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IT Services Staff Spotlight: Katie Horgan
Katie Horgan works as a Cyber Security Analyst in IT Services. We chat to Katie about her career to date, what it’s like working in Cyber Security and IT Services. Katie also gives us a glimpse into life outside UCC.
Tell us about your career to date?
I started on the IT Service Desk in 2018 while I was studying Psychology at UCC. From the IT Services Desk I joined IT Training team. Shortly after the HSE cyber-attack in 2021, I transitioned into Cyber Security, using my background in Psychology to develop cyber awareness campaigns. Since then, my role has expanded to cover the full spectrum of cyber, from incident response to audit and vendor risk management.
Katie, what is a standard day for a Cyber Security Analyst?
No two days are the same. Today I started early with an alert for password stealing malware on a device. I’m usually moving between multiple projects, addressing vulnerability findings, working with auditors, or assessing new vendors cyber security. Collaboration is at the centre of cyber, our team works tightly together and with our colleagues across IT Services. At the moment, between alerts, we’re getting ready for Cyber Security Awareness Month in October with our colleague Deirdre Keane.
You are a certified ethical hacker, tell us more about that?
I completed the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) qualification which teaches how to think like an attacker to better defend against them. It was interesting to approach security from the hacker’s perspective, using simple misconfigurations or outdated software to open the door to bigger risks.
Now I'm studying a PG Cert in Cyber Security Management, I’m enjoying learning more about security architecture, risk and compliance.
Working in IT Services and UCC, what do you enjoy most?
The people! We just had two new analysts join the Cyber Team, Patrick and Alex. There's always a positive energy in our team, and working with the IT Security Officer, Barry Foley, is great - I’ve learned a lot.
I’m on the IT Social Committee too and we’re so lucky with the colleagues we have in IT Services. We’ve had some great evenings playing Wii Tennis and Mario Kart, and at Gaia’s Quiz Night (though we're on the lookout for a new quiz location since they closed!). There’s always someone to get a coffee in Roots with, you couldn’t ask for more.
Tell us a little about life outside of UCC
I live with my partner, Adrian, and our labrador, Otis. Otis is positively bursting with energy, but thankfully we live on a farm, so he has plenty of space to burn it off.
I love to bake. The Great British Bake Off is back on TV so I look forward to that once a week! Any time I try to recreate any of those bakes, I’m quickly humbled – I won’t be appearing on screen anytime soon.
I try to go for a dip in the sea with my friends as much as I can. We often go to Garrylucas Beach and hit up the Menu Cakery on the way down for an iced coffee and sweet treat. In the colder months we book the saunas at the beach to stay warm!