Edmonds CC student finishes first in ethical hacking competition
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| Anna Truss |
11/22/13
Edmonds College student Anna Truss proved her skills in ethical hacking at a National Cyber League competition where she earned first place in the first round of Western division competition and placed sixth nationwide.
In 2010, Truss earned her Associate of Science degree at Edmonds CC as well as Computer
Information Systems (CIS) certificates in Digital Forensics and Network Security Specialist.
She's also earned CIS Certificates of Completion in Information Security, Computer
Forensics, and Security Implementation, as well as a Computer Science Certificate
of Completion in Java Developer. She is now working on an Associate in Technical Arts
degree in Information Security and Digital Forensics.
In addition to her courses at Edmonds CC, Truss plans to graduate in December with
a bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College in Information Technology with a concentration
in Cyber Security Technology.
In the recent competition, players competed in a computer security game called Capture-the-Flag,
where they answered security-related challenges and searched for digital “flags" hidden
on servers or in encrypted text and applications. Participants had to be skilled in
computer forensics, cryptography, network penetration testing, Web security, and system/network
administration.
Truss, originally from Turkmenistan and now living in Everett, arrived in the U.S.
as a work and travel exchange student in Montana. After a trip to Seattle, she decided
to start her computer education in Puget Sound. “I was very lucky to find Edmonds
College,” she said. “It offered better degrees and better instruction, so I knew I
was in good hands after visiting the campus.”
A few months after enrolling, Truss took a job in the International Student Services
marketing department, where she was a graphic designer and English/Russian/Turkish
interpreter for more than two years.
After attending a digital forensics seminar presented by Edmonds CC Computer Information
Systems instructor Steven Hailey, she was hooked. “This seminar helped me find my
passion in life,” said Truss, who is secretary of the Washington state High Technology
Crime Investigation Association. Hailey is president of the association, and fellow
Computer Information Systems instructor Mike Andrew is first vice president.
After completing all required digital forensics and information security classes,
she co-founded Mill Creek-based DefSec Solutions, LLC, an information security and
digital forensics company providing advanced network audits, digital forensic, advanced
persistent threat solutions, security assessments, data recovery, and penetration
testing.
Truss recently completed two digital forensics cases, making more than $10,000 in
the process.
“Anna is an excellent example of what graduates of our program can accomplish,” said
Hailey.