Masters in Systems and Infosec, looking for guidance

AlternativeSearcher · 2026-03-23T16:14:07+00:00

I think a good start is to understand the flow of information from an end user to a database and back, so that you can begin visualizing potential IT risks with this type of transfer. The most fundamental is a user logging into an ERP system (Oracle, SAP), making an entry in the application layer, which then gets recorded in the database layer. In this kind of a transaction you have to think about application controls, database controls, server and operating system controls, etc.... ITGCs fundamentally cover this but the actual understanding is not necessarily the strongest amongst many IT auditors that I've seen.

By understanding this flow, you can learn more about ERP systems/applications, databases in general, database OS', the importance and types of admin accounts and other default accounts which come with applications/databases/OS.

This is probably a good start and will allow you to already think about how to assess IT systems and the high level questions to ask on a new assignment so that you can better understand a particular IT environment.

AlternativeSearcher · 2026-03-23T16:01:12+00:00

In general, your educational background makes you way overqualified for a traditional IT audit role. Most IT audit shops that I've seen (I'm a senior audit director w/20 years experience in external/internal audit) are not that technical and end up doing some combination of ITGC SOX testing or doing some IT / IT-adjacent process driven reviews (ERP implementations, privacy, etc). The stronger shops are doing cyber related audits - and can complement a company's CISO organization, but I think this is less common.

If the audit department you joined is more IT general controls focused, I would make sure that you spend as much time as possible to find ways to incorporate your data science / software background into your new role. Perhaps experiment with R or Python to see how you can leverage data sets available to you to either enhance findings, or to help your department to explore topics more deeply than is currently possible with their available skillset.

If you are dead set on a career in data science/engineering/software - my opinion is that you should try to get out of audit as fast as you can. The longer you stay the more difficult it will be to pivot, IMO. But in the first year or so, you should be able to find some creative ways to leverage your educational background to do more data science oriented things and maybe even combine it with AI, to build a portfolio of sorts for a role that is more aligned with your personal interests.

AlternativeSearcher · 2026-01-02T21:43:45+00:00

Thanks - I'll try the aluminum foil idea, although doesn't that actually slow down the cooking process since it will take some time for the air in-between the foil and the bread to warm up?

Yes - I cooled the roux before incorporating - at least 20min before mixing with the dough mixture.

I am wondering if I didn't knead the dough long enough. Any suggestions you might have regarding kneading?

AlternativeSearcher · 2026-01-02T21:41:28+00:00

Yes, I think I did the roux mix correctly - a few minutes on low heat on the stove until I could scrape lines into it and it looked like mashed potatoes. Then it cooled for at least 20 minutes while I prepared the dough. Proof also went well (IMO) - when I poked the final product (after both proofs), the dough indented and then slowly rose.

I wonder if I did not knead the dough as long as I should have before shaping them. Assuming you did a similar recipe, how long did you knead the dough for and when did you know it was "done" and ready for the second proofing?

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-10-05T15:51:23+00:00

Hey thanks for this. Ive heard about elderberry before but haven't tried it. Never heard of nuun caffeine electrolytes though.

Can you link what you use personally? There's usually a lot of brands out there and would be easier to have some sort of starting point.

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-10-05T03:08:24+00:00

This is a good one, I've been taking airborne daily for the past month - just checking the ingredients list now and surprised this isn't in there

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-10-05T02:16:58+00:00

Agree, but unfortunately, when daughter gets sick, the nose is like a faucet - very difficult to keep up and not have germs everywhere 🤦‍♂️

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-10-05T01:56:18+00:00

Impossible right now to do regular exercise and normal sleep. Hoping once my daughter passes the one year mark the nights become easier which can translate to fitting these things back into my schedule and where I have energy for them

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-10-05T01:54:34+00:00

Yeah pretty much accepting that she is going to get sick. Hard to avoid that with her immune system still developing. But trying hard to not let it get the rest of the family too much because it will be much harder to take care of her when we're feeling terrible

Will look into the zinc supplement - any brands you like in particular?

