I joined the Information Security and IT Controls department in Singapore Exchange (SGX) from October 2018 - May 2019, where I had the opportunity to intern within the Security Operations team. Most tasks are classified under Identity and Access Management, ensuring appropriate access to resources across the technology environments and meeting the rigorous compliance requirements in SGX.

Background

As an intern, I took charge of developing a Qlik Sense Account Compliance Dashboard and automation of some Business As Usual (BAU) processes for the Global Access Management (GAM) team. Additionally, I revamped the InfoSec Wiki Pages on Atlassian Confluence. To add on, a courageous step to enter the corporate world for the first time came with an extensive challenge; i.e. to be able to break the ice amongst myself and my new colleagues especially when I first joined.

Learning Progression

I was able to formulate my priorities and complete my tasks punctually. Strong communication was vital with my mentor and vendor who were directly in-charge of allocating work to me. We discussed on task requirements with clarity and that aided me in breaking down my tasks into smaller segments such that my time was used purposefully. Additionally, I also presented what I have done after each week and seeked for active feedback during the Weekly Review Meeting with my mentor. That helped to reaffirm that the features I developed did fulfill the operational needs.

Despite encountering different hurdles in a variety of tasks, I did not fear independent learning and tried to solve many of the unknowns via online research and tutorials. Most of the tasks that I was working on involved application of technologies that I had no experience with, such as Qlik Sense to build a dashboard for data visualisation and VBA Excel Macro to automate tasks in Excel. Recognising that not every part of the work can be solved via online alone, I also proactively clarified my doubts pertaining to the demands of the deliverables with my colleagues.

Breaking the Ice

Every Friday, there would be HappyTEC activities that we can take part in and it was really a time where everyone from all departments would come together to gather at the townhall for interesting sharings or event celebrations. I proactively participated in the activities such as Show and Tell, Breakfast Fridays (B.F.F) and even helped the TEC team with the setting up of Christmas Tree decorations. Through these events, I learnt about the initiatives that the TEC team was embarking on as well as met new people from different backgrounds. Furthermore, I also went out for lunch with my workplace colleagues often. Therefore, I felt inclusive in the SGX family and contented at the workplace.

A memorable event that I enjoyed at SGX was the SGX Technology Offsite in 2019, which was a HappyTEC cohesion for all departments in the technology unit. We went to the Sentosa Headrock VR theme park and there were unlimited rides and an amazing buffet for lunch!

I am grateful towards my supervisor, mentor and other colleagues from the SGX Technology Unit whom guided and worked with me during my internship. The opportunity to work in the Security Operations department has exposed me to the fundamentals of process optimization and digitization, and allowed me to pick up meaningful skills such as Qlik Sense, Excel VBA Macro and Linux Bash. Due to the confidentiality of the work, I am not able to reveal more information about how the work was done, etc.

Below is a summary of some work that I did in SGX:

  • Programmed in MS Visual Basic and Qlik Sense to optimize operational efficiency in attestation of user accounts in SGX applications and operating systems

  • Linux Bash scripting to automate repetitive tasks in user account management

  • Performed weekly audits on account administration actions

  • Developed an InfoSec Project Management Information Hub on Atlassian Confluence