Call us now Email a specialist
+353 1 6420100 | info@ward.ie
  • Resources
  • Blogs
    • Careers

    I love that rainbow flag momma!

    Sharon Walsh, Enterprise Account Manager

    “I love that rainbow flag Momma” came the chirpy little voice of my 5-year-old son from behind me in his car seat on our morning drive to playschool. Head tilted, admiring the flag in front of the secondary school on our route. “Me too Ben” I reply. Then the question “What’s it for? Which country?, “Oh, it’s not for any country Ben” I reply ”Its, eh…it stands for equality…you know, that everybody is equal and we all deserve to be treated fairly”. “Haha that’s funny Momma, I just like the colours anyway”, His bemused little face quickly moving on to the next pressing topic of the day, why his bagel got more toasted on one side than the other!

    Long after he had run off happily with his friends however his question was still swirling around my head, something about my answer really niggling and irritating me a few hours into my work day. He asked me a direct question, why did I not give him a direct answer? My internal chatter was now on overdrive, with the volume up. I didn’t lie, the flag does represent equality but it was not the answer to the question. The answer was ‘It’s the Gay Pride flag’. I’m a gay woman, married to another woman and since our two boys were babies we’ve told them the story of how they came to be, we’ve explained about all of the different family dynamics that exist and the fact that they have two Mums doesn’t cost them a thought. They are blissfully and beautifully unaware that our family dynamic might be considered unusual or different to others. So again, I wonder, why I answered him in a roundabout way earlier that morning. Like a politician swerving the actual question. Giving a bland and ‘safe’ answer. And I realised eventually that it’s a habit that I’ve become so adept at over the years that I don’t even realise I’m doing it at times- circling around an answer, being vague, not correcting someone on their presumption- not lying but not always telling the truth.

    I have not experienced a lot of homophobia in my life, at least not the aggressive sort. The odd leery comment in a bar or a jeer walking down the street if holding hands with someone. Nothing that has kept me awake at night luckily. I know not all gay people in this country are so fortunate and that horrendous abuse and hate crimes still go on sadly. Overall, though, Ireland has come a long way in the last 20 years, the vast majority of gay people can live their lives openly and freely without fear or prejudice, and I’m so grateful to those who have gone before me and paved the way. I am grateful to work for an organisation where diversity is valued and people are absolutely treated fairly and with respect. However, I do think, at least for me, that sometimes from a place of fear and self-preservation that you might not even be aware of, comes a mental toll you pay. That is in the unsaid. The younger me who didn’t exactly lie to my parents but didn’t tell the truth either. The me who didn’t correct the person who presumed I had a husband and not a wife. The me who swerved the work event where significant others were invited… I’m laughing internally at the level introspection that one little question this morning has caused for me! For me though, that moment of clarity…probably combined with that thing that happens as you get older where you don’t care as much about what anybody thinks has made me more conscious of the importance of being honest with yourself, of answering the question you’re asked. By not doing so, in ways that may even seem irrelevant, you are denying part of you and over a long period of time that causes wounds. Not lying is not the same as telling the truth.

    So if you’ve managed to read this far without dying of boredom, well done and a reminder for all, not least myself this Pride month –

    Be Proud. Be honest. Speak your truth. Be you!

    Careers

    I still get nervous when I interview

    Verona Daly, People & Talent Partner

    I still get nervous when I interview.

    I thought that when I was the one doing the interviewing, I wouldn’t be nervous anymore, that for some magical unknown reason, I’d suddenly be super cool and confident. I guess I assumed that once I had done it enough, it wouldn’t make me nervous anymore.

    I do have a couple of theories as to why I felt this way. Maybe it was the theatre kid in me – once I was off book, had my scripted memorised and I stepped on stage, I wasn’t nervous. Maybe mistakenly, I thought that recruitment would be similar to that. I suppose in some ways it is, recruitment is a performance. It’s not quite the same as playing a fictional character, but it’s a performance nonetheless and a performance I’m still nervous for.

    Now obviously, I’m not nervous for myself these days, but that doesn’t mean I don’t remember how those nerves felt. I’m a big believer that nerves are good, and we should appreciate them for what they are. Nerves are not a sign of weakness or insecurity; nerves are a sign of passion. Of genuine interest, of a desire to have something go well. It all depends on what you do with those nerves that make or break you.

    In order to not break with the nerves, I dance. I’d really like to stress here that I am in no way coordinated, rhythmic or a talented dancer, nor am I claiming to be. What I mean when I say ‘I dance’ is that I dance it out. If you’ve ever seen Grey’s Anatomy, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Meredith and Christina – when things get tough – they dance it out. I have to say, it works. It works spectacularly well, because for however long you’re dancing it out, your mind is not thinking about what’s to come.

