One Year at Microsoft as a Security Researcher: Lessons Learned

It’s been a year since I started as a security researcher at Microsoft, and honestly, it’s been a wild ride. Coming in, I knew it’d be challenging, but I didn’t expect how much I’d grow, not just technically but also in how I approach problems and work with others. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:

1. Balance Between Deep Dives and the Big Picture

In security, you can’t just focus on one thing forever. Sometimes, you’re knee-deep in the technical details of a vulnerability; other times, you’re trying to understand how entire systems work together (or don’t). Finding that balance has been key.

2. Teamwork Makes a Difference

No one succeeds alone, especially in a place like Microsoft. I’ve worked with some brilliant folks here, and I’ve learned that sharing ideas and building on each other’s work is often the fastest way to solve tough problems.

3. Building Tools Is a Superpower

I’ve spent a lot of time this year building tools to make my life (and others’) easier. Whether it’s visualizing complex data or automating repetitive tasks, good tools let you do more with less effort and even uncover things you wouldn’t have spotted otherwise.

4. Expect the Unexpected

Security research is full of surprises. Sometimes, what seems like a dead-end leads to a major discovery. Staying curious and willing to follow those weird hunches has paid off more than once.

5. Always Be Learning

This field moves fast, and there’s always more to learn—new tools, new techniques, new ways of thinking. But honestly, some of my best learning moments have been from unexpected places: brainstorming with teammates, reading between the lines of logs, or just tinkering around with something for fun.

The Projects That Defined My Year

Here’s a quick rundown of the projects I worked on that taught me a ton:

• Graph Log Viewer: A tool for turning security logs into graphs, making patterns and anomalies jump out.
• 3D Subdomain Graph: Visualizing subdomains in 3D was a game-changer for understanding relationships in complex datasets.
• Vulnerable Web App Generator: A way to quickly spin up intentionally broken web apps for testing and training purposes.

https://github.com/Trivulzianus

• Autonomous AI-Powered Web Hacking Program: Pushing the limits of AI by creating a program that finds and exploits web vulnerabilities on its own.

https://tarantulaagent.com/about-page/

Each project came with its own set of challenges, but they all helped me grow in different ways. Plus, they’ve set me up with some cool ideas for the next year.

If you’re curious about the work or thinking about jumping into security research, I hope this gives you an idea of what it’s like. Feel free to ask me anything!