Aspiring Penetration Tester

Adopting the defensive mindset of a SOC analyst to better understand offensive security tactics.

Cybersecurity

About Me

I am a Computer Science and Data Science student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My current academic focus centers on the low level understanding of computer systems through courses in Machine Organization, Operating Systems, and Cryptography.

My main interest is in cybersecurity with the goal of becoming a penetration tester. I am currently building a defensive foundation through platforms like TryHackMe and LetsDefend, where I simulate SOC operations to improve my ability to perform SIEM log analysis, digital forensics, and email analysis.

During my free time I like to participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) challenges as well as learn offensive methodologies to exploit vulnerable machines.

Juan Monarrez-Gonzalez

Education

University of Wisconsin—Madison

B.S. Computer Science & Data Science

Expected Graduation: May 2028

Relevant Courses

COMP SCI 577 - Intro to Algorithms (In Progress)

Analysis of efficient algorithms using greedy, divide-and-conquer, and dynamic programming. Covers NP-completeness, space & time analysis.

COMP SCI 537 - Intro to Operating Systems (In Progress)

Study of operating system architecture, process synchronization, concurrency, and thread management. Covers memory management, process scheduling, and virtualization.

MATH 435 - Cryptography (In Progress)

Study of cryptographic concepts such as ciphers, hash functions. Concepts include perfect secrecy, digital signatures, and hardness assumptions.

COMP SCI 400 - Programming II

Implementation of data structures (Graphs, Hash Tables, Red-Black Trees). Covers Git version control, JUnit testing, and JavaFX UI development.

Professional Certifications

CompTIA Security+
CompTIA

CompTIA Security+

Issued June 2024Expires June 2027
Threat DetectionNetwork SecurityDisaster Recovery
Verify on Credly ↗
GFACT
GIAC

GFACT

Issued March 2024Expires March 2028
Linux FundamentalsPython ScriptingExploitation
Verify on Credly ↗
CompTIA CySA+
CompTIAIn Progress

CompTIA CySA+

Est. Completion: April 2026
Threat HuntingLog AnalysisIncident Response
Soon...
Cisco CCNA
CiscoIn Progress

Cisco CCNA

Est. Completion: June 2026
IP RoutingNetwork FundamentalsNetwork Access
Soon...

Training