What Cyber Security Actually Is, and How You Get Into It

Nyuk Loong Kiw Group Chief Information Security Officer, Spark New Zealand Nyuk Loong Kiw is the Group Chief Information Security Officer at Spark New Zealand, leading the organisation's cyber security strategy and operations. His career spans more than two decades at Spark, progressing from desktop support through network engineering, security engineering, incident response, and Security Operations Centre leadership before becoming CISO. Drawing on extensive real-world experience, Nyuk Loong brings practical insights into how modern cyber security functions within a large enterprise, combining technical expertise, business strategy, risk management, and organisational resilience. Topic Cyber security is often misunderstood as a highly technical field limited to hackers and complex technology. In reality, it is a multidisciplinary profession focused on protecting organisations through people, processes, and technology. In this session, Nyuk Loong Kiw will explain what cyber security actually looks like inside one of New Zealand's largest organisations. The first half of the presentation introduces the core responsibilities of security teams, why even well-resourced organisations experience security incidents, and the major threats affecting businesses today, including phishing, ransomware, weak credentials, malware, and denial-of-service attacks. Real-world examples, including local New Zealand cases, will be shared throughout the talk. The second half focuses on careers in cyber security. As the industry shifts from simply preventing attacks to building organisational resilience, new career opportunities are emerging in areas such as detection engineering, identity architecture, AI security, and business-focused risk management. Nyuk Loong will discuss practical pathways into the industry, what employers look for beyond certifications, how experience from other professions can become a competitive advantage, and the impact AI is having on entry-level cyber security roles. The session is designed for students, career changers, and IT professionals who are interested in exploring a career in cyber security. No prior security experience is required. Agenda This meetup will be presented in English. 5:30 pm | Door opens & Networking Light refreshments provided 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm | Presentation 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm | Q&A and Networking Date & Venue 🗓 Date: Tuesday, 4 Aug 2026 ⏰ Time: 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm (NZST) 📍 Location: AUT WF 613 42 Wakefield Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010 Fee CITA Members: Free Other Participants: NZD $5 Donation 💳 Bank Account Details Account Number: 06-0513-0847960-00 Account Name: CHINESE IT ASSOCIATION NZ