In this episode of Lost in Cyberia, hosts Annie Mei and Anika are joined by Alaina Lawson, a Perth-based cybersecurity consultant. Alaina discusses her journey into cybersecurity, starting from her interest in IT during high school, influenced by her family background in IT. She shares how asking a simple question to a customer when she was working in a bakery changed her entire career trajectory. Alaina also shares her experiences navigating a male-dominated field, the encouragement she received from mentors, and her various roles in cloud engineering, technical writing, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). The conversation touches on the importance of encouraging women in STEM, the challenges in cybersecurity documentation, and the future complexities of GRC with advancing technology and data storage concerns.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:32 Alaina's Background and Early Career

02:09 High School Experiences in IT

04:58 University and Early Work Experience

12:41 Diverse Roles in Cybersecurity

14:20 The Importance of Technical Writing

22:28 The Importance of Learning Different Forms of Writing and Speaking

23:02 Introduction to Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

23:35 Misconceptions and Realities of GRC

25:09 Challenges in GRC Documentation and Compliance

27:13 The Role of Cybersecurity in GRC

36:33 The Future of GRC and Data Management

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