At the age of 13, Mario Platt was fascinated by the world of cybersecurity.

“I got very interested in systems and hacking as a teenager,” Platt explains. “That’s all I've ever wanted to do.”

Although Platt’s interest began before the field of cybersecurity was as prominent as it is today, he still found ways to pursue his dream. At the age of 17, he began working toward IT-related Cisco and Microsoft certifications in the hope that they would enable him to one day secure cyber systems.

Today, Platt serves as VP and CISO of LastPass, where he leads security functions. In this role, he helped guide the team’s effort to rebuild security programs from the ground up following two targeted security incidents.

Other positions he’s held throughout his career include CISO at Broadlight Global and VP Head of Information Security at CloudMargin.

Reflecting on the course of his career journey thus far, Platt remarks, “I'm lucky that I got the opportunity to do this as a career.”

Sharing Knowledge in the Cyber Space

Platt runs a cybersecurity blog in which he discusses various disciplines and practices, applying them to the world of cybersecurity. The blog, titled “Security Differently,” aims to explore how these disciplines can benefit cyber leaders.

Furthermore, Platt has spoken at conferences and once volunteered as a contributor to Hacker Highschool publications, a teen cyber curriculum guiding students toward careers in cybersecurity.

Being curious about how things actually work and how work actually happens within organizations is the number one way to ensure we are finding the ways that things may break.

Platt explains that he stays active in the community “in hopes to inspire other people and share some of the knowledge” he’s gained over the years.

When it comes to establishing a successful career in cybersecurity, Platt naturally believes curiosity is a key quality to develop. Cybersecurity involves protecting systems that bad actors seek to exploit, and curiosity about those systems can be a cyber professional’s greatest tool.

“Being curious about how things actually work and how work actually happens within organizations is the number one way to ensure we are finding the ways that things may break,” he points out.

Another skill that up-and-coming cyber professionals should strengthen is the ability to forge meaningful professional relationships, Platt asserts. Not only will this serve them in expanding their network, but it will also allow them to perform better at their jobs.

Building relationships means building trust. In the world of cybersecurity, trust is a valuable asset.

“When people trust us, they can come to us with problems, which helps us to do our jobs better,” Platt states.

Never Stop Learning

Platt encourages cybersecurity professionals to sign up for conferences, attend speaking events, and otherwise find ways to meet with their peers. By staying involved in the community, security leaders can broaden the horizons of their network and their knowledge at the same time.

The greater the network, the greater “the ability to leverage your network every time you face challenges that you haven’t faced before,” Platt says.

In addition to making time to learn from others, Platt is an advocate for individual, continual education. He believes being disciplined about learning can set cyber professionals apart from the crowd.

“If we are really focused on continual improvement, even 30-45 minutes every day to dedicate to learning, it compounds,” he asserts. “After 5-7 years, you'll be in a completely different space and be able to leverage skills that will set you apart from the competition.”

While cybersecurity can be a complex field, Platt reminds us that often, only two things truly matter: a fascination for the subject and an enthusiasm for the community.