Case Study - ThreatConnect - Threat and Risk Informed Cyber Defense Powered by AI

A Day in the Life of “JC” – Senior UI/JavaScript Engineer at ThreatConnect®

Being a Senior UI/JavaScript Engineer at TC®, a major player in the cyber-security space, means you're at the cutting edge of technology—both in terms of the solutions you're building and the teams you're collaborating with. Meet our Founding Engineer “Julien Chinapen” (JC), a seasoned developer with over fifteen years of Sotware engineering experience, a knack for problem-solving, and a love for tackling complex challenges in the realm of UI development.

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The Tech Stack at TC® – Angular Frontend, Java Backend

at TC®, JC works within a robust tech ecosystem where the frontend is powered by Angular, and the backend is handled by Java technologies. With Angular, JC builds fast, responsive web applications, often using TypeScript for type safety and clarity. JC's deep understanding of core Angular concepts like component architecture, dependency injection, and change detection is a core asset in tackling high-performance and scalable projects.

The Java backend might seem like a world apart from the frontend, but JC's familiarity with API integrations makes sure the user experience is seamless and fluid. Understanding how to interact with backend APIs and the architecture of the system allows for tight integration between frontend and backend features.

Major Contributions: Upgrading the Case Notes Feature

One of JC's most recent triumphs at TC® involved leading the charge in upgrading a major feature—Case Notes. Case Notes is a feature used within ThreatConnect's cyber-security platform to track and manage security incidents, and it plays a crucial role in helping security teams stay on top of their investigations.

The previous version of Case Notes was functional but lacked the user-friendly, polished UI that modern users expect. JC spearheaded a comprehensive redesign and enhancement of this feature, blending it seamlessly with the rest of the application's UI.

Using Angular's component-based architecture, JC was able to break down the feature into manageable parts, improving reusability and maintainability. JC implemented state management with NgRx to ensure a smooth user experience even during complex interactions and real-time updates. Additionally, JC utilized HTML, CSS, and the company's design system to ensure the Case Notes feature matched the rest of the application in terms of both function and look-and-feel.

The result? A feature that not only works flawlessly but also enhances the overall experience for ThreatConnect's clients, making security incident management more intuitive and efficient.

Tackling Excessive XHR Requests: The Angular HTTP Interceptor Caching Service

In addition to upgrading features, JC also took a deep dive into optimizing performance for the application. One major issue in production was the excessive number of XHR (XMLHttpRequest) requests being sent when users navigated through the app. This was particularly problematic as it led to unnecessary network traffic and slower load times, impacting both performance and user experience.

To solve this, JC created an Angular HTTP Interceptor Caching service that intercepted outgoing HTTP requests, cached their responses, and reused the cached data when possible—drastically reducing the number of redundant network calls.

This caching service leveraged Angular's HTTP Interceptor to capture HTTP requests and responses. By storing responses in memory, the service was able to bypass unnecessary requests if the data hadn't changed, providing near-instant responses for users. The result? Significantly faster load times and a reduction in server load, especially in production environments.

By adding caching logic for common API endpoints, JC helped improve overall performance and reduce latency, giving users a smoother experience and ensuring ThreatConnect's platform was as efficient as possible in a real-world, high-demand environment.

Mentorship and Leadership

As a senior developer, JC's role goes beyond just writing code. JC actively mentors junior developers, helping them understand best practices and Angular principles that are crucial in a real-world setting.

JC's ability to lead by example fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous learning within the team, which is crucial in a fast-paced, high-stakes industry like cyber-security.

Quarterly Meetup – Inspiration from Amelia Rose Earhart

One of the most memorable moments in JC's work life at TC® happened during the company's quarterly meetup, an event that brings the whole company together to celebrate achievements, share knowledge, and network. This particular meetup featured an inspiring keynote speaker—Amelia Rose Earhart, the renowned aviator and adventurer who became the youngest woman to fly around the world.

Amelia's talk was nothing short of captivating. She shared stories from her epic journey around the globe, recounting the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned while flying solo across continents. Her message about persistence, overcoming fear, and pushing boundaries resonated deeply with JC, as these qualities also form the backbone of the work done at TC®.

JC left the meetup feeling motivated to continue pushing the boundaries of technology at TC®, knowing that much like Amelia's journey, the path to innovation often requires navigating uncharted skies, learning from setbacks, and staying focused on the goal.

Being a Senior UI/JavaScript Engineer in CyberSecurity at TC®

For JC, working at ThreatConnect® means the perfect blend of technical expertise, mentorship, and continuous learning. The work is challenging and the stakes are high, but it's also incredibly rewarding to know that the products being built are helping secure the digital world for businesses and individuals alike.

With the combination of working on cutting-edge technology like Angular and Java backend systems, and the inspiring company culture at TC®, JC is excited for the future of both their career and the company's growth in the ever-evolving field of cyber-security.

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