In the latest chapter of our Cultiv8 Employee Series, Jordan Holmes, Vice President of Human Resources at Continent 8 Technologies, sat down with Jason Magsoy, a Network Security Engineer based out of the Philippines.

Throughout the discussion, Jason shares insights into his professional journey, outlines his current networking responsibilities at Continent 8, discusses how he embodies the company’s culture and values and previews some of his forthcoming projects.

Hi Jason! Can you tell us a little but about yourself and your role as a Network Security Engineer at Continent 8?

I began my professional career in the IT industry in the Philippines and subsequently broadened my expertise while working in Saudi Arabia. I started from the ground up, initially running cables in ceilings, and progressively advanced to securing endpoints and networks.

At Continent 8, my responsibilities include configuring security solutions such as firewalls and maintaining a secure network for both Continent 8 and its customers. We consistently ensure that network security does not create bottlenecks by providing aggregated connections and redundant solutions.

How did you come to choose a career as a Network Security Engineer?

I was introduced to cybersecurity through firewalls, Network Detection and Response (NDR) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions without any prior experience, and I found network security to be incredibly fascinating. It ignited my passion for protecting devices from malicious entities. Achieving clear network traffic visibility and implementing the appropriate security solutions can significantly reduce the risk of intrusion by malicious actors.

What motivated you to join the Continent 8 team? What do you enjoy most about your job?

In my previous role, I was dedicated to configuring and safeguarding a single data centre and a limited network connection. The scope was quite narrow, and I felt my professional development was stalling. This realisation drove me to broaden my expertise in networking and security, ultimately leading me to Continent 8.

At Continent 8, I was introduced to an expansive network environment, secured by robust solutions and supported by a team of experts. I find my experience here highly rewarding, largely due to the team’s professionalism, expertise and approachability. Moreover, my time at Continent 8 has been marked by substantial personal and professional growth, which has been extremely gratifying.

Can you describe some of the challenges you face in your job position? How do you also stay up to date on the latest security/cybersecurity developments?

As a Network Security Engineer, I am part of a team dedicated to ensuring maximum network uptime for both Continent 8 and its customers. This is undoubtedly a significant responsibility, but one that I fully embrace, requiring constant vigilance and a meticulous approach.

To ensure I remain current, I am pursuing certifications related to the security solutions we employ and engaging in continuous education to stay informed about new and emerging features that could support our team’s objectives. Furthermore, I subscribe to Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) sites to monitor new vulnerabilities pertinent to our solutions and implement necessary patches.

How do you align with Continent 8’s culture and values of Active Ownership, Purposeful Creativity and/or Genuine Care?

I align myself with Continent 8’s culture and values by actively fostering an environment of collaboration, mutual support and knowledge sharing to ensure everyone’s success. This is accomplished by upholding our team’s commitments, taking full responsibility of my role and caring for the people, company and our customers.

Any final thoughts? 

Continent 8 has provided me with an incredible opportunity to pursue the work that I genuinely enjoy, providing me with a deep sense of fulfillment.

I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Network Security Team: Bruce Craig, Michael Freitas, Rodrigo Suzuki and Christian Temporado. Your exceptional support and leadership are truly appreciated.

In the latest chapter of our Cultiv8 Employee Series, Jordan Holmes, Vice President of Human Resources at Continent 8 Technologies, sat down with Charlotte Barham, our Senior Manager, Group Controller located in the Isle of Man.

Throughout their conversation, Charlotte expressed her passion for numbers, her eagerness to embrace new challenges and the profound impact that Genuine Care and respect in the workplace can have in nurturing both individual and team success.

Hi Charlotte! Can you tell us a little but about yourself and your role as the Senior Manager, Group Controller at Continent 8?

Of course! I am a number-loving, hardworking, ambitious accountant with an extremely positive attitude (most of the time). I hate describing myself as an accountant as being labelled or ‘put in a box’ is a pet peeve of mine!

Born and raised on the Isle of Man, I have two step children, two dogs and a passion for staying active, making delicious food and taking on challenges, which you may have grasped already. I am thrilled to have joined Continent 8 last year as a Group Controller, where I am responsible for the production of financial reporting for all of our Group companies.

How did you come to choose a career as a Controller?

As a teenager, I was unsure of my career path but had a strong affinity for numbers, making accountancy a natural choice.

I loved the training aspect – the feeling when you passed exams and got a step closer to the goal was infectious. I finished second in the world in the year I qualified, which just shows you my enthusiasm for the field.

Upon graduation, I went from practice to industry, life assurance, and most recently, into a tech start-up. This is where I became captivated by this industry, and the opportunity at Continent 8 was one I couldn’t pass up.

What attracted you to the role and to joining the Continent 8 team? What do you enjoy most about your job?

It was the chance to really learn and be challenged again, both from a technical accountancy perspective and from working in a different environment/industry.

I love the intensity of the role, the variety of work and the amazingly supportive and equally talented people you get to meet and work with.

Can you describe some of the challenges you face as a Group Controller? How do you also stay up to date on the latest monitoring best practices and developments?

Reflecting on my first few months, the challenges really come down to the ability to support the growth of the business from a financial reporting perspective. We are making great progress in delivering timely reporting and working on continuous process improvement which will enable us to keep pace with the growth going forward.

Other challenges come from supporting the growing number of new jurisdictions and the complexities that they bring, such as recent experiences in Brazil and the Philippines in understanding tax legislation and how global businesses operate in those locations. Our own research and working with great third-party advisers ensure we are prepared and well-informed.

How do you align with Continent 8’s culture and values of Active Ownership, Purposeful Creativity and/or Genuine Care?

I believe I align well, which was a big consideration in my decision to join Continent 8. I am a huge believer that if you look after your people they will look after you. We are a service business in the tech sector, and we cannot be successful without having talented and hardworking people – Continent 8 is clearly full of them. Genuine Care and respect to people are important to me, and I strive to bring empathy, recognition and feedback to my team and colleagues daily.

Can you talk through some of the new initiatives you are or will be working on?

While ensuring the continuation of our current financial reporting projects and programmes, I’d like us to become more proactive. This includes automating and finding efficiencies in every aspect of finance!

And of course, I’ll be supporting the setup of all things finance-related in Brazil and the Philippines.

Any final thoughts? 

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the warm welcome I have had at Continent 8. I am loving it so far – my head has never been so full of new information!