Who IS TEJ?
Tejaswini (Tej) Prakash has an extensive background in the realm of cybersecurity, specifically in Identity and Access Management (IAM), spanning over a decade. Her career is marked by a steady progression from technical roles to leadership positions, showcasing her blend of technical acumen and strategic insight.
Early Career and Foundation in IAM
Tejaswini began her career as an IAM Analyst at Hewlett Packard Enterprise in India. In this role, she worked at the foundational level of identity management, gaining crucial experience in ensuring secure and efficient access controls for enterprise systems. IAM Analysts are responsible for implementing, managing, and maintaining systems that control user access within an organization. This early role likely involved hands-on configuration of identity and access management systems, monitoring access requests, and ensuring that only authorized personnel had access to critical systems and data.
Following her time at Hewlett Packard, she joined HCL Technologies as an IAM Engineer. This role marked her progression from analyst-level responsibilities to a more technical and solution-oriented position. IAM Engineers play a critical role in designing, implementing, and managing IAM infrastructures. Her responsibilities at HCL would have involved developing identity solutions that ensure compliance with company policies and external regulations, while also safeguarding against unauthorized access. This role would have honed her expertise in integrating IAM solutions with a wide range of business applications and IT systems, preparing her for future, more advanced positions in IAM.
N0vember, 2017
N0vember, 2017
Transition to the United Kingdom and Cyderes
Tejaswini’s career took a significant leap forward when she moved to the United Kingdom and began working for Cyderes, a company known for its focus on cybersecurity and digital identity. Here, she started as a Security Engineer, a position she held for more than three years. During this time, she would have focused on the design, implementation, and monitoring of security measures for the protection of computer systems and networks. Security Engineers are responsible for setting up systems that protect organizations from cybersecurity threats, which likely included firewalls, encryption tools, and monitoring systems.
As she gained experience in this role, she advanced to Senior Security Engineer at Cyderes, a role she held for nearly a year. In this position, Tejaswini would have taken on more complex and strategic responsibilities. Senior Security Engineers not only handle the technical aspects of security but also work closely with management to ensure that security strategies align with business goals. This position would have involved leading technical teams, mentoring junior engineers, and playing a critical role in incident response during security breaches.
achevements & impact
Tejaswini’s career is a testament to her ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-evolving industry. Cybersecurity, and particularly IAM, is a field that is constantly changing as new threats emerge and technologies evolve. Her ability to transition from technical roles to strategic leadership positions shows her versatility and deep expertise in the field. At Cyderes, she has likely played a key role in helping the company to grow and expand its offerings, particularly in IAM, which has become a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity strategies.
Her rise to the role of Managing Director is an achievement in itself, but it also reflects her ability to lead in an industry where the stakes are incredibly high. As a leader in IAM, she is likely responsible for ensuring that her clients are protected from the growing array of cyber threats, from data breaches to identity theft. Her work not only helps to secure organizations but also protects the personal information of countless individuals, making her role incredibly impactful.
August, 2021 - present
Leadership Roles: Practice Manager, Director, and Managing Director
Tejaswini’s success in technical roles set the stage for her transition into management. In August 2021, she was promoted to Practice Manager at Cyderes, marking her entry into management. As a Practice Manager, her responsibilities would have expanded to include overseeing IAM-related projects and managing a team of security professionals. This role likely involved setting strategic goals for the practice, managing client relationships, and ensuring that the team delivered high-quality cybersecurity solutions. A key aspect of this role would have been balancing the technical and business sides of the organization, ensuring that the solutions provided not only addressed security needs but also aligned with the business objectives of clients.
Her managerial acumen led to further promotion in early 2022, where she became the Director of Cyderes. In this role, Tejaswini would have taken on broader responsibilities, such as overseeing multiple teams and perhaps entire departments within the organization. Directors in cybersecurity firms are tasked with setting high-level security strategies, managing client relationships, and ensuring that their teams stay ahead of emerging cybersecurity threats. Tejaswini’s expertise in IAM would have been crucial here, as identity management is a core component of modern cybersecurity strategies, especially with the increasing reliance on cloud services and remote work.
Finally, in February 2023, Tejaswini was promoted to Managing Director, the pinnacle of her current career trajectory. As Managing Director, she now oversees the entire operations of the company, steering the strategic direction of Cyderes in a highly dynamic and challenging cybersecurity landscape. Her role as Managing Director involves not only maintaining and expanding the firm’s identity and access management services but also ensuring that Cyderes stays at the forefront of innovation in cybersecurity. In this position, she’s responsible for all aspects of the business, from client relations and business development to the overall performance and growth of the company. Managing Directors play a pivotal role in setting the long-term vision of a company, ensuring profitability, and maintaining client satisfaction, all while keeping an eye on emerging trends
and challenges in the industry.
Tejaswini (Tej) Prakash's journey from an IAM Analyst to Managing Director highlights her commitment to excellence in cybersecurity, particularly in Identity and Access Management. Her progression from technical roles to senior leadership positions reflects her deep technical knowledge, strategic thinking, and ability to lead teams in complex environments. Her current role as Managing Director at Cyderes allows her to make a significant impact on the cybersecurity landscape, helping organizations to protect their systems and data in an increasingly digital world.Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
