About Me

Embracing Creativity & Security

Travis Bevan – Cybersecurity Professional & Creative Technologist

I’m Travis Bevan, a cybersecurity specialist and creative technologist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. My journey blends two worlds—design and security—united by curiosity, structure, and a drive to protect what matters.

From Design to Digital Defense

I started my career in graphic design and digital media. While working as a sales rep, I was asked to create a media kit. A few weeks later, the company’s owner called—impressed—and offered me a full-time design role. That one opportunity launched a decade-long career in web, print, branding, and digital strategy. I became the go-to person for clean design, streamlined systems, and troubleshooting creative workflows.

But everything changed when I went deep into crypto and blockchain.

Why I Pivoted to Network Security

I was already fascinated by DeFi and NFTs—until I saw just how fragile the underlying infrastructure was. Threat actors were exploiting basic oversights in wallet design, smart contracts, and platform APIs. I spent weeks researching hardware wallet vulnerabilities. That rabbit hole turned into a mission.

When I told a friend—an expert in business continuity—that I was considering a career shift, he said:

“The world desperately needs people who think like you in cybersecurity.”
That was the spark. I enrolled in the Network Security Diploma program at the University of Winnipeg (PACE/MITT) and committed fully.

Midway through my training, the university itself was hit by a massive cyberattack. The irony only deepened my resolve. It wasn’t just about crypto anymore—it was about society, trust, education, and how systems fail when you stop treating them like people.

What I Build

I don’t just study systems—I build them, break them, and rebuild them smarter.

In my home lab, I’ve architected a full-stack environment using Proxmox, MikroTik RB5009, and CRS326 hardware to simulate the kind of infrastructure you’d find in real-world production environments. Everything is segmented, hardened, and built for failure recovery.

Lab Infrastructure Highlights:

• Enterprise-Grade Network Segmentation:
  VLAN-aware firewalling, subnet isolation, and inter-VLAN ACL logic for real-world security zones.
• Virtualized Core Services:
  Linux and Windows Server VMs running Active Directory, Zabbix, File Servers, and automated services, all monitored and backed up.
• Disaster Recovery Testing:
  Snapshots, restore workflows, and simulated outages to stress-test resilience and response times.
• Automation + Integration:
  Self-hosted routines (backup triggers, alerting, system health checks) layered over service orchestration logic.
• IoT Segmentation + Smart Home Security:
  VLAN-isolated Home Assistant network to test IoT behavior, firewall edge cases, and automation routines.
• Creative & Technical Experimentation:
  Secure workflows for 3D printing, media asset management, and drone content storage—with metadata protection and offline redundancy built in.

Why It Matters

I’m a proud father and lifelong ADHD survivor. That means I don’t just think in systems—I live in them. Managing chaos is second nature. I spot patterns others miss. And I stay calm when things fall apart—because I’ve already run the disaster recovery drill 10 times.

When I spot a vulnerability, I ask: How did it happen? Why was it missed? What real-world impact could it have?  Most breaches don’t start with code—they start with people. That’s why I approach security through prevention, education, and resilience.

Looking Ahead

I’m actively preparing to write:

• AWS Cloud Practitioner (Target: Fall 2025)
• CISSP (Target: Winter 2025)

But certifications are just milestones. My real goal is to keep growing—working with teams, tools, and projects where I can help design, secure, and improve real systems. Whether that’s through contract work, collaboration, or a long-term position, I’m open to the right fit.

If you’re building something worth securing—I want to be part of it.

Core Belief

Whether I’m designing a system, securing a network, or flying a drone—
Build. Break. Improve. Protect. Repeat.