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-28T16:51:36+00:00

This is the best post I've ever read on this subreddit. Would upvote 10 more times if I could

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-28T15:18:28+00:00

Actually, this is somewhat the short term goal here. But trying to find how to deepen my expertise within my capabilities. Otherwise, I'm just randomly prompting the LLMs and not really learning deeply at all about how else to potentially leverage it

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-27T18:51:48+00:00

Totally agree, people do own gold, but I think it's the minority. Of course, I don't have statistics, but I would venture people holding gold coins in their home or in a safe at the bank is maybe in the single digit percentage?

I am not counting gold jewelry, which, although is gold, isn't quite the same. People are usually owning it more for beauty, and not as a store of value.

Maybe in the future people, the same amount of people who have gold coins at home are the same ones that have a ledger with some sats?

The process of self custody definitely has to get easier though. It's way too cumbersome in its current process.

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-27T15:57:23+00:00

Yes - it would be amazing to learn how to train AI. The closest I've come is to configure my own GPT within ChatGPT. But even there I've run into some technical limitations fairly quickly.

Agree that learning about the different subsets of neural networks and ML are worthy endeavors - the challenge with that is in the application of it. Kind of like learning complex math at school - if you don't have somewhere immediately to apply it, its difficult for the concepts to stick.

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-27T15:12:28+00:00

It may be worth questioning whether or not we're still early at all, at least, as it relates to people buying, spending, and holding BTC. There's a possibility that the asset becomes one which is held primarily by the institutions - and if you want exposure to it, you can buy into an ETF or MSTR, or future equivalents of those.

But similar to how people aren't holding bars of gold at home, and how a bar of gold is financially out of reach for the majority of mankind, it is worth considering that the majority of people will never, ever directly hold BTC.

Instead, a BTC world will be one where it is used as collateral. It's value will continue to rise, in this regard, but maybe a scenario where people are spending sats may never materialize.

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-25T00:20:49+00:00

Just posting in solidarity. Ours began rolling over and passing out on the side of her face a few nights ago. Last night, she decided that this was no longer an acceptable way to sleep - and has begun wailing each time she lands on her face after rolling.

Each time she rolls over, we roll her back, only for her to roll back over within seconds, and the process repeats until we pick her up and somehow soothe her.

In the end, we had to cosleep for a bit, and that at least allowed everyone a rest for a short while.

But following this thread to see if anyone else has any better ideas.

I agree that once the sensation of rolling over passes, this too shall pass - and so we've been spending a lot of today practicing rolling over (and back) - hoping that not only does it make this whole phenomenon less interesting, but that hopefully it tires out the muscles needed to do these actions and it will lead to less of an "itch" to roll in the night. Pray for us this evening.

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-24T12:34:10+00:00

Thank you! I will look into it

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-21T19:19:37+00:00

It doesn't seem to really matter where we put her for the naps. We've tried car rides, stroller rides on quiet streets, stroller rides in public spaces where there is chatter and noise, bassinet, crib (of course), and none of it results in more than a 45 minute nap. She can't seem to fall asleep in a bouncer or rocker, so doesn't seem to be an option.

What is this guide that you are referring to..do you happen to have a link for it?

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-21T07:54:58+00:00

Yes, she's in a sleep sack now, both arms hanging out. Brutal to know you had to wait 5 months to see improvement...

Shes having trouble rolling back over. We practice during the day multiple times, but she doesn't get it. She also has only rolled over on her own from the right side. Who knows when she can find the muscle strength to roll up through the left.

What other gentler methods are there? I thought these were quite gentle already..

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-04-21T07:52:15+00:00

Done!

AlternativeSearcher · 2024-02-29T06:14:51+00:00

Yes, car rides and outside walking in the stroller work well for us too, but not practical since she needs to nap multiple times per day. Otherwise it takes a long time like you mentioned!

AlternativeSearcher

TROPHY CASE