From Pace’s Cyber Range to a Career in Cybersecurity

From learning about cybersecurity threats in the classroom to becoming an information security analyst in the legal sector and co-founder of tech company Cyranix, Pace University alum Laraib Sarmad (BS in Information Technology ’23) has built a career that goes well beyond any single role. Today, she is exploring new ways to apply her expertise through artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and research, but her journey in tech started at Pace’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

Drawn to the school for its hands-on learning opportunities, faculty, and connections to New York's professional community, she credits the experience she gained and the relationships she built at Pace with helping shape her career.

"I chose Seidenberg because I wanted a program that combined strong technical education with practical, real-world application," she says. "The security & information assurance concentration aligned directly with my interest in cybersecurity, while my criminal justice minor gave me an additional perspective on investigations, evidence, and risk."

Learning by Doing

Throughout her time at Seidenberg, Sarmad pursued opportunities to put her classroom knowledge to work. One particularly impactful experience was her cybersecurity capstone project with ISACA, a global professional association with 185,000 members working in fields such as information security, governance, risk, and privacy. The project challenged her to analyze a complex cybersecurity scenario, examining technical vulnerabilities, organizational risks, security controls, and the broader consequences of a cyber incident.

"What made the project valuable was that we had to go beyond identifying technical problems. We had to understand why the incident occurred, evaluate its impact, and develop practical security recommendations. That experience strengthened the evidence-driven and risk-focused approach I use in cybersecurity today."

Eager to expand her cybersecurity knowledge beyond the classroom, Sarmad also worked as a Cyber Range student assistant at Pace and later as an IT consultant. While the former gave her hands-on exposure to cybersecurity environments, the latter broadened her experience supporting users, systems, and day-to-day technology operations.

"Pace gave me opportunities to apply what I was learning long before graduation," she says, adding that her time at the Cyber Range “helped me build confidence working with real systems and strengthened my interest in cybersecurity as a career."

Image

Building a Career in Cybersecurity and AI

Since graduating, Sarmad has built a career spanning cybersecurity operations, IT, research, and technology entrepreneurship. She is also returning to Seidenberg to pursue her MS in Cybersecurity.

Currently an information security analyst at a law firm, Sarmad investigates security activity, analyzes potential threats, and helps protect sensitive systems and information. Her work in the legal sector has deepened her understanding of confidentiality, risk management, and the importance of protecting sensitive information.

Her interests have also taken her into entrepreneurship. Alongside a group of colleagues, Sarmad co-founded Cyranix to develop intelligent technology products. The team created TickFlo, an AI-enabled ticketing and support platform, and is now developing an AI-based system to help identify and analyze potential cybersecurity threats.

"All of these experiences connect back to what I developed at Seidenberg: approaching complex problems analytically, understanding risk, and translating technical knowledge into practical solutions," Sarmad says.

Staying Connected

Sarmad's connection to Seidenberg has continued beyond graduation, opening doors to new opportunities. While volunteering with Pace's CryptoBot camp, she worked with students and built relationships with faculty that would later lead to further research. "One of those faculty connections later developed into a separate research collaboration involving quantum computing and cybersecurity," she says.

In addition to exploring the implications of quantum computing for cryptography and cybersecurity, Sarmad is collaborating with Pace faculty on research related to CryptoBot and hands-on cybersecurity education.

"One of the things I value most about Pace is that faculty support does not end when a class ends," she says. "My professors have remained accessible and supportive as I continue developing professionally, academically, and through research."

Making Opportunities Count

For current Seidenberg students hoping to build careers in tech, Sarmad emphasizes the importance of gaining practical experience early and building meaningful relationships with professors and alumni.

"Do not wait until graduation. Pursue internships, student employment, research, volunteer opportunities, campus programs, capstone projects, and anything that gives you practical experience,” she says.

Sarmad reminds students that the most important thing is simply getting started. "Your first opportunity does not have to be your dream job. It needs to give you a place to learn, contribute, and prove yourself."

And just as important as finding that first opportunity, Sarmad believes, is making the most of it.

"When someone gives you that first opportunity, make it count. Be dependable, ask thoughtful questions, take initiative, and keep learning. Your first role may be a small step, but it can become the foundation for everything that follows."