Welcome to my GitHub portfolio! I’m a cybersecurity professional specializing in Security Operations (SOC) with hands-on experience in SIEM monitoring, log analysis, threat detection, and incident response. I focus on understanding attacker behavior, identifying suspicious activity, and improving detection workflows across enterprise environments.

Ranked in the Top 1% globally on TryHackMe, I continuously sharpen my skills through real-world labs and practical cybersecurity projects. I publish blogs and write-ups to share knowledge, document learning journeys, and support the cybersecurity community.

• Role: Cybersecurity Analyst | SOC Analyst

• Experience: ~1 year of combined hands-on SOC, security operations, and internships

• Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Primary Focus:

  • SOC Operations
  • SIEM Monitoring (Splunk, Wazuh)
  • Threat Detection & Incident Response
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • Network & Endpoint Security

• Email: [email protected]

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maharkk

• Medium (Writeups): medium.com/@maharkk01

B.Tech in Computer Science (Honors), Cybersecurity Major
Lovely Professional University - Punjab, India
Graduated: 2023
CGPA: 7.41 / 10

Red Team Hacker Academy, Kerala, India
Duration: 7 months

• Performed log monitoring, alert triage, and incident investigation across Windows and Linux environments.
• Worked with Splunk, Wazuh, Sysmon, Snort, Wireshark, and other SOC tools to detect and analyze security events.
• Conducted vulnerability assessments and analyzed attacker behavior to understand exploitation chains.
• Investigated simulated incidents, documented findings, and recommended mitigation strategies.

Prodigy InfoTech (Remote)
Duration: 1 month

• Developed cybersecurity mini-projects including encryption tools, network analyzers, keyloggers, and security utilities.
• Gained hands-on experience with encryption techniques, network security, and Python-based security automation.
• Strengthened understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals through practical tool development.

EPAM Systems (Remote / Hybrid)
Duration: 6 months

• Worked with cloud and DevOps technologies including AWS, Docker, Terraform, and GitHub.
• Learned CI/CD workflows, automation practices, and infrastructure-as-code (IaC).
• Gained foundational experience that supports modern cybersecurity and cloud security operations.

• SIEM Monitoring: Splunk, Wazuh
• Log Analysis & Event Correlation
• SOC Workflows: Triage → Investigation → Escalation
• Snort, osquery, Security Telemetry

• Sysmon, YARA, Zeek, Brim
• Building simple hypotheses for targeted hunts
• IOC/TTP-based detection

• Detection → Analysis → Containment → Recovery
• Forensics basics and evidence handling

• Nessus, OpenVAS, WPScan
• Burp Suite, Metasploit, Wireshark, Nmap, NetworkMiner

• Tracking adversary behavior and threat trends
• Mapping CTI to detections

• Malware Analysis (introductory)
• Digital Forensics (beginner)
• Phishing Analysis
• Compliance & System Hardening

• Python - automation, tooling, security scripts
• Bash - Linux scripting
• PowerShell - Windows administration & automation
• JavaScript - basic understanding for web security
• SQL - querying and database security basics

• Windows - administration, IR tasks
• Linux - Kali / Parrot / Ubuntu for security labs and scripting

• Built an image encryption tool using pixel-level operations including XOR and pixel swapping.
• Demonstrates understanding of basic cryptography and secure data manipulation.
• Tools Used: Python, Pillow, NumPy
• GitHub: https://github.com/Maharkk/PRODIGY_CS_02

• Developed a packet sniffer that extracts IPs, protocols, and payload metadata.
• Reinforced skills in network monitoring, packet inspection, and Python scripting.
• Tools Used: Python, Scapy
• GitHub: https://github.com/Maharkk/PRODIGY_CS_05

• Implemented encryption/decryption using the Caesar Cipher algorithm.
• Good demonstration of classical crypto principles and Python logic.
• Tools Used: Python
• GitHub: https://github.com/Maharkk/PRODIGY_CS_01

• Profile: https://tryhackme.com/p/Maharkk
• Rank: Top 1% Globally
• Level: GUARDIAN
• Highlights:
  • Completed multiple SOC & security learning paths
  • 5+ months streak
  • Wide variety of achievement badges

• Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) - EC-Council
• Certified IT Infrastructure & Cyber SOC Analyst (CICSA) - Red Team Hacker Academy
• SOC Level 1 and Level 2 - TryHackMe
• Jr Penetration Tester - TryHackMe
• Ethical Hacking From Scratch - zSecurity / Udemy

• Ranked globally in the top 1%.
• Level: GUARDIAN
• Completed numerous blue-team, web exploitation, and privilege escalation paths

• Completed 5,000+ tasks
• Demonstrated high accuracy, consistency, and analytical thinking
• Reinforced attention to detail - valuable for log analysis & SOC roles

Explore more on my Medium profile:
📎 https://medium.com/@maharkk01

• How TryHackMe Transformed My Cybersecurity Journey
  Read More

• Exploiting PHP Loose Comparison Vulnerabilities - Magic Hash Attack
  Read More

• Exploiting the NAPPING 1.0.1 VulnHub Machine - Full Walkthrough
  Read More

I’m currently focusing on:

• Advanced SOC operations
• Incident response workflows
• Detection engineering
• Cloud security (AWS)
• DevSecOps fundamentals
• Threat Intelligence
• Attacking & defending cloud environments

I’m open to cybersecurity discussions, SOC-related opportunities, and collaborations.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maharkk/
• Email: [email protected]
• Medium: https://medium.com/@maharkk01

This portfolio is continually updated with new projects, skills, and certifications as I advance in my cybersecurity career.