“There’s nothing like the sense of fulfilment and achievement when long hours spent on research & development come to fruition.”

Drawn to DSO by the interesting projects on offer, Eldon Ng started his career with DSO as an intern. A third year Computer Engineering student with the National University of Singapore (NUS) at that time, he joined DSO’s cybersecurity internship programme where he had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in cybersecurity. Through projects like performing vulnerability assessments on an embedded system, Eldon experienced the nurturing environment in DSO. He also got to witness the theories he learnt in school come to life. All of this encouraged him to continue his journey in defence research and development (R&D) in the cybersecurity domain after graduation.

Now a cybersecurity researcher in the Information Division, Eldon specialises in uncovering vulnerabilities in embedded systems and Internet of Things (IoT). Through his research, he prevents data breaches and information theft by identifying vulnerabilities that malicious hackers can exploit, and recommending measures and improvements to secure our computer systems and networks.

But the life of a researcher is not always a bed of roses. The cybersecurity field is very fast-paced; each new technology presents new vulnerabilities that have the potential to pose a security risk. One thus has to keep pace with technological advancements and anticipate the different ways that cause systems to work abnormally. Eldon not only has to overcome a steep learning curve, but also to continuously think out of the box.

Thankfully, he is not alone in this journey. Whenever he encounters difficulties in his work, he can turn to his colleagues and supervisors who are equally passionate in the field, to provide advice and steer him in the right direction.

Despite the challenges, Eldon continues to find meaning in work, knowing that his research plays a role in strengthening Singapore’s cybersecurity defence. He recalls performing a cyber security assessment on a commercial router, where he and his team discovered a security weakness. If left unattended, it would have allowed unauthorised access into the protected network, despite being password protected. Seeing his work coming to fruition and making a real difference to citizens’ lives motivates him to improve and keep going. 

For those seeking a career in DSO, Eldon encourages resourcefulness when it comes to innovating, as well as perseverance. To him, these are truly essential qualities to be a good cybersecurity research engineer. If one can face challenges head on and stay the course, they will be rewarded with an unrivalled sense of achievement. 

Get to realise your passion for defence R&D and develop innovative solutions to our nation’s difficult problems with like-minded colleagues like Eldon. All while contributing to Singapore’s defence in real and tangible ways.