    I’m not talking about a perfectly choreographed dance either, I really mean just mean shaking it off, being messy and just moving your body to get that blood flowing, and it’s something you can do anywhere. For my final interview for this very role, I was in work. I couldn’t get the time off, couldn’t book a private room anywhere, so I ended up doing my final interview with my now manager, surrounded by shoe boxes in the corner of a stockroom. I still danced it out, even in that tiny space, sitting in an office chair I’d taken with me. Our Stockroom Manager saw me dance for 4 minutes and 21 seconds to ‘August’ by Taylor Swift, just before I hopped onto a final round interview for a job I really wanted.

    Even now, six months into my job, I still dance it out when I get nervous. If I have a candidate moving to a final round interview, if I have a screening call with someone that I’ve been trying to get, I’ll still shake it off, because I still get nervous in these situations. If you thought I was nervous when I was interviewing for my own job, you should’ve seen my first ever screening call. I could feel the nerves in my stomach waiting for the moment I could call my candidate. What did I do? I set aside a few minutes, and I danced around my room. Similarly, to when I was on the other end of the phone, it worked; I was less nervous and felt I gave my candidate a better screening call because of it.

    I would really like to stress, my dear reader, that I’m not saying that I got a job because I danced to Taylor Swift just before a final round interview (although, I have managed to work her in to every project I’ve done since). I’m not even attempting to say that I got this job because I was relaxed in the interview and not stressed. It’s not a fool proof method, I’ve used it many times and didn’t get the job I wanted, but I’ve always felt that I’ve given a better interview after it, and felt like a better interviewer because of it.

    Being honest, it very well could be a placebo effect of sorts. In my mind though, I was much more relaxed while doing my interview, I was much less nervous than I would have been, and I was able to concentrate more on being in the moment instead of fretting over what I had just said and immediately wishing I could swallow my own words.

    No one is confident and cool all of the time. No one is above nerves. No one has the right to take your nerves are use them against you. You should be in control of your own nerves, and embrace them. Use them as motivation, as a lesson, or break them. Maybe for you, it won’t be dancing, it could be meditating, it could be deep breathing exercises, it could be going for a walk. It could be anything in the world that isn’t just sitting still, 5 minutes before an interview, letting your mind wander into what if’s and overly rehearsed answers.

    So, to circle back to my original point, I still get nervous when I interview and that’s okay! That’s what separates me from a robot; it’s me, a real person, sitting behind the screen. It makes me flawed and human, it makes me invested into my candidates. I want the candidate I’m talking with to do well. I want them to succeed, I want them to have the perfect interview experience / candidate journey (whether or not that exists is a topic for a different blog) and want them to walk away from our interview thinking that they could be happy here. That they can tell the kind of people we are and the kind of environment we work in, and it’s one they want to join.

    The best thing about these nerves? I have the ability to feel this way at Ward, to be emotional, to be nervous, to advocate for my candidates, ask ridiculous questions (like how to pronounce SIEM!) and dance it out, and never once feel judged or look down upon. It’s scary to do an interview, from both sides of the interview table, so do what you need to make it more comfortable for you.

    Careers

    Challenge Your Mindset

    Ciara Fitzgerald – Head of Legal, Ward Solutions

    When I was in primary and secondary school, I struggled with maths. I was told consistently by grown-ups in my family that this was to be expected; my whole family struggled with maths. I listened, believed this and always saw spending time on anything mathematical as a waste of energy. I steered clear of any optional subjects that involved figures while in education. I figured I just did not have the aptitude for it. It was genetic. How could I possibly fight genetics?! So I became a barrister and did my absolute best to avoid anything that required “an ability” for maths in my professional life.

    In 2019/2020, I undertook a business and innovation course (a new departure for me!) and as part of the reading, we were advised to read Mindset: The Psychology of Success by Dr. Carol S. Dweck. I had never heard of the book or of the author but I am not exaggerating when I say the content of that book entirely changed my perception of my own ability and capacity and that of everyone around me. For those who have not read this book, very briefly, Dweck argues that people have, broadly, one of two mindsets – a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. Those with a fixed mindset believe that your traits and abilities are fixed and you are either born smart or talented (generally or in relation to a specific area) or not. People have no capacity to change their abilities. Those with a growth mindset, however, believe that ability is not static and can be improved with effort, through failure and learning.

