Tucker Shepard, CISSP

Fancy meeting you! I am a Cybersecurity Professional from the Greater Nashville Area of the United States!

I love anything that involves mind-puzzling work and strategy, especially brain teasers. If it makes you pause and think, whiteboard, or brainstorm - I'm all for it. 

Some of my favorite things include (you guessed it) cybersecurity, Halloween, messing with homelab environments, playing games, creating games and tools, finding new SysAdmin tips & tricks, reading fantasy books, cooking (though, DoorDash does have a spot in my heart), getting lost in Wikipedia rabbit holes at 3am, and binging Netflix TV series! 

East Tennessee State University

Early 2021, I graduated ETSU with my Bachelor of Science in Computing, Concentration in Information Technology. 

This four year degree covered various computing, networking, and programming topics. Within the latter discipline,  I learned Java, C#, Bash Scripting, Agile, etc. However past the requirements, I enrolled in electives specifically focused on Ethical Hacking, Web Design & Development, Psychology, and Information Security.

Continuous Learning

I'm constantly trying to learn more about the field, it's a must. In this effort, I try to stay on top of Security Talks, News, various PodCasts, and training sessions with BHIS & Antisyphon Training. Check those details out here.

I also think it important to constantly hone your skills, not just stay on top of the news. Because of this I have attended SecureIdeas CISSP 11-week mentorship program, and in May of 2024 passed my CISSP exam, as well as obtained my Security+ certification. These can also be viewed on the certificates page.

Outside of the internet, I keep quite a collection of computing and security related books that I frequently use. Some range from course training books, to reference material, to pocket guides, and so much more!

Like most others, a given week will likely very tremendously! But I can guarantee you that my mornings won't be complete without some form of coffee (or Starbucks haha!) and a bite to eat. On the weekends, you'll likely find me with family or friends laughing and enjoying a good meal.

Every day, I try to dedicate a specific amount of time to ensuring I'm available for email response, alert review, or simply answering questions and texts that arise.

I also think it's critical to dedicate time each week to security news and research. I tend to review multiple Security News outlets and look for innovation, breaking news, major vulnerabilities/issues, and generally just keep my thumb on the pulse. Some of my favorites are Bleeping Computer, Krebs, TLDR, CISA, and more. 

Lastly, when I have the time I like to work on personal research & projects. This allows me to slowly expand my knowledge & skills over time. Some examples here might be practicing ethical hacking, looking at YouTube or GitHub for POCs, demo'ing open source projects in my homelab, and so on.