Get to know Cyber Elite: @MP18

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We recently announced the LIVEcommunity Cyber Elite Program to recognize customers and partners in our community who have contributed countless hours in the community with a laser focus on adding value, being helpful, sharing knowledge, and bringing a unique perspective. As part of that launch, we also announced our Cyber Elite experts for 2020... and we are so excited to offer you an opportunity to get to know them better as part of our Spotlight Interview Series.

So, let’s dive right in with our first Cyber Elite interview with Mahesh Parmar!

Mahesh ParmarMahesh has been a registered LIVEcommunity member since 2017 and we first met him at Ignite 2018! He is the System Administrator III at the City of Calgary, holds PCNSE and Accredited Configuration Engineer (ACE) certifications and has spent the past 16 years becoming proficient in network security.

What was your first experience with Palo Alto Networks products?

I was working on a project where we needed to migrate URL filtering services from Websense to PAN 5050. It was a great learning experience and allowed me to get to know this great product.

 

What motivated you to start engaging in LIVEcommunity?

Originally, I started reading and posting as a mechanism to help me ramp up for my PCNSE certification. Now I use the forums to help keep me sharp in various technical areas of Palo Alto Networks as well as to help others in the community.

What keeps you coming back to the community?

I have a passion to learn more about Palo Alto Networks and their technology. It’s all about knowledge, sharing and helping others. I like contributing and I personally get a great deal of satisfaction from digging into topics that I have not refreshed on for awhile.

“I need to admit, I got kind of addicted to the LIVEcommunity.”

What is your message to newcomers in LIVEcommunity?

I would recommend going through the articles in the community. They have a solution to the most common problems. Also, learn more about Palo Alto Networks by watching YouTube videos such as Learning Happy Hour, etc.

What advice would you give to someone who is just getting started with Palo Alto Networks products?

My advice to anyone interested in Palo Alto Networks is to read, research, study and enjoy the LIVEcommunity as the information there is infinite.

What is your advice to others looking to move to the next level in cybersecurity knowledge?

Learn about Palo Alto Networks, wireshark, and DNS and passionately learn new technologies. Connect with cybersecurity professionals on LinkedIn and learn from them.

What most excites you about the future of cybersecurity?

I am most excited about how this field is always changing and is dynamic - we are continuously learning. For me, it is about the ability to adapt to evolving threats in real time, as well as to anticipate them before they create security breaches.  It is a most exciting and demanding career for the future!

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I like to spend my time watching movies and listening to music such as Synthwave, R&B/Soul, Alternative/Indie, and Funk. I love to drive on weekends and go to nearby mountains and lakes, some of  which include Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Johnson Lake.

“I use the LIVEcommunity to help keep me honed in on Palo Alto Networks technology, as well as to help others.”

What is your Cybersecurity superpower?

It is Palo Alto Networks!

We hope you enjoyed getting to know a bit more about our Cyber Elite expert Mahesh Parmar. If you have any specific questions for Mahesh, please reach out to him in the community or comment in the section below. 

Be sure to visit the Cyber Elite Program page to learn more and stay tuned as we will feature more of our Cyber Elite members!

Stay Engaged!

Cheryl Rasmussen

Engagement Program Manager,  LIVEcommunity