    Dweck suggested that fixed and growth mindsets spanned a spectrum and most people would not fall entirely within either camp across every facet of his/her life. As I listened to this book however, I realised that with respect to my professional abilities and educational abilities, I very much had a fixed mindset. I believed I was good at certain things but would not and could not succeed at other things. Again, how could I fight genetics?! When I scratched the surface of that persistent truth however, I realised I had not even thought to generate a counter argument – something lawyers should be able to do in their sleep! Fair enough, I did not like maths, but that was not the same as having no ability. In addition, when I looked at my siblings I realised that two of them run successful businesses (something that indicates to me they must be good with figures) and another is actually studying for a financial qualification. Really interestingly, Dweck suggested that failure is something that those with a fixed mindset fear and I have always hated to fail – so much so that I would just not take on challenges that I did not think I could succeed in (Ward’s Head of People and Talent wrote a fantastic piece about learning to fail through Olympic weightlifting earlier in this series!). This was certainly more pronounced during my adolescence and early twenties but I won’t deny it, I still hate to fail at something!

    Since finishing the book and in both my personal and professional life, I have consciously made an effort to challenge my inclination towards a fixed mindset. I have two young daughters, one of whom recently started school, and I find myself trying to ensure that I never tell her she is has no talent (or conversely, she has bundles of talent) for any of her subjects. Rather, I try and encourage her for just trying, for failing and trying again and for putting effort in.

    This is more difficult to do for myself and at work! I am the sole legal counsel in an information and cyber security company and therefore, I can be a bit a sea sometimes when some of my more technical colleagues start talking! Instead of passively listening now however and assuming that I cannot and will not ever understand what they are talking about because “I’m just not technical”, I ask them to explain or I take notes and later look up terms that were used during meetings and conversations. As a result, I have learned a huge amount (relatively speaking) about the technical sides of this business that do not necessarily impact on my specific legal function. In an earlier blog by my colleague, Alicja Quinn, she advocated for people to embrace change and become a “change champion” and I suppose, this is my quiet way of doing just that.

    So what is my point? First of all, if you haven’t come across Dr. Dweck’s book, I would highly recommend it! If nothing else, it is a really interesting read. Secondly, as my growth-minded colleagues suggest, embrace failure and change in both your personal and professional life. Easier said than done perhaps, but try small changes at first. Finally, allow yourself to believe that you can be something different than what you are today or have been in the past with a little bit of effort, hard work and trial and error.

    Careers

    Senior Security Network Engineer / Consultant

    Ward Solutions Security Operations & Response Practice is Ireland’s most technically proficient security practice is Ireland’s most technically proficient security practice, with a reputation in the Irish market for providing technical expertise,

    independent technical and consultancy advice, and superior quality in all customer engagements designed to bring tangible benefits and results for our customers.  

    We recognize the knowledge of our security Engineers and consultants is the key to our success, and that they understand how to expertly implement and support technical security

    solutions for all of our customers.

    A Position exists for an experienced Senior Security Network Engineer / Consultant within Ward Solutions. You will be responsible for the design, implementation and maintenance of network security systems including firewalls and infrastructure.

    Remote management of network security systems and network security review of ICT infrastructure is also a key feature for this role.

    • Participate as lead Presales Engineer in designing secure networking solutions.

    • Liaise with Technology Vendors in scoping presales requirements.

    • Work with the Ward Sales team and liaise with clients on Sales opportunities

    • Develop security architectures and controls, review designs, develop security documentation for different projects and identify and address risks.

    • Lead technical implementation of small to medium infrastructures and technical designs including producing cost and timescale estimates and identifying risks. On larger projects work with lead architects to meet customer requirements.

    • Work within a team as a security specialist helping to define and implement technical best practice. Ensures effective planning and implementation of network solutions.

    • Establish working relationships with the customer at the appropriate technical and / or management level, to understand the requirements of the customer’s business in order to deliver and enhance the service.

    • Take ownership for obtaining the information required to diagnose and resolve complex network problems. Engage with third parties to jointly resolve in-depth product issues where necessary

    • Manage and administer network environments within SLA, defining improvements and implementing changes to meet service level requirements.

    • Act as a point of escalation for supported client environments.

    Minimum Experience Requirements

    • A minimum of 5 years of experience in a heterogeneous network and security environment

    • Presales and Technical solution design and development experience. 

