Hi, I’m Edwin Molina.

I’m a cybersecurity professional transitioning from a successful career in accounting to securing digital landscapes. With hands-on projects, a forthcoming MSc in Cybersecurity and Assurance, and industry-recognized certifications, I’m dedicated to leveraging my analytical background to protect systems, manage risks, and drive impactful security initiatives.

Check Out My Work
Portrait of Edwin Molina

About Me

Leveraging over 8 years of experience in accounting—split evenly between corporate and public sectors—I bring a proven track record of analytical problem-solving and risk management. Now transitioning into cybersecurity, I’ve spent the past year as an IT Specialist, earned multiple industry-recognized certifications, and am on track to graduate with a Master’s in Cybersecurity and Assurance in May 2025. I’m passionate about protecting systems and data, and I’m eager to tackle complex cybersecurity challenges.

Highlights

Projects

AWS: Secure & Scalable Website

Built and hosted a professional portfolio with AWS EC2, Route 53, and a Load Balancer, TLS encryption, and AWS multi-account structure.

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Vulnerability Scanning with Nessus

Simulated a real-world vulnerability management scenario in AWS with Kali Linux and Metasploitable 2, using Nessus to identify and prioritize critical vulnerabilities.

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Splunk Enterprise Security SIEM Setup

Configured Splunk Enterprise Security to ingest and analyze logs, create custom dashboards, and set up alerts for proactive threat detection and anomaly hunting.

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Active Directory + Okta Integration for IAM and SSO

Created an AD environment and integrated it with Okta to manage identities, authentication flows, and access to cloud apps, highlighting IAM and SSO best practices.

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Honeypot Deployment in AWS

Deployed a high-interaction honeypot (Cowrie) in AWS EC2 to capture unauthorized activity, monitor attacker behavior, and derive actionable threat intelligence.

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Building a Password Manager in AWS

Developed a password manager hosted in AWS Cloud, focusing on encryption, secure access controls, and cloud deployment best practices.

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Resume

Professional Experience

Accountant - Fully Remote | Migration Policy Institute | Dec 2020 – Dec 2024

  • Strengthened internal controls: Identified vulnerabilities in financial processes, implemented controls, and documented workflows to improve efficiency and mitigate risks, demonstrating a focus on system security and compliance.
  • Investigated anomalies: Researched and resolved discrepancies with precision, reinforcing accountability and operational efficiency.
  • Enhanced data efficiency: Collaborated with directors to revamp grant accounting codes, streamlining data classification and improving reporting accuracy.
  • Ensured compliance: Managed month-end and year-end close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, and audit preparation, ensuring regulatory and policy compliance.
  • Conducted advanced data analysis: Developed dynamic ad hoc reports and performed variance analysis, supporting directors in data-driven decision-making.
  • Managed grant reporting: Delivered detailed grant reports for domestic and international projects, ensuring accurate documentation and alignment with grant requirements.
  • Monitored financial data integrity: Conducted routine audits and resolved discrepancies in invoices, maintaining accuracy and minimizing financial risk.
  • Supported strategic initiatives: Collaborated with the CFO on financial matters and ad hoc projects, leveraging analytical skills to support organizational goals.

Skills: Project Management, Data Analysis, Financial Reporting, Change Management, Collaboration, Budgeting & Forecasting

IT Specialist - Part Time | Migration Policy Institute | Apr 2023 – Oct 2024

Skills: Network Security, VLAN Configuration, Firewall Implementation, Phishing Simulations, Vulnerability Management, Issue Troubleshooting, Ticket Management, Jira, VLANS, Firewalls

Education

Certifications

Validations of my knowledge and skills in cybersecurity and cloud computing

CompTIA Security+

Foundational cybersecurity skills and best practices.

CompTIA Network+

Essential networking concepts and operations.

CompTIA CySA+

Proactive threat detection and incident response capabilities.

AWS Solutions Architect – Associate

Cloud architecture design and deployment on AWS.

Splunk Core Certified Power User

Data analysis, dashboards, and alerting within Splunk.
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