Welcome! I'm Rashard — a ** Web Application Security Engineer** with a passion for building secure, resilient cloud-native applications from design to deployment. My expertise lies in architecting robust DevSecOps pipelines, leading proactive vulnerability management, and driving the implementation of complex security policies. As a quantum-focused engineer and continuous learner, I'm dedicated to defining and securing the future of cloud development through actionable, project-based progress.

This repository serves as my hands-on portfolio, showcasing my expertise in tackling real-world cloud security challenges, including Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) implementations, advanced automation, and continuous learning. My '1% better' methodology drives an approach of learning by doing, sharing actionable solutions, and building a resilient, quantum-safe foundation for modern cloud development.

• Actionable Progress: Every project here embodies my 'learn by doing, share what works' philosophy, showcasing how I drive actionable progress in solving real-world security challenges through iterative design, testing, and documentation.
• Transparency: I emphasize transparent documentation, sharing not just successes but also crucial lessons learned from iterative experiments and refactoring. This demonstrates a commitment to true continuous improvement and proactive problem-solving.
• Automation & Integrated Security: My approach deeply embeds security into the SDLC, leveraging GitHub Advanced Security (CodeQL, Dependabot), Codespaces, and AI tools to automate and secure the software supply chain. This includes a growing focus on quantum-resistant techniques and enforcing security policies through code.
• Collaboration & Culture: I actively foster a culture of collaboration, inviting feedback and contributions. My goal is to serve as a catalyst for secure development practices, empowering teams and growing together in this evolving threat landscape.

This section highlights my core strengths and practical experience in alignment with a senior-level AppSec role:

• Application Security Engineering: Threat Modeling, Secure Design Principles, Manual & Automated Penetration Testing (DAST - Invicti, OWASP ZAP), Vulnerability Assessment & Remediation Guidance, Exploitation Analysis.
• DevSecOps & CI/CD Security: Automated SAST (CodeQL, SonarQube), SCA (Dependabot, Trivy), Secrets Detection (GitHub Secret Scanning), Supply Chain Security, Policy as Code, GitHub Actions Orchestration.
• Cloud-Native & Container Security: OpenShift, Kubernetes, Docker, Container Image Scanning, Runtime Security, Network Policy Enforcement, Cloud Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security.
• Policy & Governance: Security Policy Design & Enforcement, Standards Development, Compliance Reporting (leveraging Power BI for metrics), Developer Education & Enablement.
• Risk Management: Comprehensive Risk Analysis, Vulnerability Prioritization (CVSS, Business Impact), Executive Reporting.
• Specialized Areas: Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Assessment & Implementation, AI-Powered Security Automation, Quantum Security Assessment.

This portfolio provides hands-on demonstrations and deep dives into critical areas of Cloud Security and DevSecOps, reflecting my commitment to 'learning by doing, sharing what works':

• SQL Injection Incident Response & Remediation Demo: A practical walkthrough of identifying, exploiting, and remediating a classic SQL Injection vulnerability (using OWASP Juice Shop), showcasing incident response and secure coding principles. (NEW!)
• Supply Chain Security Lab: Real-world exercises in securing the software supply chain, implementing secret scanning, and automating remediation workflows with GitHub Advanced Security and Dependabot.
• DevSecOps Automation Pipeline: Demonstrates comprehensive CI/CD security automation, including integrated post-quantum cryptography scanning, clean documentation, and security best practices.
• Cloud-Native Security Patterns: Infrastructure as Code templates and security patterns for building quantum-resistant, cloud-native architectures with comprehensive testing and validation.
• Quantum Security Toolkit: Open-source tools for post-quantum cryptography assessment and migration planning with automated compliance validation.
• (Optional: Add more specific repos here if they exist for Microservices, Web App Deployment, etc., with a concise, security-focused description and link)

I believe in building strong, collaborative security cultures. As Coach Dan Quinn famously said, "We didn't come to change this, but to amplify [the organization]." My approach to AppSec is precisely that: not to disrupt, but to amplify our ability to deliver secure, high-quality software faster. I partner with development and operations teams, providing guidance and enabling them with the right tools and knowledge to build security in from the start, rather than waiting for painful, late-stage fixes. This fosters shared ownership and elevates our collective security posture.

© 2025 Rashard • Code of Conduct • MIT License