My Professional Edge - Vaughn Sanders Jr.

Vaughn Sanders Jr.
Network Security Administrator, The Landrum Company
Keller degree: Master of Information Systems Management (MISM)

My career

As a Network Security Administrator for a $1 billion financial services company I deploy, manage and maintain all security systems and their corresponding or associated software, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, cryptography systems, and anti-virus software for more than 750 computer workstations, 105 servers and 12 security systems.

In this position I have streamlined network security functions, and proactively prevented network and phishing attacks on several occasions, saving the company from negative publicity and potential loss of revenue.

I also conduct yearly security and end user training for all company employees as well as write a quarterly column in the company newsletter highlighting what staff can do to help keep the company secure. This training has helped to reduce the number of virus and spyware infections by approximately 40 percent.

Career security blanket

I decided to get an advanced degree because I felt that I had become complacent in my job. I was very secure and started to take the job for granted. While my company, founded in 1865, seems very stable, I began to think about what I would do if I lost my job and how I would support my family. Would I be able to find another job doing what I love to do with computers and security?

At that point, I decided to get my master's degree to supplement the experience that I have gained and help me to be more marketable. If I needed, or wanted, to find another job, I would have the Keller credential.

Keller takeaways

The biggest thing that I took away from Keller is real world knowledge, which is basic to the Keller philosophy. When I was a college student, I was forced to take classes that I had no interest in just so that I could fulfill the general education requirements. Keller courses were very different. Even the courses that I thought I would have no interest in had me captivated after the first week or two. The importance placed on real world experiences really helped to drive home the topics and concepts that we learned about in class each week.

Each course helped to open my eyes to various management practices. I would often talk to my manager and sympathize with the things she had to deal with and the decisions she was forced to make. Suddenly, it was like I was no longer on the outside looking in. I started to pay more attention to how the business worked and how employees interacted with each other. It was a revelation.

During my time in the Keller program, I was able to foster a better and closer business relationship with my manager and supervisor because I became more understanding, and quickly became a sounding board for them. They were also a tremendous help when I needed to get information for papers and projects.

Change for the better

With help from the courses that I have taken at Keller Graduate School, I have become an expert in information security at my company. I have begun to shape and mold my company's security posture and helped to prevent numerous hacking and virus attempts. Fortunately, my management team has also given me the some leeway to try out some new ideas and processes in order to help us work better and more efficiently.