Happy New Year 2026

Welcome to the new year.

Last year went by far faster than I expected. I had plans to write more consistently and to learn in public, but I struggled to maintain momentum. Consistency was the missing piece. Despite that, one of my recent presentations reinforced something I already knew but had not fully committed to: learning in public sharpens communication, improves presentation skills, and forces clarity of thought.

I was not effective at doing that last year. This year, that changes.

My primary focus going forward is to actively learn in public and to turn what I study into written content and presentations. I want to be deliberate about sharing what I am learning, even when it feels incomplete. Writing and presenting are skills that only improve through repetition, and avoiding them only slows progress.

From a technical standpoint, my major goal this year is to pursue the MCRTP certification and deepen my skills in Azure cloud penetration testing. While I have not transitioned into a full-time red team role yet, I am currently doing junior-level web application penetration testing alongside my primary role as a SOC analyst. Because of that, I also need to remain grounded in blue team fundamentals. Strengthening my defensive skill set through a blue team certification is a necessary part of being effective in my current role and credible in the long term.

Another major focus this year is AI.

I want to better understand how AI can be applied to cybersecurity and automation to make me more effective in both defensive and offensive roles. Last year, I studied for and earned my CBBH (CWES) certification and spent time experimenting with AI and automation using tools like n8n, Claude, Codex, and Gemini CLI. I also attended DEFCON, which was both humbling and motivating. It reinforced how much there is still to learn and how important it is to keep building, experimenting, and sharing.

This year is about intention.

Less hoarding knowledge, more expressing it. Less waiting until things feel perfect, more shipping and reflecting. Writing, presenting, learning, and refining in public will be the backbone of how I grow.

If you are on a similar path, learning quietly but hesitant to share, consider this your nudge. Progress compounds faster when it is visible.