About
Network Infrastructure Analyst on a payments network, MIS student at Iowa State, and working toward security operations. Security+ and Network+ certified, with the lab hours to back them.
Overview
I'm a Network Infrastructure Analyst at SHAZAM, a payments network, and an MIS student at Iowa State (Class of 2027). Day to day I provision ATMs and data processing centers onto the network, work carrier circuits, and support connectivity design with the NOC and the network engineers. It's a PCI-scoped environment, so nothing moves without a change record behind it.
Where I'm heading is security operations. Security+ came first, then Network+, and the infrastructure side is the part most analysts have to pick up on the job. I'm filling the detection and investigation gap with TryHackMe, 54 rooms in, with SOC Level 1 next.
I learn by building. Both study tools on this site exist because teaching something is the fastest way to find out what you actually know. The labs, the certs, and this site running on Azure are all things I set up, broke, and fixed rather than read about.
Essentials
- Name
- Johnny Nguyen
- Location
- Iowa, USA
- Education
- Iowa State University, B.S. MIS, Class of 2027
- Current role
- Network Infrastructure Analyst I, SHAZAM
- Focus
- Network infrastructure now, security operations next
- Certifications
- CompTIA Security+ and Network+, Azure AZ-900, SC-900
Timeline
- Now
Network Infrastructure Analyst I at SHAZAM
Provisioning ATMs and data processing centers onto the network: IP addressing, NAT, and connectivity design alongside the NOC and network engineers. Plus device lifecycle in Intune, carrier circuit reconciliation, and asset audits. A PCI-scoped payments network, so the change discipline is real.
- 2026
Security+ and Network+ passed
Security+ in May, Network+ in August. Then built study tools for both, because the fastest way to find out what you actually know is to try to teach it.
- Ongoing
TryHackMe, working toward the SOC track
54 rooms finished and written up, including the Pre Security path start to finish. Linux, Windows and Active Directory, command line, and the full networking section with Wireshark, tcpdump and Nmap. SOC Level 1 is next.
- Also now
TryHackMe Campus Ambassador at Iowa State
Cohort 1. Running a semester challenge with the university cybersecurity club and pitching platform integration to the MIS cyber courses.
- 2027
Graduate ISU, move into security operations
Finish the MIS degree and step from network infrastructure into a SOC or security analyst seat. The infra background is the part most analysts have to learn on the job.