought their laptops and enthusiasm as we guided them through the essential techniques security professionals use before beginning formal penetration testing engagements.

The workshop covered fundamental reconnaissance methods including:

• Google dorking techniques to discover sensitive information
• Using the Wayback Machine to explore historical website content
• Analysing dependencies in source code to identify potential vulnerabilities
• Active reconnaissance techniques including Nmap scanning and Burp Suite for web traffic analysis

We wanted to give participants a real taste of the investigative work that happens before any actual penetration testing begins. Understanding the reconnaissance phase helps demystify what security professionals actually do day-to-day.

Industry Perspectives on Cyber Career Pathways

The symposium reinforced what many industry leaders have been highlighting: cyber security careers are accessible through multiple pathways. Similar to experiences shared by other industry leaders, Irradiate Security has built teams comprising individuals from diverse educational backgrounds; from Bachelor of Software Engineering graduates to those with no formal IT qualifications.

The key ingredient for success isn't necessarily a specific credential but rather dedication, curiosity, and willingness to continuously learn. This was evident in the questions and engagement from symposium attendees, who displayed genuine interest in understanding not just the technical aspects of cyber security but also how to navigate career transitions.

Looking Forward

As the cyber security field continues to face talent shortages, events like the Canberra Cyber Career Symposium play an important role in broadening the talent pipeline. Irradiate Security remains committed to supporting these initiatives and helping to develop the next generation of security professionals.

We extend our thanks to the organisers and participants for making this year's symposium a resounding success, and we look forward to continuing our involvement in future events that promote cyber security education and career development.