SHE LOVES A GOOD CHALLENGE

As a cyberthreat analyst working in the private sector, Ms Serena Ong's interest was piqued when the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) announced the setting up of the Defence Cyber Organisation (DCO) in 2017. Wanting to serve a larger purpose, she decided to join DCO at the start of 2018.

"It was exciting to be part of the pioneer team at DCO and be able to contribute to national security. Cybersecurity is a rising industry and there are many opportunities for personal development and career growth," said Ms Ong.

Her role involves monitoring the Web for cyber threats that may potentially affect Singapore's national security. Since joining DCO, she has attended courses to enhance her cybersecurity skills and knowledge, and travelled overseas for an international cybersecurity conference in June last year.

When she has some downtime, she loves to seek out good food at cafes. To discover new places, she follows local food bloggers for recommendations.

She also enjoys reading books on topics such as Middle Eastern history, and is currently learning Japanese as part of her fascination with the country's culture. "Although the language is difficult to learn, I like to challenge myself!"