👋 Hi, I'm Bryan Zhang

Cyber Operations Student @ University of Arizona · BSidesDSM 2026 Speaker · Aspiring Security Analyst

I’m a Cyber Operations student at the University of Arizona with a focus on network security, traffic analysis, threat detection, and SOC workflows.

I’m currently building hands-on experience through coursework and projects involving Wireshark, Splunk, Python, cloud computing, packet analysis, and log investigation. I’m especially interested in turning raw network and system data into useful security findings.

• 🎓 Cyber Operations, Cyber Engineering Emphasis @ University of Arizona
• 🛡️ Interested in SOC analysis, detection logic, network security, and threat investigation
• 🔎 Building projects with Wireshark, Splunk, Python, Bash, C, Git, and cloud concepts
• 🎤 BSidesDSM 2026 Speaker — presented on detecting suspicious network traffic using Wireshark and Python
• 🚀 Preparing for cybersecurity internships and future master’s applications

Network Security        █████████░░   80%
Traffic Analysis        ████████░░░   75%
Splunk Detection        ███████░░░░   65%
Python Automation       ███████░░░░   65%
Cloud Service Models    ███████░░░░   65%
C / Systems Basics      ██████░░░░░   55%
Linux / Bash            ███████░░░░   65%

Building detection rules and dashboards for suspicious activity, authentication events, and basic SOC workflows.

What I’m practicing

• Searching and filtering security logs
• Creating basic detection logic
• Building dashboards for suspicious activity
• Thinking through analyst-style investigation workflows

Keywords: Splunk · SOC · Detection Engineering · Log Analysis · SIEM

Packet capture and protocol investigation project focused on network behavior, traffic patterns, and security-relevant indicators.

What I’m practicing

• Inspecting packets and protocols
• Identifying abnormal traffic patterns
• Understanding TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, and common network behavior
• Connecting packet-level evidence to security questions

Keywords: Wireshark · PCAP · TCP/IP · DNS · HTTP · Network Security

A cloud computing case study for a fictional WaterWatch water monitoring service. The project studies how a finished cloud-based monitoring application could support small towns, farms, parks, and environmental groups without requiring them to build or manage their own backend infrastructure.

Project idea

• Uses sensors to collect water level, temperature, pH, and clarity data
• Sends sensor readings to the cloud for storage, dashboards, and reporting
• Provides a web/app dashboard where customers can view current water conditions
• Sends alerts when water readings change significantly, such as fast-rising river levels or low pond levels
• Evaluates why the service fits Software as a Service (SaaS) better than IaaS or PaaS

What I’m practicing

• Cloud service model analysis: IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS
• Explaining cloud architecture from the customer’s point of view
• Connecting IoT-style sensor data to cloud dashboards and alerting
• Thinking through security and reliability needs such as accounts, access control, backups, updates, and provider responsibility
• Writing technical case studies in a clear, non-technical-user-friendly way

Keywords: Cloud Computing · SaaS · IoT Sensors · Monitoring Dashboard · Alerting · Access Control · Reliability

A personal lab for practicing Linux, Bash scripting, Python automation, Git workflows, and security fundamentals.

What I’m practicing

• Linux command line fundamentals
• Bash scripting and automation
• Python scripts for security learning
• Git/GitHub workflow discipline

Keywords: Linux · Python · Bash · Git · Security Fundamentals

Presented a beginner-friendly cybersecurity session:

“Detecting Suspicious Network Traffic Using Wireshark and Python”

Covered network traffic analysis, packet inspection, basic Python automation, abnormal traffic patterns, and practical approaches to beginner-level threat detection workflows.

Keywords: Public Speaking · Cybersecurity Education · Wireshark · Python · Threat Detection

• WaterWatch Cloud Monitoring Service Case Study

• Network Traffic Analysis Notes

• Splunk Detection Lab Writeup

• Wireshark PCAP Investigation Walkthrough

• BSidesDSM Talk Reflection

• Cyber Operations Study Notes

• Introduction to Cybersecurity - Issued by Cisco Networking Academy
• Foundations of Cybersecurity - Issued by Google Project Management Professional Certificate
• Getting Started in Cybersecurity 3.0 - Issued by Fortinet
• Certificate of Competency in Fundamentals of Accelerated Data Science - Issued by NVIDIA
• Microsoft Applied Skills: Generate reports with AI research agents - Issued by Microsoft