From Career Changer to SOC Leader

After working in operations, teaching, sales, and team management, Karly-Jade Eggleton was ready for a new challenge. Cybersecurity had long interested her, but she hadn’t studied IT since school. In summer 2022, she joined SANS Upskill in Cyber, taking the first step toward a new career.

Today, Karly-Jade is a Lead SOC Analyst at Accenture, working with clients to strengthen their security and helping other analysts develop their skills.

Building Her Cybersecurity Foundations

Transitioning into cybersecurity meant learning an entirely new field. With limited technical experience, Karly-Jade was determined to understand the material rather than simply memorise it.

“I wanted to ensure I really understood the content and not just memorised the information,” she says.

She spent up to ten hours a day studying course materials, completing online lessons, and conducting her own research.

The practical elements of the programme were particularly valuable. She learned about common exploits and defensive techniques, applying her knowledge through labs and the practical component of an exam.

When she began investigating security alerts in a SOC, she could recognise what she was seeing and contribute to her team’s response.

“I was able to have a positive impact on our processes and add bespoke recommendations to our clients from day one,” she says.

Sharing her knowledge with colleagues further strengthened her confidence and helped establish her place in the industry.

From New Analyst to SOC Leadership

Seven months after completing Upskill in Cyber, Karly-Jade was promoted to Level 2 SOC Analyst. She later joined another SOC, where she became part of the leadership team as the operation expanded. Today, she works as a Lead SOC Analyst, a Level 3 role, at Accenture.

Her commitment to professional development has continued throughout her career. Through SANS Academy events, she has expanded her technical knowledge and explored new ways to approach investigations.

One particularly valuable session, led by SANS instructor Adam Harrison, focused on common-sense investigations, critical thinking, and recognising bias. These skills have been especially relevant to Karly-Jade’s work as a SOC analyst.

Her SANS training and GIAC certifications have also helped her build connections across the cybersecurity community. After scoring over 90% on a GIAC exam, she was invited to join the GIAC Advisory Board, where members exchange knowledge and seek advice from fellow professionals.

In her current role, Karly-Jade enjoys the variety of challenges that each day brings. She works with clients to strengthen their security, helps maintain the quality of the SOC’s services, and supports her team in improving response times so incidents can be contained quickly.

Building Connections Through Academy Connect

Beyond technical training, the professional relationships Karly-Jade developed through SANS have played an important role in her career progression.

When she was ready for a new opportunity, she contacted the Academy Connect team. They introduced her to the SOC Manager at Accenture, who was looking for a lead analyst. That connection helped open the door to her current role.

Academy Connect has also provided opportunities to maintain relationships with other cybersecurity professionals. Karly-Jade has stayed in touch with members of her Upskill in Cyber cohort and reconnected with them at SANS Academy events.

As their careers have progressed, they’ve continued to exchange experiences, share knowledge, and support one another’s professional development.

“It has been good to share our experiences and learn from each other,” she says.

From entering cybersecurity with limited technical experience to leading analysts in a SOC, Karly-Jade’s journey demonstrates the value of continued learning, professional connections, and a willingness to take on new challenges.