In our Staff Spotlights, we get up close and personal with our amazing Sophos team members.
Up next is Abhinav Bilwankar, Technical Support Engineer L2-2 and FY24 Sophos Team 10 Member.
Let's Talk Career
1. Can you tell us about your role at Sophos?
I am an L2 Technical Support Escalation Engineer, and I help the L1 Engineers to progress the case. I also report the issue to the next level to get a consultation with the Dev Team.
2. How did you get to the role you're in now?
I joined the Sophos Network Security group in August 2021 and, after clearing IJP, was promoted to L2 Technical Support Engineer in September 2023.
3. What inspired you to get into IT and security?
I was already working in technical support when a friend referred me to Sophos. I am glad to be part of Sophos as I learned many new things in the organization.
4. What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy sharing my best practices, imparting my knowledge with my colleagues, and having the opportunity to discuss or analyze critical or known issues with other teams.
Additionally, I enjoy conducting technical sessions.
5. What's something you've done during your time in the organization that you're proud of
My proudest moment is to be part of the Sophos Support Team 10 for FY24 and attending the Team 10 Summit in Malta.
6. Describe a typical day in your Sophos life.
I start my day by reviewing my own cases and then start my lab. After that, I check all the cases of L1 Engineers. If any case requires either my or the management’s intervention, I flag it to the management and update the notes on the case to progress it further.
Some cases require additional assistance, so I also take ownership of these cases.
7. What's the best advice you can give to someone who has just started their career?
Start learning basic technical skills and get some hands-on experience on every networking or security device – as they will both be helpful in driving your career further.
8. What would you do (for a career) if you weren't doing this?
Either a Software/Application Developer or a Network Automation Engineer.
Role in the Sophos Community
9. What's a fun fact about you that you could share with the Community?
I enjoy my time with Python coding.
10. Have you posted any Recommended Read guides on the Community?
Not yet, but hopefully, I will in the future.
Who is Abhinav outside of Work?
11. What are your hobbies outside of work?
These days, I love to spend some time playing games on my PS5 Digital Edition.
12. What’s something you’re planning on doing in the next year that you’ve never done?
I have started preparing for the GES role, and my goal is to be GES by the end of next year.
13. What's one thing you're really good at?
Cooking. I usually cook for my family during the weekends. I developed this hobby of cooking delicious cuisines when the pandemic hit.
14. If you could learn how to do anything, what would it be?
I want to learn new programming languages and how to become a Threat Analyst. 15.
15. Tell us about where you live (and your journey getting there, if applicable).
I was born and raised in Vadodara City, Gujarat State, which is on the western side of India.
16. What's your favorite thing about where you live?
The traditional Indian dance Garba originated in Gujarat. We dance it during our celebration of Navrati, a festivity where all devotees join together to worship the Goddess Durga.
Navratri means nine nights, “Nav” means nine in Gujarati, and “ratri” means night.
17. Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I am a Phython Network Automation Trainer, Phython Developer, and SQL Developer on weekends.
18. Any favorite line from a movie?
“If you gain courage because a thousand people are standing behind you, then you can win only one war” – KGF Chapter 1
19. If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Power to be the greatest innovator ever.