Meet Oscar Morales. Oscar is part of the ITCS Houston team and works as a Solutions Architect.
Tell us about your background.
I just celebrated my five-year anniversary with Calian at the end of July, and it has been something I’ve been truly grateful to be a part of.
My IT career started at a financial services company where I worked in a system administrator role. That helped me in preparing for my next role in oil and gas, where I took my knowledge and experiences and was able to pivot into cybersecurity. About 10 years into that role, I was presented with an opportunity to join Calian as they were forming their security operations center and finalizing their managed security services offerings. I made the move to Calian and was able to provide the value that customers were seeking when it came to cybersecurity services. More recently, I’ve made the transition to a Solutions Architect role, where I get the opportunity to meet with potential and existing customers to help them figure out how to address and solve challenges related to cybersecurity.
What is your role at Calian? Tell us about the type of work you do.
I am a Solutions Architect with a focus on cybersecurity. My role involves meeting with customers and understanding what their pain points and challenges are and how Calian can assist—whether it’s managed security services, product resell, or consultive and advisory services. No two customers are alike or have the same environment, so it’s important to have a full understanding of a customer’s infrastructure and situation. By gathering that information and mapping out a security roadmap, the customer, as well as our team at Calian, have a blueprint for which areas to focus on first and which solutions to recommend and implement.
I also spend time reviewing and assessing the latest security products across the market. With so many existing and new products on the market, it can be overwhelming and a lot to keep up with. Just as the bad actors change their tactics, products and solutions change and update their capabilities and features. As technology and products change, I want to ensure that Calian can provide the latest industry-leading solutions to our customers.
What do you like most about working for Calian?
I’ve quickly learned that the people make Calian what it is and a place that I enjoy working at. We have all run into a situation where we don’t know the answer, what the next steps may be, or just who to reach out to. I’ve been both the individual needing help and the one helping on various occasions. I appreciate that, here at Calian, I can reach out to anyone for anything and get the assistance or answers I need.
Do you have a favorite story from your time at Calian?
One of my favorite memories here at Calian would have to be our customer appreciation events at our Solution Centre. Customers get to come onsite to see what our facilities and teams have to offer in person. We get to showcase ourselves to the client and provide them with an experience where they can engage with engineers and analysts who support them. The laid-back environment at these events gives customers the opportunity to ask technical questions or partake in conversations that allows us to get to know them on a personal level.
What keeps you busy outside of work?
I have three kids (ages nine, six and four) and they keep me busy. Whether it’s school and school-related activities or taking them to sports and music practices, the three of them keep my wife and I occupied. We enjoy spending time outside, whether that be by the pool, riding bikes or just hanging out. Family and friends are big for us, so we also try and spend a lot of time with them when we can.
I participate in a cooking team with my dad, brother and a few friends. We do BBQ cook-off events throughout the year and assist with fundraisers for organizations and individuals. It’s fun, but more importantly it allows me to help others and give back, which is something I enjoy doing.