    • Relevant  Network and Security certifications (CCNA, CCSA or equivalent)

    • Installation, management and troubleshooting of switches, routers and firewalls  (Preferred Cisco, Fortinet, Checkpoint, Juniper,)

    • In-depth and hands on experience in network security technologies; Web-Proxies, IDS/IPS, Firewalls, VPN (SSL & IPsec), Routing, Switching

    • Understanding of security principles that span from network to application layers

    • Sound understanding and experience with protocols/technologies such as: TCP/IP, HTTP(S), TLS/SSL, IPSec, 802.1x

    • Technically proficient in maintaining and operating network equipment and their associated services and applications

    • Experience troubleshooting issues while interacting with vendor technical support

    • Applicants should clearly state level of certifications held in all technical proficiencies and relevant experience in same.

    General Requirements:

    • Excellent communication skills written and oral
    • Technical Writing Skills
    • Experience in Presales and proposal development
    • Troubleshooting skills are essential.
    • Design Testing and Implementation of technical solutions
    • Good interpersonal skills
    • Good team skills – this position will involve working as part of a service delivery team and technical lead on project teams as required.
    • Client liaison skills
    • Good Coordinator and organiser
    • Experience in Cisco, Fortinet, Aruba, Checkpoint, or Juniper technologies an advantage.
    • Understanding of Microsoft products, Servers, OS, Office 365, Exchange, Active Directory an advantage
    Careers

    Security Network Engineer

    Ward Solutions Security Operations & Response Practice is Ireland’s most technically proficient security practice, with a reputation in the Irish market for providing technical expertise,

    technical and consultancy advice and services, and superior quality in all customer engagements designed to bring tangible benefits and results for our customers.  

    We recognize the knowledge of our security Engineers and consultants is the key to our success, and that they understand how to expertly implement and support technical security

    solutions for all of our customers.

    A Position exists for a Security Network Engineer within Ward Solutions.

    You will

    • be responsible for the implementation, support and maintenance of network security systems including firewalls and infrastructure.
    • Work as part of the Ward Support Team delivering remote and onsite Support to client security Infrastructure
    • Establish working relationships with the customer at the appropriate technical level, to understand the requirements of the customer’s business in order to deliver and enhance the service.
    • Take ownership for obtaining the information required to diagnose and resolve complex network problems. Engage with third parties to jointly resolve in-depth product issues where necessary

    Minimum Experience Requirements

    • A minimum of 2 years of experience in a heterogeneous network and security environment

    • Relevant  Network and Security certifications (CCNA, CCSA or equivalent)

    • Installation, management and troubleshooting of switches, routers and firewalls  (Preferred Cisco, Fortinet, Checkpoint, Juniper,)

    • Hands on experience in network security technologies; Web-Proxies, IDS/IPS, Firewalls, VPN (SSL & IPsec), Routing, Switching

    • Understanding of security principles that span from network to application layers

    • Sound understanding and experience with protocols/technologies such as: TCP/IP, HTTP(S), TLS/SSL, IPSec, 802.1x

    • Technically proficient in maintaining and operating network equipment and their associated services and applications

    • Applicants should clearly state level of certifications held in all technical proficiencies and relevant experience in same.

    General Requirements:

    • Excellent communication skills written and oral
    • Technical Writing Skills
    • Troubleshooting skills are essential.
    • Testing and Implementation of technical solutions
    • Good interpersonal skills
    • Good team skills – this position will involve working as part of a service delivery team and project teams as required.
    • Client liaison skills
    • Experience in Cisco, Fortinet, Aruba, Checkpoint, or Juniper technologies an advantage.
    • Understanding of Microsoft products, Servers, OS, Office 365, Exchange, Active Directory an advantage
    Careers

    Women @ Ward

    At Ward Solutions, women have made significant contributions to our organisation since our foundation. We recognise the benefits of having high levels of female participation at all levels in our organisation.
    Traditionally there is an underrepresentation of women in STEM careers. Of the 118,000 people working in Stem in Ireland, just 25% are women. This is not just an Irish problem. Less than 7% of tech positions in Europe are filled by women. In the US, for example, only 18% of undergraduate computer science degrees and 26% of computing jobs are held by women, according to Girls Who Code. This is worse at the top of the corporate world where just 5% of leadership positions in the technology industry are held by women.

    Ward Solutions is very pleased to buck this trend, as we’re ahead of these figures for female participation in our organisation. Currently, there is a 25% to 27% female participation overall in the company. This breaks down as:

    • 25% participation at leadership level
    • 50% participation at management level
    • 50% participation at sales and marketing function
    • 100% participation at admin/finance level
    • 10% participation at technology consultant/engineering level

    Looking at our own levels of female participation we need to address the underrepresentation at the technology level, while continuing to add and improve at all other levels in the company.
    Creating an environment and culture based on merit and equality without stereotyping or discrimination enables Ward Solutions to achieve and maintain high level of female participation. This is not something that happens by accident but is something that is carefully fostered and developed in Ward. It is done by equally recognising success, ambition, contribution, and alternative perspectives and ideas and by being flexible. Having a gender balance is essential in creating a diverse, happy and successful workplace.
    We are proud of the level of female participation in Ward and are working to forge a better and a more inclusive, gender equal world.

