Joe Ferris (B.S. ’04) has always been interested in information technology and how complex systems work. Before he could even drive, he would bike around his neighborhood to set up, move and fix computers for friends and neighbors. His passion and skills, along with his degree in Information Technology from Florida State University, have been instrumental to his successful career in information and network security.
For the past four years, Ferris has worked at AT&T as the Principal – Technology Security engineer as part of the Global Customer Security Services (GCSS) team dedicated to the State of Florida MyFloridaNetwork (MFN) contract. MFN provides a comprehensive statewide network and security services solution for connectivity in Florida. The job entails responsibilities such as being the network and cyber security subject matter expert and the MFN security manager for the State of Florida. Specifically, Ferris is responsible for the design, implementation, protection and assessment of all proactive and reactive security operations within the MFN Core Network. He also works with a team to provide a security information and event management system, which provides real-time and historic data on events, alerts and threats.
Ferris explains, “To sum it up, each day we are met with new security challenges and opportunities and we quickly adapt to these situations. Our principal focus for the services we provide involves prevention, detection and response to security threats.”
The alum is proud to work at AT&T, which has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine as the most admired telecommunications company in the world in 2016 for the fourth year in a row.
Ferris earned his degree as a part-time student and a full-time employee for FSU. He eventually accepted an instructor position within the College of Communication & Information. He believes that being exposed to the vast amount of data types that FSU has access to, in addition to being introduced to a myriad of concepts related to information in his classes, were vital to building a solid foundation for his career.
He shares, “All of the concepts, presentations and papers I gave while in college are still relevant to my career today. To say that my time spent at the university was invaluable would be an understatement and I am forever grateful.”
In his spare time, Ferris enjoys volunteering, coaching travel soccer for Tallahassee Tottenham Hotspur FC and going to the beach. He also teaches and mentors young students as a way to give back to the community and honor the people who had a positive impact on his life as a young person. Additionally, he is trying to establish a class that teaches cybersecurity to high school students.
Ferris says, “Cybersecurity is in need of more professionals. The College of Communication & Information is a great place to start. Learning doesn’t stop there, though. The time spent on your own will make you more knowledgeable and in the end more employable.”
To learn more about the Information Technology program at FSU, follow this link.