Professional Statement

Hello, world! My name is David J. Kim. I currently work full-time as a Solutions Architect for Akamai Technologies. I have previously worked in audit and compliance as an Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO) and in IT Operations as a Cybersecurity Consultant for LMI. I was inspired to write free, original, educational cybersecurity content by John Hammond. This blog shares my perspective on important cybersecurity issues and my unique lessons learned from using Burp Suite hands-on for web application security testing.

I am passionate about safeguarding personal data – both that of individual citizens and the companies I represent. I enjoy learning about constantly evolving new technologies and applying my knowledge to solve complex business problems.

Education and Certifications

I graduated with a Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in December 2022. I passed the certification exams and am a current active holder of the following certifications: CISSP (May 2025), GWAPT, GCIH, GSEC and Security+.

These certifications were excellent resources to jump-start my academic journey into computer systems, the OSI networking model, and fundamental internet protocols such as DNS/HTTP. However, it has become obvious to me that possessing applied skills and the ability to communicate technical knowledge with cross-functional business leaders are foundational IT skills in the modern American workplace.

I believe the value of having any knowledge in cybersecurity is necessarily linked to the act of sharing that knowledge with other people. Given the difficulty of staying up-to-date on cybersecurity vulnerabilities, it becomes essential to foster a mindset principled on growth, rather than one of scarcity.