See Yourself in Cyber!

October is Cybersecurity Month, but TikTok works tirelessly to keep our users safe every day. Over the past year, we've invested over $1.5 billion dollars in protecting user data throughout the United States. Today, there are many roles in cybersecurity that help safeguard users and strengthen the TikTok community – just ask Meera, Max, and Ghelila. These three leaders in cybersecurity spoke about what inspired them to pursue internet safety, the varied routes one can take to enter the field, and of course, the strides they've made in securing TikTok.

Meera Dhami has worked on TikTok's United States Data Security team, or USDS, for a year and a half. She is the Chief of Staff for the Security Office, where she helps manage essential business operations, contributes to the overarching strategic direction of the organization, and addresses national security concerns with concrete, measurable solutions.

"I'm drawn to the constant challenge of staying ahead of evolving threats," Dhami says. "As well as helping the organization safeguard our digital environments." One of the things she enjoys about her work at TikTok is the continuous opportunity to learn and adapt. "Knowing that our work helps protect sensitive data and critical infrastructure is highly motivating and rewarding."

Max Moroz, who leads three security engineering teams focused on threat detection and response, agrees. "With each security review conducted, each vulnerability discovered and each security mitigation applied, we get to make our platform more secure for users, partners, customers, and employees," he says. "Our work has a very clear and noble purpose."

The goals of cybersecurity may be straightforward – vigilantly protecting users' privacy – but there are many different paths to a career in the field. According to the US Bureau of Labor, only 42% of people in the cybersecurity field have bachelor degrees in the subject. The most important thing to possess is a sense of curiosity.

"My initial academic background in neuroscience provided me with a deep appreciation for the intricacies of the human brain," says Ghelila Mascio, a Program Manager for the Global Security Organization (GSO), says. "This penchant for meticulous problem-solving and critical thinking led me to software development." The past two years on the GSO team, she says, her appreciation for the importance of protecting these digital ecosystems – sometimes as delicate and complicated as the human mind – grew.

"In high school, I wanted to be a hacker – a good one, of course!" jokes Moroz. "To do that, you have to stay sharp, keep learning, be open to new ideas – and those skills are applicable in our work, too."

Moroz, Maschio, and Dhami are part of a large group of TikTok teammates who work to set the industry standard in data protection. This past year, Mascio helped secure TikTok's presence at RSA, a world-renowned cybersecurity conference where the company shared our work "as a cybersecurity authority but also in attracting top talent".

A major part of that work includes Project Texas, one of the initiatives TikTok invested over a billion dollars in (the other being Project Clover, which is committed to storing European data locally at centers in Norway and Ireland).

"We've spent two years developing a framework to secure United States user data," says Dhami. "There are mechanisms to ensure there is no backdoor access to data or systems, and those mechanisms are under continuous review. Although the project is still in progress, the strides the organization and company have made are undeniable. It's the thing I'm most proud of."

Moroz points to a strong culture of teamwork and communication that allows projects like Project Texas to succeed. "The level of trust, mutual understanding, and highest technical acumen is really the main asset. I know it's cheesy, but the teams we've built here are our biggest strength."

"Cybersecurity is a dynamic and rewarding field that offers a wide range of career opportunities," says Dhami. "This field offers a combination of intellectual challenges, a sense of purpose, and the chance to make a real impact on digital security." She stresses not to be intimidated if you've taken a non-traditional path. "Leverage your distinct background to think creatively, problem-solve uniquely, and approach security challenges from a different angle. That can make all the difference."

You can make a difference too. When you #SeeYourselfInCyber, the possibilities to shape the security industry and your career are limitless. Explore opportunities to make your mark at TikTok today.