    Careers

    Linux Support Engineer

    A Position exists for a Linux Support Engineer within Ward Solutions.
    Ward Solutions Security Operations & Response Practise has a reputation in the Irish market for providing technical expertise, security integration implementations, Secure managed services, consultancy, and superior quality in all customer engagements designed to bring tangible benefits and results for our customers.
    We recognize the knowledge of our security engineers is the key to our success, and they are certified leaders in secure network design and implementation allowing them to expertly implement and support solutions for our customers
    An attractive benefits package is available to right candidate with the desired skills, qualifications and experience.
    Desired Skills and Experience
    Required Skillsets:

    • Install and configure linux (Debian and/or RedHat preferred)
    • Manage users, permissions, remote access (ssh)
    • Usage of SSL certificates
    • Shell scripting plus one other scripting language (Perl / Python / etc.)
    • Apache and Tomcat or JBoss configuration and management.
    • Linux networking (bonding/aliasing/routing)
    • Network service configuration and management (DNS/NTP/SMTP/HTTPD)
    • Securing of Linux servers
    • Network security (IPTables, TCPWrappers, secure SSHD configuration, minimizing network service footprint)
    • Server hardening (Kernel tuning, file and binary permission reviewing, user management)
    • Supporting DBAs in performing their duties (Oracle / MySQL)
    • An understanding of the Linux Kernel, runlevels, processes and filesystems
    • An understanding of how to compile software (i.e. Apache), and when to do so
    • Linux backup software / utilities (Bacula / RSync)
    • Experience debugging obscure issues using tools such as strace and tcpdump

     
    Additional Advantageous Skillsets:

    • San installation and management (multipathd etc)
    • Experience with highly available Linux solutions
      • Linux HA (for use with Apache and other services)
      • Application and filesystem clustering
    • Installation and configuration of intrusion detection systems (Tripwire etc)
    • Securing Apache, Tomcat and JBoss
    • Application security gateways (Modsecurity, F5)
    • Administering and configuring virtual machines (VMware, KVM)
    • Cloud services (Azure, AWS)

     
     
    It is expected that this Engineer would provide support to managed ICT environments as part of Ward Solutions Secure Managed Services team. Troubleshooting skills are essential. It will also involve working directly with clients as required.

    • The individual selected must be willing to broaden their skillsets through training both formal and self-driven as required.
    • The individual must display good interpersonal skills, this position will involve working as part of a service delivery team and project team as required.
    • This Engineering position will involve both project (new builds) and also support of existing client builds.
    • Any additional knowledge / expertise in networking (firewalls, switches routers etc.) and Windows environments including Server and storage support is also welcomed and should be highlighted.

     
     
     

    Careers

    Information Security Consultants

    We have a number of opportunities for highly motivated and eager security professionals to join the Information Security Consultancy Practice within Ward Solutions.
    Ward Solutions Information Security Consultancy Practice is Ireland’s most technically proficient security practice, with a reputation in the Irish market for providing technical expertise, independent consultancy advice, and superior quality in all customer engagements designed to bring tangible benefits and results for our customers.
    We recognise the knowledge of our security consultants is the key to our success, and that they understand the pillars of information security governance, risk and compliance and how to expertly implement each for our customers.
    An attractive benefits package is available to the right candidates commensurate with qualifications, experience and capabilities.
    Desired Skills and Experience
    The candidates will report directly to the head of the Information Security Practice, be able to work in a challenging and highly technical environment, and should have fundamental knowledge of Information Security Governance, risk and compliance with at least one of the following :
     

    • Security Threat, Risk Assessment and Analysis
    • ISMS Establishment and Operation
    • Data Forensics and E-Discovery
    • Web Applications Penetration Testing
    • Source Code Analysis and Review
    • Infrastructure Penetration Testing
    • Secure Network and Systems Architecture, Design and Review
    • Security Incident Investigations
    • Relevant DATA Protection and Legislation Audit
    • ISO-27000 series of standards
    • Physical and Social Engineering
    • PCI DSS
    • Other desirable skillsets and certifications below;
    • eDiscovery Certifications; Certified Specialist in eDiscovery (CEDS) / Access Data or Guidance Software Certifications OSCP, CISSP, CISA, CISM, C/EH, C/HFI, GIAC Certifications
    • VISA to work in Ireland